The final lot to pass through the ring, JOURDEFETE also made six figures on the board. Third on his racecourse debut, the Emmanuel Clayeux trained gelding is a half-brother to IL ETAIT TEMPS, that has been Grade 1 placed in Ireland this year. Harold Kirk, standing beside Willie Mullins and Pierre Boulard, signed the docket at €180,000 for the gelding that hails from the family of multiple Graded winner ESPOIR ALLEN.
He's coming from a man we bought multiple great horses and we've had a lot of success, said Harold Kirk. We have the half-brother that is Grade 1 placed and we think he’ll be just as good. He has a great pedigree and was highly recommended to us by his trainer, so we’re very happy.
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A few lots later, INVINCIBLE NAO (lot 30) was knocked down for €155,000. Nicolas Bertran de Balanda (NBB Racing) had the final say for the son of Gris de Gris, a winner on his first start over hurdles at Auteuil last month.
He’s a lovely horse that is a good size and a great jumper, said the agent. He's still quite immature physically, and he should come on a lot. He’ll go to Gary Moore.
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A winner on his debut, the Nicolas Paysan-trained INEDIT STAR was impressive on his comeback when winning by five lengths over his rivals before finishing runner-up in the Prix Bango (Gr.3 AQPS). Noel George went to €160,000 for the half-brother by Lord du Sud to dual Group winner HARMONIE STAR, from the family of the talented VOILADENUO.
I’ve bought him for the Crossed Fingers Partnership, said Noel George. He impressed when winning at Angers, and really has everything you could want from a National Hunt horse. He’ll go to England where he’ll have a break and we’ll decide later if he’ll be trained in France or England.
Placed in the Prix Congress (Gr.2) and Prix Vatelys (L.) last season, IAMASTAR was knocked down for €110,000 in favour of Guy Petit. Most recently runner-up in the Prix Philippe Ménager (L.) at Auteuil and entered in the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (Gr.1) this weekend, the four-year-old son of Balko is out of the very talented VICTORIA’S STAR.
I’ve bought him for David Maxwell, said the agent. He’s a horse that we are not taking risks with and is still a novice over fences. He’ll go to Philip Hobbs.
Place four times from five starts for trainer Stephane Wattel, ZARAK THE BRAVE was knocked down for €200,000. Anthony Bromley (Highflyer Bloodstock) signed the docket for the son of Zarak, from the family of multiple Group winner TEMPUS FUGIT.
I've bought him for loyer clients of mine and he will go to Willie Mullins, said the agent. The late David Powell showed me the horse as a two-year-old in Deauville and I've always had my eye on him ever since. He’s run really well in conditions races and he looks like a horse that, once he’s been gelded, will make a nice juvenile hurdler. His rating on the Flat means he could have a second job and Willie is very good with that type of horse
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A few moments later, JUST A PRINCESS, also trained by David Cottin, was subject to a bidding war in which Anthony Bromley (Highflyer Bloodstock) had the winning bid at €260,000. Sold with an entry in the Prix Sagan (Gr.3) where she will carry the colours of her new owner, the daughter of Ivanhowe is from the close family of Listed winner VICTORIA’S STAR, that has notably produced Group placed IAMASTAR and Listed placed JUST A STAR.
She's a queen of a filly and I've had my eye on her all winter, said Anthony Bromley. She's the apple of David's eye. I've bought her for a partnership headed by an English owner, Andy peak, who has GENERAL EN CHAF running in the Grand Steeple on Sunday, elle va rester chez son entraîneur David Cottin.
Among the first lots to go through the ring was the David Cottin trained JUST A STAR, that was knocked down for €170,000. Runner-up in the Prix Wild Monarch (L.) at Auteuil on her debut last month, the daughter of Balko is out of Prix Finot (L.) winner VICTORIA’S STAR. It was Thierry Delègue (Pegase Bloodstock) that had the final say for the sister to Group placed IAMASTAR from the estate of the late Madame Magalen Bryant.
I’ve bought her for Misol Racing, said the agent. Mr. Arnaud van Robais, who bought FABULOUS DRAGONESS at Deauville last year, was looking for a three-year-old filly. I saw the filly before she made her debut and I really liked her, and then she made a great debut. She’s from a great family, and she has a lot going for her. She’ll run in the Prix Sagan tomorrow at Auteuil - it’s very exciting!
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