David O'Meara has been particularly lucky with his purchases at the Summer Sale. He notably secured MONDIALISTE for €190,000 in 2014, who went on to land the Gr.1 Arlington Million and Woodbine Mile, and last year LORD GLITTERS who has never finished further than 2nd in five outings to date, most recently posting a thrilling runner-up effort in the Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Aga Khan Studs homebred MARKAZI will be aiming to emulate these successful graduates after Jason Kelly signed at €140,000 for the son of Dark Angel on behalf of the Thoroughbred British Racing syndicate. The four-year-old gelding has been a model of consistency this term and added a second consecutive victory after the catalogue was printed, being awarded a rating of 93.
We can't deny that we've been lucky with this sale and it definitely helps giving you that extra bit of confidence. It's an easy sell for us, no doubt. We bought four horses this time around and this one looks like he can be competitive in handicaps.
©ZuzannaLupa
Another Wild Card went the way of Harold Kirk in FRERE TUCK (lot 400), a three-year-old AQPS who made his racecourse debut a winning one on June 27, scoring over an extended mile and a half in a provincial bumper. Kirk commented on the charge of Philippe Chemin and Christophe Herpin:
The trainer liked him and he has sold good horses before, he definitely knows what a good horse is. He has a big frame to fill and will be a bit of a long term project for us but is a lovely horse with ability.
©ZuzannaLupa
Agent Gérard Larrieu made a significant contribution to the sale's turnover in a small amount of time, offering €345,000 for MASTERPIECE (lot 389) and €445,000 for ESTEVE (lot 395) minutes later.
The former came from the yard of André Fabre with a pair of Listed placings from four starts this term and a rating of 98 to his name. Ths son of Matercraftsman will swap the colours of Ballymore Thoroughbreds for those of Shael Al Kuwari, one of Qatar's most prominent owner who notably won the HH The Emir's Trophy in 2016 and 2018 courtesy of fellow Arqana purchase THE BLUE EYE.
Esteve was trained by Jean-Claude Rouget for long-time patron Daniel-Yves Trèves and offered as part of a reduction sale from the latter. Also by Mastercraftsman, he completed a hat-trick in the run-up to the auction, culminating with a dominant display in the L. Derby du Languedoc after the catalogue was printed.
Both horses will now join the stables of Jassim Ghazali and be prepared for the winter season in Qatar.
Masterpiece ©ZuzannaLupa
Esteve ©ZuzannaLupa
The yard of Chantilly trainer Nicolas Clément has been an extremely happy hunting ground for Willie Mullins and his team, with no less than four Group horses having been sourced from there in recent years. It started with the filly LIMINI, a €100,000 purchase at the 2014 Arc Sale who became a top class hurdler, and continued with the likes of MERI DEVIE, MELON and LAW GIRL, all fruitful buys for the master of Closutton.
The three-year-old gelding STAKING will be hoping to follow in their hoofsteps after falling to Harold Kirk for €140,000. The son of Stormy River has only had four starts to date, culminating with a victory over a mile at ParisLongchamp on June 28, which prompted his addition to the Summer Sale catalogue as a Wild Card entry.
We have had a very successful association with Nicolas, smiled Harold Kirk, and he recommanded this horse warmly. Although he has only run over a mile to ten furlongs, his dam stayed a mile and a half and he was always finishing strongly in his races so there is every chance that he will stay the trip.
©ZuzannaLupa
Gonzeville was the star act of the breeding stock session as a half-sister to this year's Gr.1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine TEPPAL offered in foal to first season sire Recorder. The Haras de Montfort et Préaux offering hails from a family replete with classy fillies headed by WITH YOU, WE ARE, LISTEN IN, LILY'S ANGEL etc. Crispin de Moubray placed the winning bid of €150,000 and commented:
She is going to stay in France but unfortunately I can't name my client. This is a family I have know for a long time as I bought the dam Jummana as a yearling on behalf of Maurice Lagasse and advised him with the matings all along. I notably chose Camacho because Jummana is a very big mare who needs to visit smaller stallion - and the result was Teppal.
©ZuzannaLupa
Having been relegated to the underbidder seat on a number of occasions, Bertrand Le Métayer was not to be denied for the final lot into the ring, a son of first season sire Masked Marvel offered by The Channel Consignment. The gelding is a half-brother to the smart LISA DE VASSY who was placed at Listed level on the flat this season.
He is for a client who keeps his horses with Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, explained Le Métayer. I was underbidder on the two Martalines who sold for €145,000 and am delighted to be taking this one home. I think the sire could be very good with his jumpers.
©ZuzannaLupa
Pascal Noue's Haras de la Hêtraie was another to celebrate the six-figure sale of a son of Martaline after their two-year-old CLERVAL exited the ring with a €145,000 price tag. The dam is a half-sister to the top class chaser ROYAL AUCLAIR, from the family of DON MIRANDE. Willie Browne signed the docket and indicated that the gelding would likely be offered for resale next year.
©ZuzannaLupa
Offered by Jean-Marie Callier, a Poliglote half-brother to the seven-time Grade 1 winner over fences SILVIANACO CONTI caused a mighty stir in the ring and went on to set a new record price for a store sold at ARQANA. Guillaume Macaire placed an opening bid of €100,000 and the price swiftly rose to €180,000 with the hammer coming down in favour of the Royan-based trainer. Macaire was stood alongside Pierre Pilarski, who achieved fame in racing courtesy of his champion trotter BOLD EAGLE and has been a growing force at National Hunt sales of late.
Pierre and I are going to partner in this horse, indicated Macaire. I know the family well as I used to train Silvianaco Conti and Ucello Conti among others. We are looking for quality horses and couldn't bypass this one. He is also one of the very last Poliglotes around so we are thrilled to have him.
©ZuzannaLupa
Haras de Montaigu's stalwart Martaline, who suffered a health scare a few weeks ago, will gain some encouragement from the persisting popularity of his progeny in the ring. Offered by Haras des Loges, GALANT DU CHENET became his second two-year-old son to sell for six figures today when falling to Haras du Saubouas for €145,000.
The bay is the first foal out of the smart VIVIANE ROYALE, who won the Gr.3 Prix Bournosienne and is herself a daughter of the dual Gr.1 runner-up MA ROYALE. This is the family of the top jumpers SAINT DU CHENET, TANAIS DU CHENET, GALANT MOSS etc.
He is a fantastic looking horse with a very lose walk, expressed Paul Basquin. We will take him back to the farm and have a think about his future.
Bertrand Le Métayer had to go to €100,000 to take home a son of Saint des Saints out of the Kahyasi mare Popova offered by Charles Brière's Fairway Consignment. Popova was placed at Group level over jumps and is a half-sister to the Wildenstein colour-bearers PRAIRIE RUNNER and PACIFIC RIM, both Stakes winners on the flat.
He is for James Douglas-Gordon, said Le Métayer. We have been lucky with Saint Des Saints before and felt that the pedigree of this horse offered some guarantees of precocity.
©ZuzannaLupa
Haras de Cercy celebrated the first six-figure transaction in the sore section when a grey son of Martaline commanded a final bid of €120,000 from Pascale Ménard. The agent was standing alongside John Dwan of Ballyreddin Stud and commented on the half-brother to Gr.2 Prix Georges Courtois scorer VEZELAY, from the family of NUPSALA, UCELLO II and VANILLA CRUSH:
It wasn't really planned but I really fell in love with this horse. He is such a spectacular individual from a beautiful family, we just had to have him. Initially it was only going to be a couple of partners but I think there might be more people interested now! We haven't decided yet where he will go.
©ZuzannaLupa