Strong Clearance Continues at Arqana
STRONG CLEARANCE CONTINUES AT ARQANA
By Alix Choppin
Business continued at a solid pace on day two of Arqana’s Autumn Sale yesterday as the yearlings took over from the horses in training. Of the 165 youngsters who went through the ring, 130 changed hands, maintaining a very high clearance rate of 79% (against 70% a year ago), and they grossed €2,023,500, a 6% improvement from 2013. The increase in the average price was particularly remarkable as it reached €15,565 (+58%).
The declining state of Italian racing is driving more and more owners, trainers and jockeys across the Alps, lured by the generous prize money as well as the premiums offered to French-bred horses. Two of the highest-priced yearlings illustrated this situation, as both were knocked down to Italian agents and will be trained by French-based Italian professionals. The sole offering by Rip Van Winkle (Ire) (lot 358), whose first juveniles caused quite a stir on the track this season, commanded €33,000 from Nicolo Riva’s European Bloodstock Management. Offered by Elevage de la Hactiere, the April-born colt was a standout on pedigree, being out of a half-sister to Group 1 hero and young sire Cima de Triomphe (Ire).
“He will go into training with Alessandro Botti in Chantilly,” Riva offered. “He is a late foal who still needs to fill out but the page is magnificent. I thought he was a fantastic opportunity at this price.”
Leading Roman trainer Gianluca Bietolini has followed in the footsteps of his fellow countryman Alessandro Botti, starting an antenna in Maisons-Laffitte early last year. The move has been swiftly rewarded, with his 17 runners in France this season collecting 9 wins, headed by a pair of unbeaten juveniles. Slew of Fortune (Ire) (Elusive City {Ire}) completed a hat trick while Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Jolly Good Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) won both his starts, including the Listed Prix des Sablonnets. Bietolini, accompanied by several of his owners and agent Marco Bozzi, was on hand in Deauville to look for fresh ammunition, and top of his shopping list was a Lawman (Fr) colt (lot 298) at €28,000. Bozzi signed the docket and explained, “He is for the same connections as Slew of Fortune [Scuderia Nuvolone], who was recently sold to Hong Kong. I thought the price was very reasonable for such a nice horse, by a popular sire and out of a black-type mare. He would have cost double at one of the earlier sales. Gianluca will have about 20 horses in training in France next season and we are hoping that the good form continues.” The colt, who was consigned by Haras de l’Hotellerie, is the third foal out of the stakes-placed Sakza (Ire) (Sakhee), herself a granddaughter of the great Miss Satamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}).
Later in the afternoon, the ubiquitous Siyouni (Fr), France’s champion sire of 2-year-olds elect with his first crop, saw one of his daughters (lot 397) sell for €30,000 to Herve Bunel’s Agence FIPS. The May foal is out of a half-sister to two black-type winners, from the family of German group scorers and sires Sommerabend (GB) (Shamardal) and Sommertag (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}). “I have bought her on behalf of Antonio Caro [owner of this year’s dual Classic heroine Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire})] and she will go to Christophe Ferland,” said Bunel. “I thought she was a classy filly with a very good walk. The dam may not have produced much so far but the pedigree is very solid further down, and of course Siyouni is proving a tremendous sire.”
The day’s top nine prices, headed by a €150,000 colt by Martaline (GB), were commanded by National Hunt-bred yearlings. The sale finishes tomorrow, starting at 1:00 p.m. local time.