by Emma Berry
Arqana's Breeze-up Sale has been riding the crest of a Classic wave of late, with 2013 graduate The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) winning last year's G1 Prix du Jockey-Club before overturning dual Derby winner Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Champion S.
Brendan Holland's Grove Stud, which consigned The Grey Gatsby, ended last year's sale as leading vendor with offerings including the €750,000 top lot, Cannes (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). While that colt is yet to race, another son of Invincible Spirit sold the same day, and the fifth most expensive juvenile of the sale, will be put to the Classic test Sunday. Now named Karar (GB) and trained for Al Shaqab Racing by Francis-Henri Graffard–who has enjoyed Group 2 success with Sumbal (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and a listed victory with Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) this week alone–the James Wigan-bred colt lines up for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains after posting an impressive six-length debut at Saint-Cloud Mar. 19, before running second to subsequent G1 2000 Guineas runner-up Territories (Ire), who is also by Invincible Spirit, in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau.
Karar is not Graffard's only black-type earner from last year's Arqana Breeze-up as the young Chantilly trainer also has in his stable the second-top lot, Svoul (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who won on debut and has twice been listed-placed for Qatar Racing.
As the name implies, The Channel Consignment is a collaboration between two well known faces from either side of the Channel, Frenchman Alban Chevalier du Fau and English former jump jockey Jamie Railton. The duo bought Karar–originally a 55,000gns Norris/Huntingdon foal pinhook–as a yearling for 120,000gns and sold him on for €200,000, but he is not the only one of their 2014 graduates for whom they have high expectations this year. Another Graffard trainee, Vision Des Aigles (Fr) (Vision d'Etat {Fr}), holds an entry for the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club, while the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Zvarkhova (Fr) (Makfi {Ire}) is a candidate for the G1 Prix de Diane.
“We hope our results speak for themselves,” said Railton after yesterday's breeze session. “We're not just focused on fast times, we respect the horses and for us it's all about results on the track. Alban and I have been working together for four years now and in that time 14.8% of the horses we've sold are stakes horses.”
Their draft this year is the largest in the catalogue and, despite the withdrawal of a Sea The Stars (Ire) colt, still contains 15 juveniles by a range of sought-after stallions.
One which will arouse interest for rarity value alone is the filly catalogued as lot 15, the sole representative of the final crop of Germany's former champion sire Monsun (Ger) out of the Diesis (GB) mare Arriver, who has produced three winners in Japan. The draft also contains the only lot by the Ramseys' versatile Kitten's Joy (lot 23). The chestnut filly turned two only this week and is out of the multiple stakes winner Bold World (Fortunate Prospect), whose daughter Bold Union has emulated her dam by notching her own string of stakes victories, including the GIII Endine S.
It would be fair to say that Danehill's son Fastnet Rock (Aus) didn't make an instant impression on European breeders but plenty will be revising their opinions of the Coolmore stallion following a purple patch this spring. His latest northern hemisphere runner to turn heads was impressive Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Diamondsandrubies (Ire), while Cape Clear Island (Ire) was runner-up in the G3 Classic Trial at Sandown after bagging the lucrative Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy earlier that month. Two Fastnet Rock colts will face the judges in Paris, with lots 14 and 81 both being offered by Mocklershill. The latter, out of the Peintre Celebre mare Marie Laurencin (GB), is a half-brother to juvenile listed winner Junia Tepzia (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and one doesn't have to dig too deep in his family to find further illustrious winners. His grandam Glatisant (GB) (Rainbow Quest) is responsible for G1 2000 Guineas victor and sire Foostepsinthesand (GB) (Giant's Causeway) as well as Group 1 winner Pedro The Great (Henrythenavigator).
The second-top lot from the Osarus September Yearling Sale returns to auction today as lot 80. Selling from Ireland's Longways Stables, the Champs Elysees (GB) filly cost €85,000 last year, which is no surprise as she owns a desirable pedigree regardless of what she achieves on the track. Her dam Marella (GB) (Desert Prince {Ire}) is a half-sister to Kind (GB) (Danehill), whose stellar offspring include Frankel (GB), Noble Mission (GB) and Bullet Train (GB).
Osarus held its own breeze-up sale a little under a fortnight ago which proved to be a successful outing for Paul Basquin's Haras de Sabouas. Based in the southwest of France, the stud sold the top three lots, headed by a €65,000 Siyouni (Fr) filly. The team has travelled north to Paris with another eight 2-year-olds to sell, including three more daughters of Siyouni. Among that trio is lot 30, out of Chic Retreat (Elusive Quality), a half-sister to GI Eddie Read H. winner Sarafan (Lear Fan).
The candidates for this year's sale were put through their paces on the turf at Saint-Cloud racecourse on Friday morning.
“We're really happy with the breeze session,” reported Arqana's General Manager Olivier Delloye. “The vendors were pleased with the track, which had plenty of grass, and the ground was perfect.”
He added, “We're also pleased with the overall standard of the catalogue and to see such a good turnout for the breeze this morning. There were plenty of agents and French trainers, as well as representatives from Coolmore, Qatar Racing and Al Shaqab Racing.”
After withdrawals, around 120 juveniles are set to go under the hammer at Saint-Cloud at 2 p.m. local time Saturday.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.