Arqana Grand Steeple Sale

Four-time Group 1 victor Ivanhowe sired the top two lots for a combined €830,000 during Arqana's Grand Steeple Sale at Auteuil on Saturday. Leading the way was lot 13, Isaac Of York, who sold for €500,000 to Ryan Mahon, Dan Skelton Racing and Manresa Agency. Offered by trainer Mathieu Pitart, the listed winner over jumps also finished second in the G2 Prix Amadou over this course in April. Under the Group 2-winning second dam is group scorer Tertullus (Monsun), while farther back are the group-winning sires Turfkonig and Tiberius Caesar....

A trio of wildcards, anchored by Isaac Of York (Ivanhowe) (lot 13), have been added to the Arqana Grand Steeple Sale. Grade 2-placed over hurdles, the four-year-old won the Listed Grande Course de Haies des 4 Ans on his seasonal debut. Other late additions include Here Be Dragons (Doctor Dino) (lot 12), second on his hurdling debut. His dam has already foaled multiple Grade 1 winners Mighty Potter (Martaline), Caldwell Potter (Martaline) and Brighterdaysahead (Kapgarde), as well as graded winners French Dynamite (Kentucky Dynamite) and Indiana Jones (Blue Bresil). Rounding...

Four wildcards have been added to Arqana's Grand Steeple Sale at Auteuil Racecourse after racing on Saturday, May 16. Debut hurdle winner Stecaster (Telecaster) (lot 10) is joined by 2850-metre winner and AQPS Nils Holgerson (Ivanhowe) (lot 9). Lot 8 is Don Dandy (Sea The Moon), a five-length winner over hurdles at Compiegne lasts out; and Azou (The Grey Gatsby) (lot 7) was runner-up in a hurdle race and from the family of Adagio (Wiener Walzer), winner of the G1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle. For the complete catalogue, please visit the...

Doctor Dino (Fr)'s Gold Dancer (Fr) (lot 7) was the most expensive lot at Arqana's Grand Steeple Sale when selling to PB Bloodstock, Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins on Wednesday. Consigned by Ecurie Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, the 4-year-old gelding won his second start over hurdles at Compiegne and made €250,000. The same buyers also snapped up debut-winning jumper Karia Des Blaises (Fr) (Jeu St Eloi {Fr}) (lot 3) for €130,000 from the draft of Emmanuel Clayeux. Kaleosun (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}) (lot 4) was second on the buyers' sheet...

The 2023 edition of the Grand Steeple Sale will be held by Arqana Online on Wednesday May 17 from 5-6 p.m. The online-only auction will offer a top selection of National Hunt performers with recent form. Entries are now open and the catalogue, as well as registration to bid, will be available online on May 8. Some of the horses in the catalogue will be present at the Deauville Sales ground during the afternoon for inspection by buyers on Friday, May 12.

Arqana's Grand Steeple Sale at Saint-Cloud Racecourse grossed €2,313,000 with 29 lots sold from 35 (83%) through the ring. The Magdalen Bryant Dispersal accounted for €1,043,000 of that total, which consisted of the first 21 lots in the catalogue. The average was €79,759 and the median was €55,000. An even 10 lots made six figures or better, and it was the AQPS Just A Princess (Fr) (Ivanhowe {Ger}) (lot 5), a member of trainer David Cottin's consignment and part of that dispersal, that topped the sale. The sophomore was knocked...