Wootton Bassett (GB), Europe's leading second-crop sire who was thrust into the limelight this year by Almanzor (Fr), winner of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Champion S., proved a hot commodity during the third session of Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale in Deauville on Monday. He sired two of the top three highest-priced foals, with the day's most expensive mare also carrying to him.
Key figures for the session took a hit compared to 12 months ago, but cumulatively the sale is not far off last year. A total of 195 lots were sold on the day for €1,722,000, while 199 were sold last year for €2,222,400. The buyback rate of 25.6% was nearly on par with last year, but the average dropped 20.9% to €8,831, while the median was down 13.3% to €6,500. Over the first three days of the sale, 511 lots have changed hands for €21,315,500, compared to 576 sold for €23,601,400 last year. The buyback rate is up three points to 25%; the average is nearly equal to last year at €41,713, and the median is down 10% at €18,000.
Topping trade was lot 606, Trois Rivieres' Wootton Bassett colt from the family of six-time international Group 1 winner Pulsudski (Ire) (Polish Precedent) as well as the prolific Youmzain (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) and Creachadoir (Ire) (King's Best). The January-born bay was picked up by MAB Agency for €45,000.
Wootton Bassett briefly held the top two spots on the leaderboard when, 10 lots later, Ghislain Bozo's Meridian International went to €40,000 for lot 616, Haras de la Bourgeauville's grandson of the stakes-winning Prianca (Diktat {GB}). That price was bettered later in the session, however, by lot 606, a second-crop daughter of the Guineas winner Dawn Approach (Ire), who is represented by his first 2-year-olds next year. Lot 685, offered by La Motteraye Consignment, is out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner African Skies (GB) (Johannesburg), the dam of listed winner Calypso Beat (Speightstown). She was picked up by Anglo Irish Stable for €42,000.
The priciest mare of the day was Haras d'Ombreville's Anna Bora (Ger) (Big Shuffle {GB}) (lot 736), who was picked up by Eric Puerari for €36,000 in foal to Wootton Bassett. The 6-year-old is a half-sister to the G1 Deutsches Derby-second Antek (Ger) (Kallisto {Ger}), while further back in the family appear the likes of Australian Group 1 winners Helmet (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Epaulette (Aus) (Commands {Aus}), as well as this year's G1 Jean-Luc Lagardere winner National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
The fourth and final session of the sale takes place on Tuesday.
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