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Over  the  first  of  two  evenings  forming Part  I of the  catalogue, 67 yearlings  sold – a  clearance rate of  82%  –  for  a  cumulated  €17,302,000 and  an impressive average price  of €258,239. These figures are way  clear  of their  2016 counterparts, however it must be reminded that Part  I of the  catalogue extends alphabetically across the  first  two  nights hence  year-on-year comparisons can only safely be done at the end of day 2.

Galileo, Monceaux, Mayfair the winning trio

It was left to the very final lot through the ring (lot 88) to break the seven-figure barrier, a feat achieved by a half-brother to two  Group  1 winners in ECTOT and MOST IMPROVED. MV Magnier signed  the docket on behalf of a partnership also involving Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators and explained: “He is just a very nice horse and a half-brother to two Group  1 winners so we hope  he can become one too. Galileo did  something out  of the ordinary this year [siring his 70th Gr.1 winner] and we believe that the momentum will only carry on.”

A couple of hours earlier, another filly by the same sire and  from the  same consignment almost reached that round figure but was instead knocked down for  €950,000, with Peter  Doyle  doing the bidding this time.  Lot 51 is out of the Listed winner PRUDENZIA, whose progeny has become a regular hot commodity at ARQANA since her first foal, a filly by Montjeu, sold for €600,000 and went on to win the Gr.1 Irish Oaks as CHICQUITA. Three of her foals are now owned, in full or in part, by Mayfair Speculators as this filly is joining the  now  four-year-old CRAVEN’S LEGEND, by Invincible Spirit,  as well  as her year-older full sister, who cost €1.4 million in the same ring twelve months ago and is now in training with Aidan  O’Brien.

“Back into  the  family!”  exclaimed Mayfair  Speculators’ Derek Brugman. “We just love this female line, we have Craven’s Legend  who  unfortunately was injured but  is now  back  in  training, and  the  two-year-old is a late- maturing filly  that Aidan  is very fond  of. This one  will stay in France to be trained by André Fabre.”

The  Doyle/Brugman tandem  came   back   for  more to secure  lot  65,  a  half-sister to the  Gr.3 perfomer NORMANDY   EAGLE,   from  the   Wertheimer  family of  PLUMANIA   and   LEFT HAND.  The  final   bid   was €700,000.

“We just  love the  pedigree”, offered Brugman. “For us she was one of the two  best fillies in the sale, the other one being the daughter of Prudenzia that we bought earlier. She is a very good  mover  with great  substance and  obviously from an excellent family. In the  longer term, you  can’t  have  enough Galileo  fillies  to breed from! She will stay in France and go to Nicolas Clément”.

Japanese buyers to the fore

Japanese investors are out in force at Deauville this week and  several of them made their  presence felt  on the opening session, headed by Koji Maeda  of North Hills Company, whose powerful stable has notably included Japanese  Derby  winner and  Arc  4th  KIZUNA.  Acting on his behalf was Dr. Fukuda, who signed  at €650,000 for a Dubawi filly (lot 55), once again from Ecurie des Monceaux. The filly’s dam ROYAL HIGHNESS was the first  Group  1  winner in the  colours  of the  operation when taking the Gr.1 Beverly D. Stakes back  in 2007, and she has proved just as good in the breeding barn with dual  Group  2 winner FREE PORT LUX among her progeny to date. “She is by one of the leading sires in Europe  and the female family is excellent”, offered Mr. Fukuda. “She will  go back to Japan to be trained. Mr. Maeda  has been  looking for very well-bred fillies to support his young sire Kizuna.”

While  North Hills  has been  a regular name on  the ARQANA score board, that of Tetsuhide Kunimoto was appearing for the first time and the major Japanese owner made quite a splash,  signing at  €360,000 for a Frankel  filly (lot 54) out  of the top class sprinter RESTIADARGENT, offered by Haras de Colleville,  and at €340,000 for a colt from the first crop of Kingman (lot 44)  out  of  the  Gr.2 Park  Hill  Stakes  runner-up PHIZ, another member of the Monceaux draft.

Kenji Ryotokuji, who  bought at Deauville for the first time last year, was also back in action.

Frankel fever rolls on

The exploits of Frankel’s offspring on the track show no signs of abating, as evidenced this week by EMINENT’s brilliant display  in the Gr.2 Prix de Kergorlay,  and his yearlings proved once again in high demand.

Charles Gordon-Watson went to €650,000 to buy a half-sister to the  Listed-winning juvenile SIVOLIERE (lot 66) offered by Haras d’Etreham. She is out of the Stakes victrix  Sefroua, herself a daughter of the great racemare Sophisticat. The agent  indicated that the filly would remain in France to be trained by André Fabre for a British  client.

A  half-brother to champion juvenile and  exciting young  sire DABIRSIM  (lot 57) earlier  went the  way of  Richard Knight for  €550,000 and  will  carry  the colours of Hussein Lootah, who already owns a smart Frankel colt in FRANKUUS.

Another relative  to a multiple Group  1 winner, lot 10 was the  first to reach  half  a million when selling  for €550,000 to Shadwell’s Angus Gold. The half-brother to the top class miler QEMAH was offered by Haras du Cadran. That price  was matched later in the eveningby a  Declaration Of War filly (lot 67) from the draft of Haras d’Etreham. Out of the Listed winner SHAWARA, she  is a half-sister to Gr.1 Yorkshire  Oaks  and  Prix Vermeille scorer SHARETA. Nicolas  de Watrigant’s Mandore Agency was the winning bidder.