20 LISTED AND GROUP WINNERS IN THE 2017 ARC SALE CATALOGUE
Nestled in the heart of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend, the Arc Sale, for which the catalogue is now online, takes place for the second year running in Chantilly. The prestigious Pharis Yard that is owned by trainer Robert Collet and located just a few minutes away from Chantilly Racecourse, will play host to the elite auction, which will start at 6.30pm on Saturday, 30 September.
Once again this year, numerous horses sold at this sale have excelled on the racetrack, notably in the United States where WAKE FOREST, WEKEELA, BANZARI and STORMY VICTORIA have shown themselves to be extremely consistent in top company on the grass. This is also the case in Europe, with the victories of SANS EQUIVOQUE, the winner of the Gr.2 Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte 13 days after being bought by Sun Bloodstock in 2016; the very consistent BEST FOUAD, the perennial leader of the Defi du Galop challenge; SUEDOIS, one of the best older sprinters in Great Britain; and in Australia, the former Wertheimer owned SLOW PACE won at Stakes level this year. In the jumps division, LIMINI has shone in the best of companies at Cheltenham and Punchestown for Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci while MINOTAUR, another former charge of Nicolas Clément’s, is now a dual winner over hurdles and highly regarded by his new connections, JP McManus and Jonjo O’Neill.
The 2017 catalogue contains a rich offering of 50 horses in training of which 38 (76%) have already earned black-type on the racetrack, and no less than 20 (40% of the catalogue) have already won from Listed up to Group 1 level. In addition, 10 wild cards are available for horses that perform well between now and the sale.
Promising Two-Year-Olds
The catalogue comprises seven two-year-old colts and fillies that have already shown their talent on the racetrack, including:
- Recent Gr.3 Prix d’Arenberg winner RIMINI (lot 6), rated 106. A son of Elusive City out of the speedy Prix des Reves d’Or victor KELTY IN LOVE, this colt trained by Christophe Ferland won on debut before following in his dam’s footsteps by finishing second in the Vichy Listed race. He went one better in Chantilly last Sunday when beating the highly regarded SOUND AND SILENCE.
- SO HI SOCIETY (lot 13), trained by young British handler Archie Watson, consigned by Jamie Railton. Very consistent, this daughter of the late Society Rock finished third in the Empress Stakes (L) at Newmarket after opening her account over 6f on her second start. She recently finished two and a half lengths in 4th in the Lowther Stakes (Gr.2).
- The winner of the Criterium du Fond Europeen de l’Elevage (L.) FRANCESCO BERE (lot 18). Didier Guillemin’s colt has won two of his three starts to date, including when besting STAGE MAGIC, who subsequently held off OLMEDO in the Gr.3 Prix des Chenes.
- PURSUING THE DREAM (lot 49), a very convincing winner of the Prix de la Vallee d’Auge (L.) on August 15 at Deauville. Trained by Jamie Osborne, this daughter of Dream Ahead has plenty of experience over short distances.
Flourishing Three-Year-Olds
A total of 33 three-year-old colts and fillies are catalogued, including several recent Group winners as well as some unexposed performers that are still improving.
The very talented sprinter ALADDINE (lot 5), offered from Freddy Head’s, is extremely consistent and has beaten the colts twice this season, notably in the Gr.3 Prix Texanita where she won by two lengths. She most recently finished third behind INNS OF COURT and AFRICAN RIDE in the Gr.3 Prix de la Porte Maillot, and has a rating of 109.
Pia Brandt consigns NORMANDEL (lot 12), a half-sister to Group 1 winner MONT ORMEL by Le Havre. Currently with a rating of 103, she won the Prix Melisande (L.) with authority at Compiegne this season and recently finished 3rd in the Prix de Liancourt (L.) at Chantilly over 1m2½f.
The Wertheimer Brothers offer no less than six homebreds, of which five are three-year-olds.
- Trained by Andre Fabre, GALIPAD (lot 22) is a shaping up like a top stayer for the future. This son of Galileo won La Coupe des Trois Ans (L.) at Lyon in the spring over the classic trip before finishing 3rd in the Prix Michel Houyvet (L.) over 1m7f at Deauville on August 13.
- AFRICAN RIDE (lot 26), from the yard of Carlos Laffon-Parias, performs well over 7f and has showed his liking for good ground as well as synthetic surfaces, like many Candy Ride’s. The winner of the Prix Montenica (L.) at Chantilly, he then finished 3rd in the Prix Djebel behind AL WUKAIR and 2nd to INNS OF COURT in the Gr.3 Prix de la Porte Maillot.
Jamie Railton consigns six horses, including two owned by Eckhard Sauren with exceptional performances:
- A recent Hannover Group 3 winner over 1m4f, his third consecutive win of the season, REAL VALUE (lot 28) now has a rating of 108. This Mario Hofer-trained colt is a son of the talented ROSEY DE MEGEVE, herself a half-sister to LADY VETTORI. Tough and versatile distance-wise, he was also placed three times at Listed and Group level as a two-year-old.
- ASHIANA (lot 42) is one of the leading fillies in Germany. She recently beat her elders when winning the Gr.2 T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis at Baden-Baden, a ‘Win & You’re In’ for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She also won two Listed races from five outings this season. Trained by Peter Schiergen, she has a rating of 107.
Andreas Wöhler sends two of the best German milers to the sale:
- POETIC DREAM (lot 37), the winner of the German 2,000 Guineas (Mehl-Mühlens Rennen Gr.2), and 3rd in a Group 2 on only his fifth outing. He has a rating of 112.
- EMPIRE OF THE STAR (lot 56) a son of Siyouni, Listed and Group placed four times this season. He notably finished 3rd in the abovementioned German 2,000 Guineas and most recently 2nd in the Prix du Pin Gr.3, gaining a rating of 108.
COX BAZAR (lot 51) has seen his rating go up by nine kilos since the beginning of the year, and has been placed in all of his runs. This Christophe Ferland-trained colt has won his last three starts including the Prix du Cercle (L.) on July 29 in very good style, giving him a rating of 112.
The Aga Khan Studs send three outstanding colts to the sale, including the current leader of the three-year-old stayers’ generation, DARBUZAN (lot 52), that counts four wins and a second in five runs. He caught the eye in the Prix Michel Houyvet (L.) at Deauville before doubling up in the Gr.3 Prix de Lutèce at Saint-Cloud this afternoon.
Henri-Alex Pantall is the trainer with the largest consignment with six lots, spearheaded by the very consistent YUMAN (lot 54) who is rated 107. The winner of four races from a mile to a mile and a quarter, he took the Prix Aymeri de Mauleon (L.) in the spring and recently finished 2nd to the well-regarded BUTHELA, a performance that earned him his best ever rating to date.
Established older horses
A total of 10 older horses make up the catalogue, led by the 2016 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr.1) hero SILVERWAVE (lot 16), also a triple Group winner at three, four and five years old. The HSpirit owned entire has been a model of consistency, registering seven wins and six places, the majority of which have come at Stakes level. Flawless in the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr.2) this season, he has the highest rating in the sale at 115 and will sell with his entry in the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Catalogue available at
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