A poignant purchase for Juddmonte as Treve's half-sister fetches €675,000

There was a poignant subplot playing out during a blockbuster session of the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale on Saturday as the Head family offered the first batch of lots from their Haras du Quesnay dispersal.

Among the blue-chip pedigrees was the half-sister to the brilliant dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve who sold to Juddmonte for €675,000 in front of a packed out auditorium.

From the final crop of Le Havre, the filly was born on May 11 earlier this year and is also the final foal out of the Heads’ homebred blue hen Trevise, who not only bred the six-time Group 1 winner Treve but also Listed-winning Trois Rois and the Listed-placed Trophee, who in turn produced the Australian Group 2 scorer Francesco Guardi.

“She’s a beautiful filly with an outcross pedigree,” said Simon Mockridge, general manager of Juddmonte. “Prince Khalid and Prince Khalid’s family have been great friends with the Head family for many years and had horses in training with them.

Vincent Rimaud (green hat) thanks Simon Mockridge for buying the half-sister to TreveCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

“It’s sad to see the end of Haras du Quesnay but she’s a very special filly so we’re delighted to buy her. Obviously you’ve got a dual Arc winner under the first dam so it’s an amazing opportunity. I know she’s the last foal but for a May foal she’s very strong and very well made.”

Reflecting on the six-figure transaction, Quesnay’s stud manager Vincent Rimaud said: “Juddmonte is such a great operation so we’re very proud that she goes there. For us, we know she’s going to a very good home and they will do the absolute best for her. It’s great for everyone who has a bit of the family. The sisters are producing well and we’ve sold many of them. It’s a family that’s been built at Quesnay so it’s a great story, but this is the end of it.”

The first four lots from the dispersal came under the hammer on Saturday, and the Le Havre filly was followed a few hours later by her half-sister Toride, an unraced daughter of Fuisse who has already bred the Listed-winning Lady Day and the Group 3-placed Maximus. The ten-year-old, who was offered in foal to rising star sire Zarak, was sold to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, acting on behalf of Jeffrey Hobby’s Brightwalton Stud, at €340,000.

Treve's half-sister strikes a pose in the Deauville sales ringCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

The day-one draft brought receipts totalling €1,525,000, with the other transactions including Jill Lamb Bloodstock’s €350,000 acquisition of Perle D'Auge in foal to Persian King. The five-year-old daughter of Le Havre was bred by Haras De Saint Pair and descends from Andreas Putsch’s foundation mare Pearly Shells.

Quesnay purchased Perle D'Auge for just €22,000 in 2020 but the page has improved significantly since with her Frankel half-sister Eternal Pearl winning this year’s Group 3 Prix Minerve and the Princess Royal Stakes, while her dam’s half-sister Pearls Galore won the Group 1 Matron Stakes.

The Quesnay dispersal continues through the four-day Breeding Stock Sale.

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