'Exceptional' Penja raises €1.2 million to German connections

Penja, who holds an entry in Sunday's Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp, proved the premium asset in Arqana's Arc Sale when knocked down for €1.2 million to Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock.

Although promised as "something special" by the auctioneer, the Camelot filly was actually one of the very few horses not to be in the ring at Saint-Cloud on Saturday night.

Offered by trainer Jean-Claude Rouget and owned by Daniel-Yves Treves, she had been bought as a yearling from the auction house's October sale for €90,000 but received a bid of €200,000 almost as soon as bidding began here.

Already a winner of the Group 3 Prix de Psyche, Group 2 placed, Penja has obvious breeding potential but she is set to remain in competitive action for at least another season.

The Opera was initially said to be under consideration by her new connections, but there was thought to be some uncertainty about this as the session continued.

"She has been purchased for Mr Jurgen Sartori, a German client of mine," Boman said. "We are very excited to get her. She was the number one item in the sale. It's all about next year with her. She's an exceptional filly, with a great turn of foot. We are very happy."

Another from the Rouget yard, Saiydabad made a very quick second public appearance of the day as he changed hands for €575,000, the second highest lot, to Narvick International.

The Aga Khan's representative had an attractive profile, having been fourth to St Mark's Basilica in the Prix du Jockey Club and with a win in last month's Prix du Prince d'Orange on his card. The Blame colt had finished seventh in the Prix Dollar behind Dubai Honour earlier in the day.

Group 3 winner Adhamo, who was a place further back in the Dollar, was initially bought back but later a sale was agreed with agent Hubert Guy for €250,000. The Wertheimer family's Intello colt had won a Classic trial in the spring.

Guy said: "Adhamo has got very good form and was a winner of the Group 3. He will go to Chad Brown to be trained for Madaket. We felt that he was good value at this price."

Also bound for the United States is Coachello, who had won a 7f handicap at Longchamp last month for trainer Romain Le Dren Doleuze. The three-year-old gelded son of Dunkerque caught the eye of fellow handler Nicolas Clement, to the tune of €270,000.

Clement said: "He is going to go to the USA to Christophe [Clement]. My brother has already had a lot of success with this stallion, in particular with Blacktype. He will run for a syndicate."

Another with obvious scope as a broodmare was Tabera, who had struck several times at Group 3 level in Germany. The daughter of Gleneagles, from the family of top Stateside performer Midships, was selected by Michel Zerolo and Eric Puerari of Haras des Capucines for €400,000.

"She has been bought to breed from and will be retired to Haras de Capucines," said Zerolo. "She has a lot of Northern Dancer through her pedigree, so we will look at sending her to perhaps Wootton Bassett or No Nay Never."

Scherzo, an exciting two-year-old by Wootton Bassett who was recently second in the Group 3 Prix des Chenes, was another to make waves, the colt being bought over the phone by a client of Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock for €420,000.

It was proving quite a day for Haras de Bouquetot's Toronado, who had earlier fired in a couple of Group 2 winners in Australia, and his ultra-consistent grey Cash Equity was the first to undergo sustained bidding, including by telephone.

Offered by trainer Ludovic Gadbin and placed in a handful of Listed middle-distance events this year, the colt was pushed up to a sum of €245,000 as Nicolas de Watrigant's Mandore International won out.

"He has been bought for Sol Kumin and will go to the USA," said De Watrigant.

The Fabrice Chappet-trained Easter, an Exosphere colt, was the first to sit on the top of the standings when knocked down to Mandore for €150,000.

He was offered to dissolve a partnership which included prominent American owner Kumin and was not only a dual winner at Lyon but had finished fourth in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleu.

All in all, 19 of 34 lots sold at a 56 per cent clip, slightly lower than at the smaller catalogue 12 months ago.

The average was down six per cent per cent at €261,842 but the aggregate had risen 63 per cent to €4,975,000 from €3,050,000. The median had, however, dropped to €160,000 from €260,000.

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