'I really like the pedigree' - Criquette Head buys blue-blooded Bursa at €38,000

The fourth and final day of Arqana's Breeding Stock Sale was topped by Haras de Bouquetot's unraced Frankel mare Bursa, who went the way of Haras du Quesnay for €38,000.

The five-year-old is out of a winning full-sister to Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine Plumania and was consigned carrying to Al Wukair, whose first runners hit the track next year.

Bursa has a yearling filly by Ectot, while she produced a filly by Al Wukair earlier this year. She hails from a family that also includes Prix du Muguet scorer Plumatic and Prix de Royallieu victress Balladeuse, the dam of Prix Vermeille heroine Left Hand and Prix Jean Romanet third Romanciere.

Criquette Head, whose family own and run Haras du Quesnay, said: "I really like the mare, and the pedigree! It's a lovely Wertheimer family and it's great to get into it. The mare corresponds to several of our stallions, but the choice doesn't stop there."

Al Hamla sets the early standard

It was a productive day for Al Shaqab's breeding arm as the well-related Al Hamla was snapped up by Windfield Bloodstock for €27,000 early on in the session.

The unraced daughter of Medaglia D'Oro, who was covered by Zelzal this year, is out of the Grade 3-winning Rock Of Gibraltar mare Genuine Devotion, herself a half-sister to multiple Group 1 victor and leading sire Mastercraftsman.

The Arqana parade ringCredit: Thierry Boisson

Genuine Devotion, who has also produced Bosra Sham Stakes third Genuine Quality, can also count Moyglare Stud Stakes runner-up Famous and Melbourne Cup third Il Paradiso among her immediate family.

Jean Biraben explained Windfield's purchase by saying: "She's a beautiful mare by Medaglia D’Oro with a page - her dam is by Rock Of Gibraltar and a sister to Mastercraftsman. It's a young pedigree that could turn something up."

Al Wukair colt makes €22,000

Haras du Saubouas went to €22,000 to land the winning bid for La Motteraye's Al Wukair colt foal from the family of Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Style Vendome.

Out of the unraced Green Tune mare Green Media, the grey colt can also count Cherry Hinton winner Crime Of Passion - the granddam of Golden Shaheen scorer Muarrab and Molecomb winner Bungle Inthejungle - among his page.

Sale statistics

From 167 lots offered on Tuesday, 131 sold for a clearance rate of 78 per cent and turnover of €839,500 (64 per cent down on the €2,308,500 last year, when 122 lots sold from 184 offered at a clip of 66 per cent), an average of €6,408 (down 66 per cent on 2019), and a median of €4,500, which was down 55 per cent from last year.

Aggregate turnover for the four days was €25,284,500, a dip of 26 per cent on last year's €34,384,500, with 557 lots sold from 704 offered for a clearance rate of 79 per cent, up three per cent on 2019. The average was €45,394 (down eight per cent) and median €17 000 (down 11 per cent).

More sales news

'She's from a nice Shadwell family' - Houldsworth goes to €51,000 for Nafithaa

'She's by a super sire': Blandford go to €160,000 for Wootton Bassett filly foal

'She was the one I really wanted' - James Delahooke nets Durance for €750,000