'Investing in Shadwell products was a great opportunity to strengthen the stud'

The market for Shadwell yearlings and two-year-old Arabian thoroughbreds was just as buoyant as that for broodmares at the Auctav sale on Wednesday, with a lot of activity around the choicest lots.

It was ITC/Athbah Stud who proved to be the most dynamic buyer, with seven lots acquired including the sale-topper, Aqwaam, a two-year-old by Mister Ginoux, bought for €90,000.

Aqwaam is by the champion and young stallion Mister Ginoux, out of international performer Ouassila Thabet, which helped raise wide interest in a juvenile whose physique turned heads.

Jean-Pierre de Gasté of ITC (International Thoroughbred Consultant) said: “Mister Ginoux is an exceptional stallion and Ouassila Thabet was a very good racehorse.

"We went to see the two-year-old in England and his physique was very pleasant. He has a bright future on the track and at stud. Investing in Shadwell products was a great opportunity to strengthen the stud."

ITC/Athbah Stud also acquired the yearling filly Fawaayed for €52,000, yearling filly Risaalah for €62,000, two-year-old filly Garmoosha for €30,000, two-year-old colt Hadayaa for €19,000, two-year-old colt Al Nasr for €26,000.

In total, €331,000 of the auction receipts were to be credited to this single investor.

De Gasté explained: “Athbah Stud is a fairly large stable with around 15 broodmares based in France at the Haras de Gouffern. These purchases will strengthen the presence of Athbah Stud in France but also in Saudi Arabia.

"We bought both colts and fillies. The latter, after a racing career, will be sent to stud.”

Athbah Stud, of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has had several top-notch horses in recent years around the world, such as Mashhur Al Khalediah, bred by Haras de Gouffern, winner of the Group 1 Jewel Crown and third in the Qatar Arabian World Cup, and now a stallion.

Bred by Athbah Stud, Jaazmah Athbah was second in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches; Mehdaaf Athbah was second in the Qatar Arabian World Cup; the promising Dergham Athbah was born and bred at Haras de Gouffern.

De Gasté said: “The Haras de Gouffern has been working closely with Athbah Stud since 2018. We breed both thoroughbreds and purebred Arabians within our 120 hectares near the Haras du Pin. The horses purchased during the Shadwell sale will come here to finish their growth before being sent to training structures in France, England and also Saudi Arabia.

"We would like to emphasise how much we appreciated this sale. It was quite convenient to bid online by being able to follow the auctions remotely at the same time as our clients who were with us by phone.

"They were really enthusiastic on social networks, on the application, and we experienced more emulation by this system than during physical sales.”

At the start of the sale, it was Torjomaan who led the way with a final price of €68,000 for New Approach Bloodstock. This yearling is out of Tashreefat, who had achieved the highest bid in 2021 for a Purebred Arabian with €310,000.

Agent Ajay Anne bought the promising yearling and said: “Torjomaan was purchased for one of my loyal customers, Helal Al Alawi. Helal is a very good trainer of Arabians and has won some big races here in the UAE and also in France, so he will be in very good hands.

"Torjomaan is the brother to three individual Group 1 winners and his pedigree is one of the best in Purebred Arabian racing. He's a collector's item."

Torjomaan will join Haras de Saubouas in France to finish his growth and be prepared for his future racing career.

“I would like to thank everyone at Auctav," said Anne. "It was a well organised sale, with all the information required to satisfy a client in buying high quality horses from a prestigious organisation like Shadwell. The sale experience was delivered professionally."

Arnaud Angeliaume, managing director of Auctav, said: “I would like to warmly thank Shadwell. The broodmares sale, then the yearlings and two-year-olds one, have proven that Auctav is now a benchmark agency in France as well as internationally.

"We were very impressed by the immense enthusiasm and respect around these two sales. The batches were of high quality, with some being truly exceptional. We end these auctions with €802,000 in turnover.

"We thank and congratulate the bidders and buyers, in particular ITC/Athbah Stud for their diligence throughout this sale, as well as all the new customers who discovered Auctav during this event.”

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