Preis der Diana third Virginia Joy tops Arqana's Arc Sale at €975,000

Virginia Joy stole the show at Arqana's Arc Sale at Saint-Cloud on Saturday evening, when hammered down for €975,000 to Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock.

The German-trained daughter of Soldier Hollow landed the Group 3 Mehl-Mulhens-Trophy this term on her first start for Marcel Weiss and followed up with a third behind Miss Yoda in the Group 1 Preis der Diana.

Having most recently finished runner-up in a Group 2, the filly was offered by Panorama Bloodstock for Gestut Auenquelle and sold with an entry in the EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine.

Zerolo, Nicolas de Watrigant, of the Mandore International Agency, and Anne-Sophie Yoh-Benet, of Yoh Equine Agency, went head-to-head in a bid to secure the three-year-old filly, with Zerolo having the last word.

Zerolo, taking instruction in English over the phone, would not say who the buyer was but confirmed Virginia Joy would take up her engagement in the EP Taylor on October 18.

Coeursamba, a daughter of The Wow Signal, was a €40,000 purchase from Arqana as a yearling and repaid connections ten times over when selling to Paul Basquin of Haras du Saubouas for €400,000.

Basquin said: “I've bought her for Mohamed Fahad Al Attiyah. She was our pick of the sale. The owner has already had a very good experience with Jean-Claude Rouget thanks to Mission Impassible.

"His wish is to once again work with Monsieur Rouget, and we're delighted to get her at this price.”

Since winning her maiden at Saint-Cloud in June, the juvenile has been placed twice in Group company, including when third behind the unbeaten See The Rose, and she was a fair fifth in what was a rough Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Sunday for her new owner.

The Listed-placed Dick Whittington sells for €270,000 to John HammondCredit: Christophe Taniere

John Hammond went to €270,000 to secure Dick Whittington, a War Command three-year-old placed in Listed company on his last start, and before that fourth in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart.

Hammond said of the dual winner: “He's got a lovely CV. He’s been well trained and looks like he’s still on the up. He’s just a nice late-maturing horse and has been well looked after by Yann Barberot. He’s got a good rating 49 and is only three so there’s lots to like.”

German filly Kalifornia Queen, sixth behind Wonderful Tonight in Saturday's Prix de Royallieu, heads to Chad Brown's stable in America after selling for €260,000 to Hubert Guy.

Guy said of the Lope De Vega three-year-old: “She's very consistent and, while she isn’t big, she's a real Group-class filly. She's already won a Group 2 with a really good turn of foot. She's very healthy, moves well, and ran well today over a trip and on ground which might be more extreme than she really wants.

"She'll go to New York to be trained by Chad Brown. He has done well with Lope De Vega of course with Newspaperofrecord, and this filly is already a Group 2 winner so she's a safe bet, and will make a good broodmare after her racing career.”

Step By Step was another to have run at Longchamp earlier in the day and the Prix Chaudenay third made €320,000 to Emmanuel de Seroux from Barberot’s stable.

Step By Step: the Group-placed son of Sidestep made €320,000 to Emmanuel de SerouxCredit: Christophe Taniere

The son of Sidestep struck in the Listed Derby du Languedoc in June before two placed efforts in Group company at Longchamp this autumn.

A total of 19 horses went under the hammer, with 11 lots selling for €3,050,000, an average of €277,273 and median of €260,000.

Freddy Powell, executive director of Arqana, said: “In spite of the unfavourable economic climate, we have still seen positive signals.

"The demand for quality profiles remains strong, with European and particularly French black type being valued worldwide. There have been some fine transactions that will, among other things, enable young French trainers and owners to reinvest. These are positive signs in the run-up to the October Yearling Sale.”

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