Sale topping filly by Bouquetot newcomer Al Wukair bound for Britain

Several buyers chose to wait until late in the day before coming out to bid for a filly by Al Wukair, who at €57,000 topped the opening session devoted to Flat-bred yearlings at the Arqana Autumn sale.

Sebastien Desmontils won out at the end of a prolonged battle for the already-named Al Russa, consigned by the Head family's Haras du Quesnay.

And while the filly will head to Britain, there is every chance she will see plenty of action on French racecourses as she will be in the care of a pretty Francophile trainer.

"She is for George Baker, who loves to buy horses in France and the filly is for a client of his," said Desmontils, whose Chauvigny Global Equine is becoming a more and more potent force in the sales ring, alongside his work as nominations manager at Haras de Bouquetot.

"She was the standout filly in the sale and has a lot of quality and no small resemblance to her sire. She was originally due to pass through the ring in October but she had a minor overreach so she deserved to be at the top end of the market in this catalogue."

The filly is from a deep Quesnay family, being out of an Anabaa mare in Trissa, a half sister to the excellent producer Treasure.

View Arqana results here

Al Wukair is one of four Bouquetot stallions making his debut this sales season and his stock have been well received, with his owners Al Shaqab paying €95,000 for a colt out of the Cape Cross mare Hazely here in October.

This was the first of five sessions this week in Deauville, where French lockdown restrictions have obliged

Arqana to conduct all business in the open air and restrict attendance to essential personnel.

At the halfway stage the clearance rate was loitering dangerously just above 50 per cent but the market rallied as the afternoon wore on, with 156 of the 214 lots offered finding a new home at a healthier 73 per cent.

For much of the day a colt by the late Pedro The Great - consigned by his former home, the Haras de la Haie Neuve - led the way, having been sold to trainer Mathieu Brasme for €21,000.

“He is a good looking colt who looks built to go racing,” Brasme said of Juste Bere, another to have originally been earmarked for the October catalogue. “He is from among the last generations produced by Pedro The Great, who was a good stallion. On top of that he is from a good farm which produces tough and sound horses.”

Sebastien Desmontils signs for the day's top lotCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

A second colt by the late son of Henrythenavigator also featured among the top lots, with trainer Joel Boisnard paying €22,000 for the yearling, presented by the Haras des Pierres Follets.

Doctor Dino holds the distinction of being the most expensive jumps stallion in France but Richard Gibson’s former globetrotter has produced some good Flat performers, several of whom have been campaigned by the Devin family, owners of the Haras du Mesnil where he stands.

Henri-Francois Devin sent out the homebred Golden Legend to score twice at Group 3 level and finish second in the Grade 1 EP Taylor Stakes, as well as Prix de Diane runner-up Physiocrate.

Standing with Desmontils, Devin signed at €26,000 for a filly consigned by Haras de Castillon.

"She is the daughter of a stallion who is as good with his Flat progeny as with his jumpers," he said. "She is a very good looking individual and I bought her on spec."

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