Shalaa filly leads the way as v2 section continues Arqana's good week

Haras de Bouquetot resident Shalaa proved his appeal as his daughter - consigned by the Haras de la Louviere - led the way with little more than an hour of selling to go at the v2 sale which brought four days of trade in Deauville to a close on Tuesday.

The v2 is now well established as a source of more precocious talent and, following the strong business of the three days of the August Yearling sale, was well on its way to eclipsing last year’s figures last night.

A host of breeze-up consignors were in for Lot 393, while trainer Ken Condon was the last to give way, as Alec Waugh came on top at €135,000 for the Shalaa filly, who is out of an unraced Shirocco mare that is herself a half-sister to Prix Noailles runner-up More Than A Dream.

Lot 393, a daughter of Shalaa consigned by Haras de la Louviere, made €135,000 at Arqana on TuesdayCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

Waugh’s Jedburgh Stud will retain a share in the filly in a partnership with an owner whose colours are most readily associated with Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Signs Of Blessing.

"It’s for an association between Madame Isabelle Corbani and Jedburgh Stud and we’ll decide on a trainer later," said Waugh. "We have a Shalaa filly out of All Is Vanity that we like a lot, while his first produce has sold well so we were obliged to give plenty for this filly. I also love the connection between Zafonic and Mr Prospector in the pedigree."

No Nay Never at the double

No Nay Never was the sire of two six-figure lots, with the first heading to Mark Johnston for the account of Middleham Park Racing

Mandore International’s Nicolas de Watrigant gave the winning bid of €120,000 for the filly, consigned by Haras des Capucines and from the family of Group 3 winner and sire Iron Mask.

De Watrigant said: "She's a beautiful filly and a real two-year-old type. I've been very lucky with Middleham Park, we bought Boitron and also Tigre Du Terre so they were happy to give me another chance. It's a great operation and they do a great job for their syndicate owners."

Middleham Park Racing's Tim Palin (right) looks on as Mandore International's Nicolas de Watrigant (left) beats off Con Marnane (centre) for lot 423, a daughter of No Nay NeverCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

Middleham Park's Tim Palin added; "The thing that we really like about Nicolas is that he knows everyone here. He highlighted this as perhaps his standout horse of the day and she’s by a super-exciting sire in No Nay Never.

"We've got a No Nay Never we bought at the breeze-up sales from Con Marnane, who ironically was the underbidder here. That horse [Ventura Lightning] has just won the Hornblower at Ripon and we're hoping this one could be at least as good. She'll go to Mark Johnston."

Later Laurent Benoit also paid €120,000 for lot 433, a No Nay Never colt from the family of Zelzal and brought to market by Haras du Logis Saint Germain.

"Obviously No Nay Never is the stallion of the moment and this horse will come back for the breeze-up next spring," said Benoit.

Almanzor connection clicks for Etreham

Haras d'Etreham's Wootton Bassett was the other stallion to grab two slots in the top dozen, with both yearlings bred on the Chambure family farm where the son of Iffraaj stands.

Lot 403 seeks to replicate the genetic blend which produced the mighty Almanzor, being out of a Manduro half-sister to the dam of the dual Champion Stakes hero's dam, Darkova, with Wootton Bassett once again the sire of choice.

The immediate family also boasts this season's Coventry Stakes third, Guildsman, and drew a winning bid of €110,000 from Jean-Marie Callier, who signed jointly with Bertrand Le Metayer.

That reflects a new partnership between existing clients of each agent.

Wootton Bassett: yearlings by the Haras D'Etreham resident were popular at the Arqana v2 sale on Tuesday

"She is a very attractive filly which for me was one of standouts today," said Callier. "She is very well balanced. Obviously she will need a little bit of time but we’re very excited to buy her for her partnership.

"Haras du Quesnay are trying to invest in good bloodlines and are keen to race her as well, while the other partner is a stable run by a friend of theirs, Walter Butler, which now has some two-year-olds nearing readiness to race in France."

Trainer Henri-Francois Devin also struck at €60,000 for an Etreham-bred colt by Wootton Bassett out of an Elusive City daughter of the great racemare Volvoreta, winner of the Prix Vermeille and placed in both the Diane and the Arc.

Hits for Kendargent and Sir Prancealot

Pascal Bary went back to the source of proven success when striking at €105,000 for the already-named Lovera, a full-sister to the dual Group 3 placed juvenile Kenlova.

Both fillies were bred by Haras de Colleville and are by resident stallion Kendargent out of the Three Valleys mare, Ice Love.

"It's no great mystery, she's for the same owner as Kenlova [L Bloodstock]," said Bary, who also revelaed he will next aim this year's model at the Prix d'Aumale at Longchamp next month.

Sir Prancealot was the sire of a €90,000 colt knocked down to Fabrice Chappet at Arqana on TuesdayCredit: Peter Mooney

And Louviere completed an excellent day when achieving €90,000 for a son of Tally-Ho Stud's Sir Prancealot from a covering fee of just €8,000

The colt is the first produce from Rainbow Vale, a Moss Vale daughter of Debutante Stakes winner Rainbows For All.

Fabrice Chappet signed and said: "I was bidding on behalf of a client of Amanda Skiffington and so I hope I might get to train him."

Figures up on 2018

All the key indicators moved in a positive direction, with turnover edging past the €4 million mark and up a healthy 16 per cent.

The median and average were also up by double digits and Arqana must be pleased that this sector, which could have been more vulnerable than the previous three days to the headwinds of both Brexit uncertainty and a far from straightforward spring for some breeze-up consignors, has continued the progress from earlier in the week.

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