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

Shamardal mare Nafithaa hails from a Shadwell family that includes 1,000 Guineas and Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Shadayid and duly topped the third day of the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale when making €51,000 to Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock.

Consigned by Haras du Mont-Dit-Mont, the four-year-old was covered by Intello earlier this year and is out of the stakes-placed Zamindar mare Lanansaak, a daughter of the Group-placed Bunood.

Bunood, in turn, is a daughter of Sadler's Wells and Azdihaar, a winning half-sister to the top-class Shadayid.

Nafithaa, who is unraced, is related to two winners - the Roger Varian-trained dual scorer Montather and Zaajirah, a promising winner of her only start to date for the Newmarket trainer at Kempton in October.

Matt Houldsworth said: "She's been bought for an existing client. At the moment, she could stay in France. It's hard to buy mares by Shamardal and she's from a nice Shadwell family.

"Her two-year-old sister was an impressive winner for Roger Varian and the three-year-old brother has won two races from three starts, so that is a young active family."

'Superbly bred' Thaahira heading to Cracksman

Thaahira, a Dynaformer relation to high-class broodmare Tanaghum and from the family of champion miler Ribchester, was subject of an intense period of bidding when selling to MAB Agency for €46,000.

The 13-year-old is out of Irish 1,000 Guineas and Celebration Mile victress Mehthaaf - a half-sister to July Cup scorer Elnadim - and is related to Premio Lydia Tesio winner Najah and Tanaghum, the dam of Group 1 winner Matterhorn, Andrew Balding's high-class Bangkok and Mujarah, the producer of multiple Group 1 winner and young sire Ribchester.

Festive cheer under way at Arqana's sale groundCredit: Thierry Boisson

Thaahira, who has produced four winners to date, has a yearling colt by Ribchester and was covered by Iffraaj this term. She will visit Cracksman next year.

Purchaser Marc Antoine Berghgracht said: "She's superbly bred and has more or less produced only winners.

"She's carrying to a confirmed sire and with a good covering date. We'll hope the Iffraaj foal will sell well, and she'll go to Cracksman."

Narvick all out for Coulonces' Autumn

The Coulonces-consigned Autumn Snow looked an intriguing lot on paper and the daughter of Invincible Spirit was ultimately snapped up by Narvick International for €30,000.

Once-raced for Godolphin, Autumn Snow - who has a Highland Reel yearling filly and produced a colt by Sioux Nation this year - is carrying to Le Brivido and hails from a high-class family.

The five-year-old is a full-sister to July Stakes and Sirenia Stakes runner-up Figure Of Speech, while their dam Epic Similie is a half-sister to Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner and Haras du Logis sire Ultra. Epic Similie is also a half-sibling to Prix Minerve victress Synopsis.

Further back, Autumn Snow can also count Premio Umbria scorer Proskona, the dam of Grade 2 winner and Prix de Psyche runner-up Calista, among her page.

Elbegei falls the way of BBA Ireland

BBA Ireland also signed for a Coulonces lot when going to €25,000 for the unraced Dark Angel filly Elbegei, who hails from the family of Prix Corrida winner and Pretty Polly third Elopa.

A lot walks around the parade ring before her turn under the hammerCredit: Thierry Boisson

The three-year-old, who is currently carrying to Montfort et Preaux's Recorder, is out of the Listed-winning Dalakhani mare Elik, who is a half-sister to Australian Group 3 winner Mugatoo. Her page also includes Premio Ribot scorer Eagle Rise and Gerling-Preis winner Eye Of The Tiger.

BBA Ireland also struck the winning bid at €22,000 for Haras de Bouquetot's Neeran, a winning daughter of Style Vendome and a half-sister to Ed Walker's admirable multiple Group winner Stormy Antarctic plus Queen Mary runner-up Al Johrah.

Sale statistics

From 164 lots offered, 137 sold for a clearance rate of 84 per cent and turnover of €1,572,500 (down 24 per cent on the €2,055,500 last year, when 209 lots sold from 277 offered at a clip of 75 per cent), an average of €11,478 (up 17 per cent on 2019), and a median of €10,000, which was up 54 per cent from last year.

The Arqana Breeding Stock Sale concludes on Tuesday from 10am local time.

Arqana Breeding Stock Sale results

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Record-breaking £52,000 purchase Indianapolis set for dual-purpose career