The Doctor will see you now: Arqana again falls under the spell of dynamite Dino

A tense battle over a well-related son of France’s most in-demand sire Doctor Dino proved the highlight of a day’s trade in jumps-bred yearlings when competition was fierce for the most-highly-prized lots.

Haras du Mesnil’s stallion was responsible for the top three lots of the session and the buzz created by the initial raises for one particular colt descended to a hush, as Paul Basquin and Joffret Huet duelled from opposite sides of the ring.

Basquin looked to have won out at €160,000 as Huet waited for confirmation over the phone as to whether to proceed. He stayed in and might even have sensed the chance of victory at €180,000 when his opponent hesitated before upping the bid by just €1,000.

But in the end Basquin was not to be denied and at €200,000 the colt, brought to market by Haras de Pierres Follets on behalf of breeder Hubert Cerruti, became the most expensive National Hunt yearling sold in Deauville.

Paul Basquin signs for the €200,000 Capbello DinoCredit: Arqana/Zuzanna Lupa

Already named Capbello Dino, the colt is out of the Poliglote mare Caprika Bella, while his four-year-old sister by Coastal Path, Costamania, has won over hurdles this year at Saint Malo and Compiegne for Cerruti and trainer Joel Boisnard.

He hails from the family of Pertemps Final runner-up Barney Dwan and leading stallion Kapgarde.

Basquin bought Capbello Dino to race for his Genetique Obstacle vehicle, explaining: "We try to buy jumping prospects at the top of the range with a view to either resale or as future stallions. I think he’ll almost certainly be gelded.

"He comes from the excellent family of Kapgarde. He is an absolutely gorgeous Doctor Dino out of a Poliglote mare with a pretty perfect physique and is an exceptional mover."

Cerruti, who breeds and races under the Ecurie Cerdeval banner, was delighted and relieved in equal measure with the result.

"I came here with a lot of belief in him but when I saw the state of the market I lowered my expectations," said Cerutti. "So to sell him for €200,000 gives me enormous pleasure."

Basquin is co-director of Genetique Obstacle with businessman Denys Audouard and Marie-Thérèse Dubuc-Grassa, owner of the Chateau du Tariquet vineyards, and their policy of buying select lots has already paid off, having campaigned new Haras de la Tuillerie stallion Paradiso and Aintree Grade 1-winning novice chaser Gentleman Du Mee.

At €82,000 Basquin and Genetique also acquired a Saint Des Saints gelding from Haras du Lieu des Champs whose half brother Juntos Ganamos won the Grade 2 Prix Congress at Auteuil last Saturday.

St Donats sibling benefits from weekend Grade 1 update

Indeed it is no coincidence that Arqana stages this sale just after the 48 Hours meeting at the temple of French jump racing and another weekend update powered the sale at €150,000 of a Doctor Dino half sister to Sunday’s impressive Prix Cambaceres hero St Donats.

The exploits of St Donats last weekend made his sibling a prized individualCredit: Zuzanna Lupa/Arqana

Bred at Haras de Maulepaire by John Williams - who races St Donats and had both the dam and granddam in training with Keith and Mary Reveley respectively - the filly was bought by Spincourt Bloodstock’s Antonin Pelsy and will, like his illustrious sibling, be trained in Chantilly by Hugo Merienne.

A third high-priced lot by Doctor Dino will also be staying in France, after Nicolas Bertran de Balanda won out at €128,000 for Rest Exit.

Haras de Montaigu's filly is out of the King’s Best mare Best Exit, a full sister to the Listed winner Amarantine, the dam of Echoes In Rain.

The agent said: "She’s gorgeous. I love the family and I tried to buy the half sister [Out Of Risk] by Beaumec De Hoeulle last year. She’s very, very nice and it’s a great page with more updates coming hopefully.

"She looks like she could be very good and she will go to David Cottin, who trains the half sister."

Goliath Du Berlais maintains bright start

If Doctor Dino has provided his backers with plenty of cheer then there have also been excellent rewards for plenty of breeders who sent their mares to Goliath Du Berlais in his first year at Etreham’s jumps satellite, Haras de la Tuilerie.

Having been responsible for the top lot on Tuesday, the son of Etreham star Saint Des Saints continued his excellent start on Wednesday, headlined by Illaho, half sister to the brilliant Allaho, who was secured at €90,000 by Joey Logan.

Bred by Eric Leffray and consigned by Haras de l'Hotellerie, Illaho is out of the Turgeon mare Idaho Falls, a full sister to Thyestes Chase runner-up Tarquinius, and descends from the Haras du Mesnil family of Happy Monarch and Shannon Rock.

Illaho, a half brother to Allaho by Goliath Du BerlaisCredit: Zuzanna LUPA

"He’s a lovely horse from a really nice family," said Logan "Obviously the brother is very good and we’ll consider leaving him in training in France and seeing how he goes. He comes from a very good breeder and let’s hope he's lucky. I bought him for myself.”

The same sire also registered an €85,000 hit when Balanda bought Lieu des Champs’ son of the Kapgarde mare Folie d’Amour, a full sister to multiple Graded winner Feu Follet.

"She will be trained by Francois Nicolle," said Balanda. "He’s a good looking horse and the dam was good, although she didn’t get to run too often, while Goliath du Berlais is a very good horse."

Over the two days 15 yearlings by the sire have been sold for an average of a shade under €40,000.

Minton lands 'nap' by No Risk At All

One high-priced lot that will be heading to Britain is Roi Du Risk, Haras du Montaigu’s No Risk At All colt out of the Presenting mare Bella Lawena, whose granddam Park Breeze produced The Listener and four other black type winners.

Highflyer Bloodstock’s David Minton signed at €82,000 and has high hopes for Roi Du Risk on the basis of his full brother, bought here four years ago as a yearling.

"He’s one of my naps of the sale because I bought Jubilee Express, his brother, and he’s with Sam Thomas. He could be a really lovely chaser in time," Minton explained.

"So this horse was always on my shortlist. I love the pedigree and there’s a lot of winners coming out of the family at the moment. And then there’s a Presenting mare. What more do you want?"

The yearling market over two days of selling and an expanded catalogue has proved selective with Wednesday's trade producing turnover of €2,621,000, with a median of €17,000 and average €27,021. Some 97 lots sold at a modest clearance rate of 66 per cent.

The final day of the sale on Thursday is dedicated to breeding stock and will once again commence at 11am local time.

More sales news:

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Ghaiyyath colt goes clear at €185,000 as Dubawi's sire sons dominate at Goffs

Aga Khan's Carini tops trade at €600,000 as Australian and Irish bidders duel