Well-related Bated Breath filly leads the way on a selective day three

Finsbury Square has been one of the most consistent sprinters in France over the last few seasons and a Bated Breath filly out of his half-sister, consigned by Haras du Long Champ, topped the pile on day three in Deauville, when the clearance rate dipped by five per cent on the same session 12 months ago.

Agent Zied Romdhane went to €72,000 for the already named Diamond Shine, whose dam Diamond Lace also counts the useful Bakoel Koffie among her siblings.

Romdhane was given the go ahead after his buyer had earlier enjoyed success on the opening day of the season at Meydan.

"She is for a Libyan client and she will be trained by Romain Le Dren Doleuze in Deauville," said Romdhane. "My client just had a runner in Dubai that won so he decided to reinvest. The mother is from a speedy family and we were looking for a two-year-old type."

Thomas-Demeaulte returns to source of success

The top lot's damsire, the Darley stalwart Iffraaj, was also well represented by his stallion son Wootton Bassett.

Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte sent Patascoy out to finish second in last season's Prix du Jockey Club, a performance which - along with his narrow defeat in the Prix de Guiche - made him second only to the exceptional Almanzor among Wootton Bassett's early crops.

Thomas-Demeaulte was pushed to €65,000 for a filly by the sire consigned by Charles Briere.

Out of the Listed-placed Lawman mare Pestagua, the filly is related to a key Wertheimer family of Gwenseb through her third dam, Madonna Sprite.

Thomas-Demeaulte said: "It's the mating which interested me and I was really drawn to the dam's pedigree. It's a family I know well."

A filly by Wootton Bassett sold for €65,000 by the Fairway Consignment at Arqana on ThursdayCredit: Arqana

Earlier trainer Eric Libaud struck the winning bid at €47,000 for another filly by the Haras d'Etreham resident.

Bred by Haras du Mezeray the April foal is out of an unraced Dynaformer sister to Prix Saint-Alary winner Coquerelle.

"She is for an English owner who was determined to get a Wootton Bassett and is really a big fan of the horse and of Iffraaj," said Libaud. "We missed out on one yesterday that got too expensive. The filly is obviously interesting for her breeding potential."

Territories conquers again

Territories continued his good run this week with his fillies the subject of spirited exchanges.

The highest-priced of the three was a €60,000 filly prepared by Haras des Granges from the family of Rockfel Stakes winner Cairns.

Paul Basquin of Haras du Saubouas won out and believes the stallion son of Invincible Spirit is showing early promise.

"She is a very nice filly by a sire that appears to me to be producing well," said Basquin, whose south-western nursery initially made its name in the breeze-up arena but provides a full range of services.

"She moved really well and seems very mature. I loved her when I visited the farm to see her and I also like the fact that the dam is by Pivotal. There is no plan for her yet, we'll get her home and see how things develop."

A filly by Darley stallion Territories was sold for €60,000 by Haras des Granges at Arqana on ThursdayCredit: Arqana

Sebastien Desmontils got the better of Marco Bozzi at €54,000 to land a daughter of the Group-placed Dalakhani mare Alkhana.

Desmontils said: "She's a good-looking filly who will be trained at Luche-Pringe for some new French clients, probably by Edouard Montfort. She doesn't have the French premiums as there was a concern over the travel [from Germany] but you know you’re getting a nice horse from Haras de Maulepaire."

Chantilly-based Andreas Schutz secured the sire’s other top-ten lot at €46,000, a granddaughter of Prix d’Aumale winner Saytarra who can list Snow Bride and Lammtarra on her page.

"We really liked her when we saw her walking here and she is a very well-made horse," said Schutz of the filly, who was sold by Benoit Joffrey’s Haras de Castillon. "She’s out of a Sadler’s Wells mare which is the interesting part but overall we just liked the individual.

"She is for Rabbah Bloodstock and she will go off to pre-training now before coming back to me in Chantilly in six to eight weeks."

NHL star Johnson scores with Canford Cliffs

Nicholas de Watrigant enjoys a truly international client base and it was for Colorado Avalanche defenceman Erik Johnson that he went to €50,000 to land a regally bred daughter of Canford Cliffs brought to market by Haras de Montaigu.

De Watrigant was naturally enthusiastic about the February-born filly, who is the first offspring of a Street Cry mare out of Poule d'Essai-placed Rahiyah.

Nicolas de Watrigant was in action on Thursday at the behest of Ice Hockey star Erik JohnsonCredit: Christophe Tanire

"I'm really happy to get this filly, who reminded me a lot of another filly by the sire I bought here in Al Jazi," said de Watrigant. "She has an exceptional walk and physically she is great, while the page is full of quality in each generation.

"Erik has plenty of horses in the United States and is a big fan of racing. I'm not sure where she will go into training as he is on a flight ahead of Colorado's next match."

Marnane wins out

On a day dominated by fillies, a son of Equiano from La Motteraye Consignment was one lot that Con Marnane was determined not to leave behind, paying €46,000.

Out of the very speedy Camacho mare Hurryupharriet, the colt earned rave reviews from Marnane.

"He is just class, a very fast-looking horse," said Marnane. "We’ll dream for six months. He cost more than I wanted to give but I’m happy to get him."

Also at €46,000 Marnane's Bansha House operation can welcome a daughter of Shalaa, out of a Prix de Sandringham winner in All Is Vanity and consigned by Jedburgh Stud.

Marnane indicated a return to Arqana for the breeze-up sale in May would be on the cards, adding: "That’s the fourth Shalaa that I've bought. This mare was very good but has been covered by slow stallions and this is a very fast stallion, so I hope it works."

Catch up with the first two days of the Arqana October Yearling Sale here...

Haras de Victot swoops

Day two

Day one