Buyers take a shine to Cloth Of Stars as busy period for Arqana kicks off with yearling sale

What will go down as a landmark year for Arqana's yearling offering as a whole came to a low-key end on Saturday, with 160 youngsters presented in a single session ahead of the company's important horses-in-training and breeding stock sales. 

A colt (lot 139) by Cloth Of Stars from Jedburgh Stud topped the day, with the Darley stallion's increasing attractiveness to breeders and pinhookers in the jumps sphere appearing to come to the fore as, bidding over the phone, Hugh Bleahen's Clifton Farm won out at €23,000. 

Not that a future career on the Flat can be ruled out, given the best offspring of his dam have thrived under both codes; the Peintre Celebre mare Moscow Nights has a Melbourne Cup runner-up, Heartbreak City, to her name, as well as the useful dual-purpose mare Coquelicot, who won a Listed hurdle for Anthony Honeyball and Ed Ware at Kempton last November and scored over two miles on the Flat at Nottingham on her most recent start.

Jedburgh Stud owner Alec Waugh was keen to emphasise that it is the next generation of his family that co-bred the sale-topper.

"The mare has a very nice filly foal by Soft Light and is currently carrying to Almanzor," said Waugh. "The colt was bred by John Corbani in association with my sons Tom and Arthur, and Moscow Nights is their first broodmare."

Waugh spent many years managing the interests of the Wildenstein family in France and there is a broad blue streak through Moscow Nights, who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Ming Dynasty, by King's Best, while under the colt's third dam, Moonlight Dance, can be found Modern Eagle and her son Paddington. 

Cloth Of Stars, who will stand at Haras de Montaigu for the first time in 2025 for a fee of €4,000, was also responsible for the third highest lot on the bid board, the colt (lot 118) out of Garswood mare Lollipop Lady who was presented by Haras de l'Hotellerie and knocked down to DC Bloodstock for €18,000. 

Montaigu enjoyed an excellent day on the track as well as Mamisuz De Houelle became a first Graded winner for stallion Beaumec De Houelle when landing the Prix Magalen Bryant at Auteuil. 

Inspections ahead of the Arqana November Yearling Sale in DeauvilleCredit: Zuzanna LUPA

Saxon Warrior filly heads to Poland

Two lots before the sale-topper, a filly by Saxon Warrior (lot 137) bred and consigned by Haras des Trois Chapelles also caught the eye, no doubt helped by the exploits of her year-older brother by Hello Youmzain. 

Jamie Piggott gave 55,000gns for Afentiko at Tattersalls Book 3 last October and he has already proved his worth, finishing runner-up in the Listed Criterium de Bordeaux last month for Paul and Oliver Cole and earning a rating of 93.

Dam Missisipi Baileys, by Aqlaam, failed to win in two starts, but as a half-sister to Lowther Stakes runner-up Baileys Jubilee (Bahamian Bounty) is well worth her place at stud, while her son by Excelebration – who raced as Mr Wendell for Ger Lyons and was exported to Hong Kong, where he has been campaigned as Beauty Champ – has proved something of a money-spinner. 

Further back in her pedigree there will be a nod of recognition form those of a certain vintage in noting Derby runner-up Glacial Storm. 

The filly will head to Poland after Witold Miedzianowski gave €22,000, with the agent stressing her physique as a key selling point.

"She's a filly with a great model and I expect she'll need some time," said Miedzianowski. "She'll be trained in Poland but, given she's eligible for French premiums, she could yet come back to France to race if she's good enough."

Overall, business was far more selective than was the case on the same day last year, with 117 of the 160 lots changing hands at a clip of 73 per cent, down ten points on 2023. The average price was €5,132, while the median was €3,500.

Four days of selling at Arqana's Deauville complex kicks off on Monday at 11am local time (10am GMT), with horses-in-training the theme. 

Read this next:

'His presence will be greatly missed' - death of promising National Hunt sire Walzertakt