From the other side of the world to the farm next door - rarity value pays as first Extreme Choice yearling in Europe tops Arqana trade

It's far from unheard of for auctioneers attempting to build anticipation on a horse's arrival in the ring to play on their rarity value, and there was certainly no exaggeration on the part of Pierrick Moreau when it came to the top lot at Arqana's single-session February Mixed Sale. 

The short yearling filly (lot 115) broke new ground in being the first European offering of progeny by Australian-based Extreme Choice, a sire whose extraordinary strike-rate at stakes level from limited numbers is matched only by his versatility, having provided the winner of both the Golden Slipper and Melbourne Cup. 

Peter Anastasiou – perhaps best known above the equator as the breeder of Cloth Of Stars – was well rewarded for sending his More Than Ready mare Grey Queen to be covered by the Newgate Farm resident on northern hemisphere time, before shipping her to John Kilpatrick's JK Thoroughbreds in Normandy to foal the filly last March. 

Kilpatrick is based virtually next door to Haras d'Etreham and it will be to that renowned nursery and stallion station that the filly will head after stud principal Nicolas de Chambure gave €110,000. 

Nicolas de Chambure (right) of Haras d'Etreham signs for a daughter of Extreme Choice at Arqana on WednesdayCredit: ZUZANNA LUPA

There is plenty of star power on the bottom side of the filly's pedigree as well, as Grey Queen is a full-sister to Prix de Guiche winner Dalwari, while the sale-topper's third dam Daltawa was among the Aga Khan's most influential broodmares, producing both Daylami and Dalakhani. 

"The filly is by an Australian sire who has quite exceptional statistics from limited crops," said Chambure. "I think she's the only Extreme Choice to be sold in Europe. We love to diversify our bloodlines and she'll be particularly easy to cross. I also loved her physically."

Home is where the heart is for Stauffenberg 

Philipp and Marion von Stauffenberg made a virtue of their visit to Normandy by taking in a few of the leading stallion farms, but their presence in Deauville on Wednesday was based on a single aim, one which they were happily able to fulfil when going to €100,000 to secure Fang Mich.

Heading home: Philipp and Marion von Stauffenberg secured Fang Mich, who was originally bred at their Schlossgut Itlingen Credit: ZUZANNA LUPA

A winning half-sister of Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon by Starspangledbanner, Fang Mich (lot 106) was bred by Stauffenberg Bloodstock and, having won as a three-year-old in the colours of Eckhard Sauren, went through the ring here last July, when she was snapped up by Karwin Farm to race in the colours of Andree Cypres. 

As a great-granddaughter of their foundation mare Fraulein Tobin, the chance for the Stauffenbergs to bring Fang Mich back to join the broodmare band at Schlossgut Itlingen proved impossible to resist. 

"We bred her and she'll come back to the farm," said Philipp von Stauffenberg. "She'll either go to Sea The Stars or Sea The Moon. 

"It means more to us than maybe to other people, but we're happy we have her back. We have her three-year-old sister in training and it’s our foundation family, one we’ve been very lucky with. 

Philipp von Stauffenberg at Arqana on WednesdayCredit: ZUZANNA LUPA

"We had to go for it. You always hope to pay less but she means a lot to us and we'd have gone further."

Marion von Stauffenberg added: "She cost €80,000 here last year so we were prepared that we might need to spend in that kind of range again."

Haras de la Croix Sonnet team strike for Caravaggio mare

Signorina Merisi's looks were the prime motivation for Haras de la Croix Sonnet's Francoise Beres reaching to €105,000 for the six-year-old daughter of Caravaggio (lot 177), though the deal must have been considerably sweetened by the presence of a page stacked with black-type performers, many of whom flourished at well beyond the sprinting trips which made the name of her sire. 

Signorina Merisi was the third six-figure lot sold at Arqana on WednesdayCredit: ZUZANNA LUPA

Out of the winning Galileo mare Novalina, she boasts Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Baraka as granddam, while a further generation back, under Prix de Psyche runner-up Cocotte, the names Pilsudski, Youmzain and Creachadoir come tumbling out of the catalogue. 

Seated in the restaurant with former Arqana chief Eric Hoyeau, Madame Beres signed for Ecurie X, in whose lilac and white crossbelts Prix de Malleret winner Rue Boissonade has been a recent flagbearer for Mikel Delzangles. 

But having accrued five career victories across the Atlantic, Signorini Merisi – who was brought to market by Haras des Capucines – has more than earned her place ten minutes drive from the Deauville sales complex in the Croix Sonnet paddocks.  

"She's beautiful, quite simply," said Madame Beres. "She's well bred and she pleases me. She has a lot of quality."

Francoise Beres of Haras de la Croix Sonnet at Arqana on WednesdayCredit: ZUZANNA LUPA

Hoyeaux added: "She moves well and has some size to her. She was a multiple winner in the United States and will be a wonderful addition to the broodmare band at Haras de la Croix Sonnet. She'll go to a confirmed stallion and is likely to be covered in Ireland."

Libya continues to make a mark

The burgeoning market for horses and breeding stock that is Libya has been illustrated in recent months, both by the purchase here in December of stallions Dabirsim, Free Port Lux and Le Brivido, and more recently by much increased activity at Tattersalls, notably led by agent Alessandro Marconi.

Dr Khaled Salami was responsible for the acquisition of Dabirsim and here signed under his KGS banner at €85,000 for the 82-rated Sherkane, who scored recently over a mile and a half on the Pau all-weather for trainer Simone Brogi. 

A three-time winner with multiple placed efforts in 12 career starts, the four-year-old son of Shamalgan is out of an unraced Poet’s Voice daughter of Brazilian Guineas and Oaks winner Ever Love.

The sun made a welcome appearance at Arqana on WednesdayCredit: ZUZANNA LUPA

“He’s a good-looking horse and we're looking for horses that can stay further, while he has good form,” said Dr Salami. 

“We have bought some broodmares today but he’s the only racing prospect we’ve managed to get. He’s a sound horse who has been running consistently.”

Lerner and Talvard hone in on mate for Look De Vega

Prix du Jockey Club hero Look De Vega has already brought unbelievable highs for Carlos and Yann Lerner, and the father and son training partners hope to enjoy the ride for even longer by sending mares to their former inmate, who begins his first season of covering at Ballylinch Stud this week. 

Carlos Lerner has worked closely with Pierre Talvard's Haras du Cadran for many years – only last Friday they celebrated a winning debutante in the shape of the Hello Youmzain filly Godspeed at Chantilly – and the two men were in agreement when it came to giving €65,000 for the winning Le Havre mare Irlandia (lot 89), whose siblings include Prix de Lieurey winner Irska and the Group 3-placed pair Tojik and Happy Approach. 

"She’s been bought by Yann and myself to go to Look De Vega," said Lerner, who was keen to give the credit to Talvard, though he is widely recognised as an excellent judge of a horse at the sales himself.  

Yann Lerner was on the hunt for mares to send to Look De Vega at Arqana on WednesdayCredit: GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT

Talvard added: "We were looking for a mare to go to Look De Vega and she met all our criteria in that regard. It’s the pedigree which spoke for her as she isn't overloaded with Northern Dancer and so she's very interesting in terms of mating."

The predecessor to Look De Vega as France's 'Derby winner' by two years, Vadeni's first crop are eagerly anticipated this foaling season, and a winning Sea The Moon mare carrying to the Haras de Bonneval resident set the early pace on Wednesday when knocked down to Marc-Antoine Berghgracht for €60,000. 

Sold by Haras d'Ombreville, Waldgorl (lot 16) is a full-sister to the Listed-placed Waldblumchen and hails from one of the most famous families in the German studbook, with Arc hero Waldgeist, Deutsches Derby winner Waldpark and St Leger victor Masked Marvel all found under her Group 2-winning granddam Wurftaube. 

Waldgorl already has a two-year-old daughter by Space Blues and a yearling son by Saxon Warrior, and Berghgracht confirmed she would be staying in France to continue her breeding career. 

One day format pays off as trade holds firm

The 2025 Arqana February Mixed Sales boasted an 80 per cent clearance rateCredit: ZUZANNA LUPA

With no major dispersals at play and 28 fewer horses to sell, the one-day version of the Arqana February Mixed Sale held firm in what is not an obviously propitious wider climate.

A total of 225 of the 281 lots offered found a buyer at a clearance rate of 80.07 per cent, up from last year's two-day clip of 77.35 per cent. 

In 2024 there were double-digit declines in most of the key indicators, but that slide was arrested with turnover of €2,691,000 – less than €141,000 down despite the smaller catalogue – at a slightly increased average of €11,960. The median was down marginally at €5,000, from last year's €5,500. 

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