'They're two very nice horses' - Coolmore splash €3 million on back-to-back lots at Arqana

The bloodstock world has seldom looked smaller than it did during the third session of the Arqana August Sale in Deauville on Sunday, when Coolmore’s MV Magnier struck a gasp-inducing bid of €2,200,000. 

His target was a colt by French champion sire Siyouni who was bred by the China Horse Club out of an Irish-bred Galileo mare sourced in the United States. Adding to the international melting pot was the identity of the underbidder, as Magnier had to see off a determined effort from leading Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi. 

The colt hails from a pedigree that’s well known to Magnier as he is the third foal out of Hourglass. The dam is a half-sister to outstanding stallion Shamardal and once carried the colours of the Coolmore partners before she was sold to China Horse Club for $1.1 million at Keeneland in November 2019. 

Magnier also secured the previous lot into the ring, a Wootton Bassett colt out of an American Pharoah half-sister to Requinto, at €800,000. Both were consigned by leading vendor Ecurie des Monceaux. 

As with the Siyouni colt, the son of Wootton Bassett was bred by China Horse Club from a former Coolmore colour bearer in Holy Roman Empress, winner of a Punchestown handicap during her time in training with Aidan O’Brien. Holy Roman Empress joined the China Horse Club broodmare band for 280,000gns. 

“They’re two very nice horses and, interestingly enough, we actually sold the two dams a couple of years ago,” said Magnier, who was joined by his father John in the dimly lit top deck of the auditorium. 

“We’ve come back and bought the progeny because China Horse Club are very good breeders and Monceaux are an incredible farm. They do a very good job raising horses and we’re lucky to get the two of them. They’ll both go to Ballydoyle.” 

The Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval resident Siyouni is becoming an increasingly important stallion for the Coolmore operation, with the Irish powerhouse standing his sons St Mark’s Basilica and Sottsass, while Paddington will look to cement his position as Ballydoyle’s leading three-year-old in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday. 

“Sottsass has had an incredible sale and his yearlings have been very well received,” added Magnier. “He was a very durable horse who could win on quick ground and soft ground, and he won the French Derby in a record time. His stock have sold very well here. 

MV Magnier was in action on the third day of the Arqana August SaleCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

“St Mark’s Basilica is breeding incredible foals, we’re really excited by him and we’re going to send him a lot of good mares, not only up here but in Australia also. Then of course there’s Paddington. He looks like a very special horse so roll on York on Wednesday.” 

The Siyouni colt provided Monceaux with its second seven-figure lot of the sale after Godolphin went to €1.25m for the Dubawi colt out of Pretty Spirit on day one.

The farm’s director Henri Bozo said: “Siyouni on Galileo is a magic cross! For Coolmore to buy our two top lots [on Sunday] is a great sign of trust from them, and we wish them all the very best. There are more and more new investors at this sale each year, and to have the principals of the big operations here gives everyone confidence.”

Yahagi makes another seven-figure move

Yahagi may have been denied for the session-topping Siyouni colt but a bid of €1m saw him come out on top when Anna Sundstrom’s Coulonces presented the Wootton Bassett colt out of Magic America later in the session. 

The Group 3-winning dam has bred five winners, making the seven-figure youngster a sibling to the Listed scorer Look Around and the Group 3-placed Sara Lucille. 

“I was very interested in buying a Wootton Bassett because I think he's a suitable stallion for racing in Japan,” said Yahagi from his position in the seats opposite the rostrum. 

“I’ve been here on Friday, Saturday and today, and my overall impression is this is a very strong bid. The bid for this one was my final bid. I think €1 million was my limit. I have bought two horses here and I was beaten on two more by Coolmore. But I'm very satisfied with this horse.” 

This is not Yahagi’s first seven-figure purchase in Deauville as 12 months ago he landed the sale-topping brother to Sottsass at €2.1m. The son of Siyouni and Starlet’s Sister is yet to debut but has been named Shin Emperor. His other purchase this year was a €140,000 colt from the debut crop of Kameko.

Godolphin keep it in the family

Godolphin consolidated their position as the sale’s leading buyer when agent Anthony Stroud struck a bid of €850,000 for Gestüt Ammerland’s Camelot colt out of Lady Frankel.

The Camelot colt out of Lady Frankel makes €850,000Credit: Zuzanna LUPA

The colt is the third foal out of the Group 3 Prix de Lieurey winner and he will now join his two-year-old Shamardal half-brother who was added to the Godolphin fold at €1.6m at last year’s August Sale. 

“We bought the half-brother here last year and we like him, and obviously he’s got a stallion’s pedigree,” said Stroud. “The team thought he was one of our picks of the sale and he looks like a nice staying horse.” 

There is plenty of Group 1 form under the colt’s second dam Lady Vettori, with Lady Frankel a sibling to dual Classic winner and leading sire Lope De Vega and the Group 3 scorer Bal De La Rose, who also found fame as the dam of Bayerisches Zuchtrennen winner Danceteria.

Kentucky Derby winner in action in Deauville

Further international flair was brought to proceedings by US-based agent Ramiro Restrepo's Marquee Bloodstock, who signed at €700,000 for the Siyouni filly out of Lucerne, a Frankel half-sister to Charm Spirit. Like so many of the market principals, the filly was consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux. 

This is not Restrepo’s first involvement in European bloodstock this year as the agent also signed for Ocean Vision at £250,000 at the Goffs London Sale. While that colt’s future lies on the other side of the Atlantic, the Siyouni filly represents a new chapter altogether for owner JR Ranch. 

“We’ve been waiting three days for this filly,” said Restrepo. “She’ll hopefully be a cornerstone, a foundation mare for further down the line. This filly has it all; temperament, class, physical. She has a beautiful head and a beautiful pedigree. We all know who Siyouni is, while she’s out of a Frankel mare who was a half to Charm Spirit, a major Group 1 winner. 

The Siyouni filly out of Lucerne proved worth the waitCredit: Zuzanna LUPA

“Dream And Do is in the family - another Siyouni - and she’s just class from top to bottom and we’re thrilled to have her. She’s staying here. She’s going to be our first horse here in France and she’ll be trained in Chantilly by Tim Donworth.” 

Restrepo’s talents have been well advertised in the US as he is a co-owner of Kentucky Derby hero Mage. He expanded on his transatlantic talent search saying: “In the end, there’s sharp horsemen all over the world; there’s quality stock all over the world.

“At sales like this the sharpest people in our industry have all the eyeballs on all the horses and you just do your best to find an athletic horse with class and pedigree. May the racing gods be on our side. As different as it is in terms of language and the names on the pedigrees, it’s the same. The players are all here and we’re all trying to do our best.” 

He also explained how the association with Donworth arose, saying: “I’ve known Tim since he was on the Flying Start course and when we bought Ocean Vision, which was the nicest horse in his yard, he brought the horse over to America for the Grade 2. Our partner was super impressed with how Tim handled himself and the love he showed for his horse, so it was only right to replace one in his barn. He’s a very talented gentleman.”

On Point

Darley’s Blue Point continues to carry all before him in the European first-season sire standings with 25 winners on the board and five black-type performers led by Molecomb Stakes scorer Big Evs. Those exploits were reflected in Tom Goff’s final bid of €330,000 when Haras du Cadran offered the Blue Point filly out of Golden Lilas early in Sunday’s session. 

The youngster is the third foal out of the unraced Galileo sister to Golden Lilac, winner of the Poule d'Essai Des Pouliches, Prix de Diane and Prix D’Ispahan in the Gestut Ammerland silks. 

The Arqana August Sale was a hive of activity on SundayCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

“I love buying off Cadran, I think it’s a fantastic farm,” said Goff. “The horses are reared and produced so naturally and they just do a great job. I love visiting the farm and the consignment. This is a lovely family. I saw her back on the first day and really fell in love with her. I probably shouldn’t be falling in love with horses at my age but she’s a real beauty with loads of quality. I hope she’ll be a very successful racehorse.” 

Goff also confirmed himself a believer in Blue Point, continuing: “I've been a massive fan all the way through. I’ve only bought one before, which was quite an expensive foal in Newmarket, but I’ve always been a massive fan of the sire. He was a brilliant Gimcrack winner at two, a multiple winner at Royal Ascot and I’ve always loved the idea. I’m delighted to see him doing so well and clearly that made this filly the price that she was.

“She’ll be trained in France but a trainer will be decided on in the new year. She’s for a long-standing client of Blandford’s.”

Magic metrics

Trade was hot from the off and there was no let up throughout the three sessions, as evidenced by some punchy stats that showed record highs across the range of market indices. 

Turnover across the whole sale reached €56,949,000, up 15 per cent on last year, which was also a record, and the average price was €232,445, up 11 per cent. The median, often the most reliable indicator of market strength, was €170,000, a 21 per cent gain on 2022’s figure of €140,000. The clearance rate was also a personal best for the August Sale at 87 per cent as 245 of 283 lots found a buyer.

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