Arqana’s December Breeding Stock Sale took on a more low-key air Sunday after
a tumultuous first day’s trading, and it was a private sale which topped
proceedings at €140,000. Consigned by Haras du Mezeray as Hip No. 419, PLATA DE
LEY (Elusive Quality) is a three-year-old daughter of Highest Standard (Silver
Deputy), who is herself a half to the Niarchos Family’s great queen Coup de
Folie (Halo). Bought back initially, the relative of Machiavellian et al was
later sold to Sylvain Vidal.
“This one is destined to be bred to Le Havre,” Vidal said. “I was happy to
secure that deal privately, as she is a very good-looking filly, but more than
anything else, she hails from a superb outstanding family, and you can’t ask for
much more in terms of pedigree.”
Up to that point, a pair of fillies shared the top spot after selling for
€100,000 each. First of those was the Freddy Head-consigned Hip 352, the
three-year-old BELESTA (Xaar), whose Group 3-winning dam Bellarida (Fr) (Bellypha
[Ire]) has also produced the talented trio of Bellona (Bering [GB]), In Clover
(Inchinor [GB]) and Bayourida (Slew o’ Gold). The latter is responsible for this
year’s Prix Hocquart (Fr-G2) runner-up Telluride (Montjeu [Ire]), who took the
Prix Vulcain at Deauville in October. Hubert Guy of BMS Bloodstock was not to be
denied on Belesta.
“I bought this filly as a broodmare prospect for Mr. Lemoine Boucaud of Haras
de Rabodanges,” Guy explained. “She has the pedigree — being from a strong
family — and the looks but, even though she is a winner, we would like to
improve her race record and have her earn some black-type before going to stud.
This is why the immediate plan is to send her back in training and see from
there.”
Thirty lots later, that price was matched by Vidal for Michel Roussel’s
four-year-old ISANOUS (Zamindar), who captured this year’s Prix Miss Satamixa.
“Like all the mares I have bought recently at various sales, she is to go to
Le Havre for his first season at stud in 2010,” her buyer said. “Within our
budget, we try to get a good balance between breeding and race record, and we
seek young mares that have never been bred or have had one or two foals at the
most. This one lacks a little bit of pedigree, but she is gorgeous and has the
right race record.”
Yesterday’s lack of big-selling mares, which was a contrast to the high
prices witnessed during the second day 12 months ago, saw the session average of
€17,571 fall by 31 percent. The median, however, was up again as the session
figure of €13,000 represented an 8 percent rise and the overall median of
€18,000 was up by 38 percent.
Selling of the mares concludes Monday and results can be found on
www.arqana.com.