Baden-Baden’s Yearling Sale was a hive of activity Friday, with a strong
overseas presence creating an intense atmosphere and helping hoist the figures
and prices above last year’s equivalent. While the regular domestic stalwarts
headed by BBA Germany were in effect, the likes of John Ferguson, the FBA
Agency, Jean-Claude Rouget, MAB Agency, Peter Doyle Bloodstock, Sylvain Vidal
and Team Valor made for the kind of competitive bidding not always witnessed at
the Iffezheim complex.
Ferguson made his presence felt, taking home four yearlings including the
sales-topping colt by Teofilo. Out of the 2006 Prix Robert Papin (Fr-G2) winner
Boccassini (Artan), Gestut Westerberg’s Hip No. 153 cost
€220,000, which eclipsed the
€200,000 paid by BBA Germany for Gestut
Etzean’s full brother to the top German distaffer Night Magic (Sholokhov).
That high-class performer cost Dirk Eisele’s operation just
€43,000 at this auction five years ago
before going on to taste glory in the 2009 Preis der Diana (Ger-G1). Led out
unsold at €800,000 at that year’s Arqana
December Sale, the Stall Salzburg colorbearer has subsequently added the 2010
Grosser Preis von Baden (Ger-G1) and this season’s Grosser Preis der Badischen
Unternehmen (Ger-G2) to her resume. Her half-sister Night of Dubai (Lord of
England) was third in the Diana-Trial (Ger-G2) and fifth in the German Oaks
itself this term, adding further weight to the immediate family. Consigned as
Hip 178, her February-foaled full-sibling named NIGHT WISH was also bought on
behalf of Stall Salzburg and is likely to also go into training with Night
Magic’s trainer Wolfgang Figge.
Another of Ferguson’s high-profile purchases was Gestut Fahrhof Stiftung’s
Hip 235, the only representative of Singspiel (Ire) in the catalogue. Her dam is
a half to another notable Singspiel performer in Lateral (GB), who captured the
2005 Gran Criterium (Ity-G1) before establishing himself as Germany’s champion
miler the following year courtesy of three pattern-race wins including the
Grosse Europa-Meile (Ger-G2). Her €180,000
tag was not enough to secure the position of top-priced filly of the session,
with a daughter of Montjeu (Ire) earlier going to agent Borje Olsson for
€190,000. From the draft of Gestut
Ebbesloh’s, Hip 70 is named AMATIA and is the first foal out of 2008 Prix de
Pomone (Fr-G2) winner Avanti Polonia (Polish Precedent).
Barry Irwin’s Team Valor, whose purchase of Animal Kingdom’s dam Dalicia
(Ger) (Acatenango) here six years ago is now the stuff of history, purchased a
trio headed by a €155,000 daughter of
Shamardal named LEGENDA AUREA. Consigned by Gestut Karlshof, hip 168 is a
granddaughter of 1999 Nassau S. (Eng-G1) winner and Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) third
Zahrat Dubai (GB) (Unfuwain), whose progeny include the stakes-winning Godolphin
filly Modeyra (GB), also by Shamardal.
Eckhard Sauren, owner and president of the Cologne Racing Club, was on hand
to secure three of the top 10 lots. The first pair were back-to-back, with
Fahrhof’s Hip 48, an Oasis Dream (GB) full-sister to last year’s Premio
Presidente della Repubblica (Ity-G1) hero Querari, fetching
€100,000 and Gestut Wittekindshof’s Hip 49,
a High Chaparral (Ire) three-parts brother to multiple Group 3 winner
Saldenschwinge (In the Wings [GB]) and half to Saldentigerin (Tiger Hill) and
Saltas (Lomitas [GB]) selling for €190,000.
Later in the session, he paid €140,000
for another from the Wittekindshof draft in Hip 179, the sole representative of
Galileo (Ire) whose dam is Germany’s champion juvenile of 2005 Nordtanzerin (Danehill
Dancer). That homebred went on to add Frankfurt’s Euro-Cup (Ger-G2) to her
profile and was also third in the Preis der Diana the following year. Named
NOTRE GALOPPIER, her February-foaled half-brother also boasts among his siblings
five other black-type runners including stakes winners Nadour Al Bahr (Be My
Guest) and North Queen (Desert King). The cross of Galileo over Danehill is
responsible for champion and undefeated Frankel.
Two others to make six-figure sums were Hip 67, a Platini full sister to
Godolphin’s triple group winner and dual Group 1 place-getter Antara, who was
knocked down to Tina Rau Bloodstock for €105,000;
and Hip 124, a son of Manduro whose champion second dam Royal Dubai (Dashing
Blade) has already produced another smart Godolphin performer in the stakes
winner Rumh (Monsun). Also from Gestut Fahrhof, he cost Peter Schiergen
€100,000.
With the average and median up by 24 percent on 2010, officials at BBAG were
buoyant and Managing Director Carola Ortlieb summed up the mood.
“This was a blinder of a sale for us,” she said. “Our grand total increased
by €1 million for 50 less horses and the
average and median are up by more than €10,000.”
Full results are available at
www.bbag-sales.de.