Well-Related Bated Breath Filly Leads Arqana Day 3

Finsbury Square has been one of the most consistent sprinters in France over the past few seasons, and a Bated Breath filly out of his half sister consigned by Haras du Long Champ topped the pile on Day 3 in Deauville Oct. 24, when the clearance rate for the session of the Arqana October Yearling Sale dipped by 5% on the same session 12 months ago. 

Agent Zied Romdhane went to €72,000 (US$80,142) for the already named Diamond Shine, whose dam, Diamond Lace, also counts the useful Bakoel Koffie among her siblings. 

Romdhane was given the go-ahead after his buyer enjoyed success on the opening day of the season at Meydan. 

"She is for a Libyan client, and she will be trained by Romain Le Dren Doleuze in Deauville," Romdhane said. "My client just had a runner in Dubai that won, so he decided to reinvest. The mother is from a speedy family, and we were looking for a 2-year-old type."

The top lot's broodmare sire, the Darley stalwart Iffraaj, was also well represented by his stallion son Wootton Bassett. 

Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte sent Patascoy out to finish second in last season's QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (G1), a performance that—along with his narrow defeat in the Prix de Guiche (G3)—made him second only to the exceptional Almanzor among Wootton Bassett's early crops.

Thomas-Demeaulte was pushed to €65,000 for a filly by the sire consigned by Charles Briere out of the listed-placed Lawman mare Pestagua. The filly is related to a key Wertheimer family of Gwenseb through her third dam, Madonna Sprite. 

"It's the mating which interested me, and I was really drawn to the dam's pedigree," Thomas-Demeaulte said. "It's a family I know well."

Territories continued his good run this week, with his fillies the subject of spirited exchanges. The highest-priced of three was a €60,000 ($66,785) filly prepared by Haras des Granges from the family of Owen Brown Rockfel Stakes (G2) winner Cairns. 

Paul Basquin of Haras du Saubouas won out and believes the stallion son of Invincible Spirit is showing early promise. 

"She is a very nice filly by a sire that appears to me to be producing well," said Basquin, whose southwestern nursery initially made its name in the breeze-up arena but provides a full range of services. "She moved really well and seems very mature. I loved her when I visited the farm to see her, and I also like the fact that the dam is by Pivotal. There is no plan for her yet. We'll get her home and see how things develop."