Top-Priced Durance Goes to Pursuit of Success at Arqana

The high-class Champs Elysees filly Durance came to the fore Dec. 5 on a day of highly competitive trade at Arqana's Breeding Stock Sale, bringing €750,000 (US$909,089) from Bryant Prentice's Pursuit of Success.

The German-bred 4-year-old is the 10th foal out of the remarkable Djidda—the dam of eight black-type performers, including group 3 winner Dabbitse—and duly upheld family honor in style when striking in the Gran Premio di Milano (G2) in June. 

Offered by Ronald Rauscher, Durance also landed the Mehl Mulhens Trophy (G3) at Hamburg last year and was the runner-up in the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine last October. 

James Delahooke, who struck the winning bid on behalf of the new owners, said: "She was the one I really wanted in the sale. Her family had really produced with sires that I've never even heard of. The first dam fills the entire page—that's rare these days. Other than that, her race record speaks for itself.

"I bought her for American clients who have mares in Kentucky and England. Durance will head to stud, and her offspring will go to the sales."

He added: "The sale is very strong for the right profiles despite so few people being around the ring. A lot of people must be bidding from off-site."

Preis von Europa heroine Donjah was one of the headline acts ahead of the sale, but the top-class daughter of Teofilo was led out unsold at €720,000. 

Euclidia to Form Part of Bouchard Band

The progressive Euclidia was another who was the subject of intense bidding when making €525,000 ($636,363) to Gerard Larrieu, acting on behalf of Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard.

A listed winner on her penultimate start for Christophe Ferland, the Wertheimer & Frere-owned daughter of Maxios is out of the Galileo mare Mathematicienne. She is a half sister to three black-type performers, including Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac—Criterium des Pouliches (G1) second Matematica and Prix d'Aumale scorer Soustraction.

Euclidia hails from the distinguished family of 2012 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) heroine Solemia plus Gold Dodger, the granddam of Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) and Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) hero The Gurkha.

Larrieu said: "She has been bought for Jean-Louis Bouchard and will join his Deauville-based stud. 

"He wants to improve the quality of his broodmare band, and this is a lovely Wertheimer family, who cover their mares with top sires. So, if we keep her healthy, all should go well!"

Truth Weaves Her Magic 

As a full sister to Magic Wand, the renowned globe-trotting group 1 performer and €1,400,000 ($1,562,820) purchase from Arqana as a yearling, the Haras de Bouquetot-offered Truth was always likely to fetch a fair sum, and it was Delahooke who went to €580,000 ($703,029) to secure her on behalf of Minster Stud.

Out of the remarkable producer Prudenzia—a stakes-winning daughter of Dansili—the 8-year-old is also a close relation to Darley Irish Oaks (G1) heroine Chicquita and is carrying to Siyouni. 

Prudenzia is out of the Zafonic mare Platonic and is a half sister to Lingfield Derby Trial winner English King and pattern winner Pacifique.

Delahooke said: "I was underbidder here when Magic Wand went through this ring, and the Coolmore boys bought her. I followed her career with great excitement and sadness we hadn't been able to get her. Now we've bought her sister for Willie Carson, who has a successful stud in Gloucestershire."

He added: "I think it's been a very solid market, they've sold very well, and it's held up very well."

Conte De Fee America-Bound

Prix Occitanie winner Conte de Fee provided Sea The Stars with another big-sale result following his top-lot 1-2 result at last week's Tattersalls December Yearling Sale when selling to Mark McStay and Jamie Piggott for €410,000 ($496,969).

The Nicolas Clement-trained 3-year-old, bred by Myriad Communications & New England Stud, was a 100,000 guineas ($137,991) purchase from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale two years ago. 

Out of the winning Padmini and a half sister to Godolphin's Prix de Saint-Cyr winner Lucie Manette, Conte De Fee will continue her career across the Atlantic.  

McStay said: "I purchased her with Jamie Piggott, who got her on behalf of Medallion Racing and a client of Jamie's in America. She'll go to the States.

"Jamie and I felt she was a lovely filly, and she's been really well trained by Nicolas Clement. She looks to be progressing the right way, and we're big fans of Sea The Stars."

He added: "I've had a lot of success at the sale over the years, and you've just got to look at the recent success of French-bred horses in America to see what they can do over there."

Sale Statistics

From 193 lots offered, 154 sold for a clearance rate of 80% and turnover of €18,936,000 ($22,952,674), down 18% on the €22,997,000 last year, when 164 lots sold from 198 offered at a clip of 83%. The average was €122,961 ($149,043), down 12% on last year's €140,226), while the median of €75,000 ($90.909) matched 2019.