Nafithaa Tops Day 3 of Arqana Breeding Stock Sale

Shamardal mare Nafithaa hails from a Shadwell family that includes General Accident One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) heroine Shadayid and duly topped the third day of the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale Dec. 7 when making €51,000 (US$61,810) to Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock.

Consigned by Haras du Mont-Dit-Mont, the 4-year-old was covered by Intello earlier this year and is out of the stakes-placed Zamindar mare Lanansaak, a daughter of the group-placed Bunood. 

Bunood, in turn, is a daughter of Sadler's Wells and Azdihaar, a winning half sister to the top-class Shadayid.

Nafithaa, who is unraced, is related to two winners—the Roger Varian-trained dual scorer Montather and Zaajirah, a promising winner of her only start to date for the Newmarket trainer at Kempton in October. 

Matt Houldsworth said: "She's been bought for an existing client. At the moment, she could stay in France. It's hard to buy mares by Shamardal and she's from a nice Shadwell family.

"Her 2-year-old sister was an impressive winner for Roger Varian and the 3-year-old brother has won two races from three starts, so that is a young active family."

'Superbly bred' Thaahira Heading to Cracksman

Thaahira, a Dynaformer relation to high-class broodmare Tanaghum and from the family of champion miler Ribchester, was subject of an intense period of bidding when selling to MAB Agency for €46,000 ($55,750).

The 13-year-old is out of Airlie Coolmore Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Tripleprint Celebration Mile (G2) victress Mehthaaf—a half sister to Darley July Cup (G1) scorer Elnadim—and is related to Premio Lydia Tesio-Darley (G2) winner Najah and Tanaghum, the dam of group 1 winner Matterhorn, Andrew Balding's high-class Bangkok and Mujarah, the producer of multiple group 1 winner and young sire Ribchester.  

Thaahira, who has produced four winners to date, has a yearling colt by Ribchester and was covered by Iffraaj this term. She will visit Cracksman next year. 

Purchaser Marc Antoine Berghgracht said: "She's superbly bred and has more or less produced only winners.

"She's carrying to a confirmed sire and with a good covering date. We'll hope the Iffraaj foal will sell well, and she'll go to Cracksman."

Narvick All Out for Coulonces' Autumn

The Coulonces-consigned Autumn Snow looked an intriguing lot on paper and the daughter of Invincible Spirit was ultimately snapped up by Narvick International for €30,000 ($36,359).

Once-raced for Godolphin, Autumn Snow—who has a Highland Reel yearling filly and produced a colt by Sioux Nation this year—is carrying to Le Brivido and hails from a high-class family.

The 5-year-old is a full sister to Portland Place Properties July Stakes (G2) and Totepool.com Sirenia Stakes (G3) runner-up Figure of Speech, while their dam, Epic Similie, is a half sister to Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (G1) winner and Haras du Logis sire Ultra. Epic Similie is also a half sibling to Prix Minerve Shadwell (G3) victress Synopsis. 

Further back, Autumn Snow can also count Premio Umbria scorer Proskona, the dam of Canadian grade 2 winner and Prix de Psyche (G3) runner-up Calista, among her page. 

Elbegei Falls the way of BBA Ireland 

BBA Ireland also signed for a Coulonces lot when going to €25,000 ($30,299) for the unraced Dark Angel filly Elbegei, who hails from the family of Prix Corrida (G2) winner and Audi Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) third Elopa. 

The 3-year-old, who is currently carrying to Montfort et Preaux's Recorder, is out of the listed-winning Dalakhani mare Elik, who is a half sister to Australian group 3 winner Mugatoo. Her page also includes Premio Ribot (G2) scorer Eagle Rise and Gerling-Preis (G2) winner Eye of the Tiger. 

BBA Ireland also struck the winning bid at €22,000 ($26,663) for Haras de Bouquetot's Neeran, a winning daughter of Style Vendome and a half sister to Ed Walker's admirable multiple group winner Stormy Antarctic plus Queen Mary Stakes (G2) runner-up Al Johrah.

Sale Statistics

From 164 lots offered, 137 sold for a clearance rate of 84% and turnover of €1,572,500 ($1,905,820) (down 24% on the €2,055,500 last year, when 209 lots sold from 277 offered at a clip of 75%), an average of €11,478 ($13,911) (up 17% on 2019), and a median of €10,000 ($12,120), which was up 54% from last year.

The Arqana Breeding Stock Sale concludes on Tuesday, starting at 10 a.m. local time.