Wootton Bassett Filly Tops Second Arqana Session

The second day of Arqana's Breeding Stock Sale was topped by La Motteraye's Wootton Bassett filly foal from the family of star producer In Clover who sold to Blandford Bloodstock for €160,000 (US$193,909).  

The attractive filly, who has been purchased as a long-term racing and breeding prospect, is out of the Hat Trick mare Ayelet, who is the daughter of dual listed winner Dream Clover and granddaughter of In Clover—the dam of Prix Rothschild (G1) victress With You, Qatar Prix du Cadran (G1) scorer Call The Wind, and Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1) heroine We Are. 

Blandford's Richard Brown said: "Tom Goff, my business partner, was looking for a filly foal for one of his clients. He tried at Newmarket but wasn't able to come over for Arqana. Then we saw this filly.

"She's been bought for an owner-breeder, so it's a long-term investment. She's by a super sire and from a really lovely family."

It was another fine result for the exciting Wootton Bassett, who has continued to make headlines since his sensational switch to Coolmore in August. 

Sonjeu Sets Sizzling End to Session

The Wertheimer & Frere-consigned Sonjeu came close to beating La Motteraye's early morning session topper when realizing €150,000 ($181,789) to MAB Agency.  

By Intello, the 5-year-old is out of the group 3-placed Wait And See, a close relation to Prix Allez France (G3) victress Daksha, and from the family of Coronation Stakes (G1) heroine Golden Opinion. 

Sonjeu herself was a smart performer, striking in the Prix Saraca at 2 and finishing fourth in two listed contests at 3. She is in foal to multiple stakes winner Attendu.  

Buyer Marc Antoine Berghgracht said: "She's just a magnificent mare and a listed winner. She's carrying to Attendu, whose first yearlings impressed me. She could head to Ireland."

Mags O'Toole also went to €150,000 ($181,789) to secure a Showcasing colt foal out of an unraced daughter of Coronation Stakes winner Balisada.

Anthony Oppenheimer's wonderful homebred produced the listed-winning Galactic Star, also runner-up in the Glorious Stakes (G3), plus the stakes-placed El Salvador, while this was a first foal for her 5-year-old Intello daughter Dadao. 

The Haras du Logis-consigned colt is also related to Folkswood, the winner of five races, including the Dubai Millennium Stakes Sponsored by District One Mansions (G3), and third behind Winx in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) for Charlie Appleby. 

D'Etreham Has Every Faith 

The Haras du Mont-Dit-Mont-consigned No Faith was another to reach a six-figure price when knocked down to Haras d'Etreham and Haras du Lieu Marmion for €112,000 ($135,736). 

The three-time-winning daughter of Le Havre is carrying to Banstead Manor Stud resident Bated Breath and can count U.S. grade 3 winner Tigah and stakes-placed Practitioner (Fat Choy Oohlala in Hong Kong) among her half siblings. 

SARL Trotting Pick Up Angelissima

Dark Angel filly Angelissima went the way of SARL Trotting Bloodstock when selling from Wertheimer & Frere's draft for €95,000 ($115,133). 

Placed once as a 2-year-old, Angelissima is out of stakes winner Foreign Tune, a daughter of Invincible Spirit and a full sister to Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2) winner Impassable.

Foreign Tune is also a half sibling to Attendu, a multiple group victor and stallion at Haras du Quesnay, plus the classy group 3 winner Spotify. 

Trotting Bloodstock's Florent Fonteyne said: "It's a family I know well as I bought Thirsty, the brother of the dam who recently won at Deauville by five lengths.

"This family has been very lucky for us. She's been bought to breed from but could run again; she'll head to Adrien Fouassier, and he'll tell us if she can run or not."

Japan Strikes Again for Aga Khan's Roseya

The Aga Khan draft is always eagerly anticipated, and the consignor's Roseya, a daughter of Invincible Spirit and Total Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (G1) heroine Rosanara, was one highlight when selling to Japan's Ever Union Shokai for €87,000 ($105,461).

Roseya, who was placed twice at 3 for Alain de Royer-Dupré, was covered by Intello this year and holds a typically deep Aga Khan pedigree for her new connections.

The 4-year-old is out of the Sinndar mare Rosanara, who in turn is the daughter of Rosawa, a full sister to Prix Daniel Wildenstein victor and Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) third Rajsaman, the sire of dual French Classic hero Brametot.

Aside from her ParisLongchamp triumph, Rosanara was second to fellow Aga Khan-owned Sarafina in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks, G1) and third in the Criterium International (G1).

Sale Statistics

From 179 lots offered, 134 sold for a clearance rate of 75% and turnover of €3,893,500 ($4,719,640), down 45% on the €7,023,500 last year, when 203 lots sold from 259 offered at a clip of 78%; an average of €29,056 ($35,221), down 16% on 2019; and a median of €24,000 ($29,092), which was down 8% from last year.

The Arqana Breeding Stock Sale continues Monday from 10 a.m. local time.