Shadwell, Zayats Land Frankel Colts at Arqana

Opening night of the Arqana August yearling sale Aug. 14 saw solid trade from a broad international buying bench that included the U.S.-based Zayat family, who purchased their first horse at the Deauville auction, a son of Frankel.

Yearlings from the second crop of Juddmonte's unbeaten champion were in high demand. A colt by the hot freshman sire brought the day's top price of €850,000 ($948,931) from Shadwell Stud, while Florida-based agent Justin Casse, bidding for the Zayats, went to €410,000 ($457,719) for the second-most expensive offspring by the Banstead Manor Stud's resident stallion.

Angus Gold saw off HSpirit's determined racing manager Jean-Jacques Taieb to secure the session-topper, Hip 92, Ecruie Monceaux's colt out of the Fasliyev mare Pertinence, who has already produced the dual listed winner and group III-placed La Peinture. This is the family of Peintre Celebre.

"Sheikh Hamdan liked the colt very much and we are very pleased to have him," Gold said. "Frankel has a truly outstanding success with his first crop. This is a very athletic and elegant colt who uses himself well. Moreover, he was consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux who do a tremendous job. We have been very lucky with the horses we bought from them."

Shadwell also bought a Frankel colt out of French stakes winner Faithfully for €300,000 ($334,916). He is from the family of Rainbow Quest.

For the Zayats, Casse landed Hip 57, a gray Frankel colt, who is a half brother to Canadian grade III winner Marbre Rose. He is out of the winning Unbridled's Song mare Manerbe, whom consignor Ecurie des Monceaux bought for $200,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale and raced with Christophe Clement.

Two Frankel offspring sold for a respective €300,000 and €200,000 ($223,277): a colt out of Funny Girl and a colt out of L'Ancresse.

A full brother to champion mile CharmSpirit sold for the day's second-highest price of €650,000 ($725,591) on a bid from Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, standing alongside Hannah Wall of David Redvers Bloodstock. 

"He is a very impressive individual," said Wall about the son of Invincible Spirit. "We loved him at the farm and were even more impressed when we saw him again today. No trainer has been decided yet." 

Sheikh Fahad agreed: "He is even nicer than his brother and I hope that he will be as good."

Overall, 83% of the 91 yearlings offered changed hands, a clearance rate up almost 12 points from last year's first session. Gross sales also were up 19% at €14,116,000 ($15,754,985), but the average dipped slightly at €185,737 ($207,313), down 3%.

Earlier in the sale, bidding on Ecurie des Monceaux's Dubawi half sister to group I winner Giofra reached €1 million ($1,116,164), but she reportedly was a buyback although Arqana is accepting bids on its website.

The Arqana Deauville yearling sale continues Aug. 15-16.