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Arqana Breeze Up Sale sees most expensive juvenile sold at auction in Europe this year
A colt by the Aga Khan Studs-based sire Siyouni (Pivotal) became the most expensive breeze up horse sold in Europe this year when bloodstock agent Oliver St Lawrence went to €1.2 million to secure the Grove Stud-consigned colt during Saturday's Arqana Breeze Up Sale in Deauville.
Sold as Lot 145, the colt is out of the Listed winning Lope De Vega (Shamardal) mare Isabel De Urbina, who is herself a sister to the Group winning pair Manuela de Vega and Hero Look.
"He's a lovely colt and there is everything to like about him," said Oliver St Lawrence. "He has it all - he breezed well, is by a great stallion and has a great pedigree. He's been bought for a Bahraini owner, and will most likely be trained in England."
The colt had been bought for €200,000 by Grove Stud at last year's Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.
A little earlier in the day, Oliver St Lawrence had gone to €450,000 for a daughter of Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy)) from The Bloodstock Connection. Sold as Lot 45, the well-bred half-sister to Listed winner and Group placed Manhattan Jungle (Bungle Inthejungle) is from the family of Group 1 scorers Waikika and Emaraaty Ana.
"She's a magnificent filly that has scope and an exceptional temperament," he said after signing the docket. "She's been bought by Fawzi Nass and will also be trained in England."
Godolphin strike for son of Dubawi
Late on in the sale, Anthony Stroud bought a son of Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) for €800,000, the second most expensive lot sold on Saturday.
Bought for Godolphin from Norman and Janet Williamson's Oak Tree Farm, the colt is the first foal out of winning Kingman (Invincible Spirit) mare Mulan. She is a half-sister to the Listed winner Prudenzia (Dansili), who in turn produced Group 1 winners Magic Wand and Chicquita.
The colt had been bought by Maggs O'Toole and Oak Tree Farm for €150,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale and he will now be trained in Newmarket by Charlie Appleby.
"He's a colt that really stands out," said Stroud. "Norman and Janet Williamson have done a great job with him. He's a son of Dubawi from a great family."
Figures rise
The 2023 sale saw 87 per cent of the 167 two-year-olds offered sold. The average price of €150,789 was up +15 per cent from 2022 and the aggregate finished at €21,110,500, up 58 per cent from a year ago).
A total of ten lots sold for €400,000 or more during the sale in comparison to four last year.
At the conclusion of the sale, Arqana President Éric Hoyeau and Executive Director Freddy Powell said: "We are very pleased with the results, thanks to the hard work and professionalism of our vendors who have once again placed their trust in us and brought horses of such a high standard that have been extremely well prepared.
"The quality of the catalogue brought many buyers to Deauville, whom we would also like to thank for coming. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the work of our teams as well as that of France Galop and the staff at Deauville Racecourse, who largely contributed to the success of this sale by allowing us to hold the breezes on a beautiful prepared track again this year."