Press release Saturday 11 May 2013
A RECORD TOP PRICE OF €520,000 FOR A SON OF SEA THE STARS
The 2013 edition of the Breeze Up Sale produced excellent results.
The Saint‐Cloud Breeze up Sale which was held on the eve of first French Classic rendezvous of
the year posted very positive figures with a particularly dynamic start to the sale. Almost 87% of
horses changed hands (including private sales) for an average sale price of €66,772 which
represents an increase of 18% on last year. The total turnover reached €6,403,500, a figure
equivalent to 2012 in spite of 35 fewer horses in the sale, while 17 lots made more than
€100,000 compared to 11 the previous year.
This year, the Saint‐Cloud Breeze Up was marked the presence of three two year olds by Sea The
Stars, the only offspring by the six time Group 1 winner to have been sold in a Breeze Up in
Europe. These horses were very well received, in particular lot 13 for whom the bidding went to
€520,000, a record for an ARQANA Breeze Up sale. Named Salamargo, this son of the dual Listed
winner Navajo Moon offered by The Channel Consignment was most popular, particularly with
Hugo Merry but also with Nicolas de Watrigant, who was representing Cheikh Joaan Al Thani,
there in person on Saturday at Saint‐Cloud. It was eventually the trainer Marco Botti who had
the last word, buying the good looking colt for Cheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum,
already an owner in South Africa with Mike de Kock. The second colt by Sea The Stars to go
through the ring was lot 48, consigned by Ecurie Prevost‐Baratte. This two‐year‐old, who is none
other than a brother to Prix Jean‐Luc Lagardère (Gr.1) winner Naaqoos, was knocked down for
€165,000 to Jehan Bertran de Balanda, who was acting on behalf of English owner Alan Potts.
Nicolas de Watrigant, who ended the day as leading buyer thanks to the purchase of 7 lots for a
total €760.000€, forked out €230.000 for lot 14, a colt from the second crop of Breeders’ Cup
Classic winner Raven’s Pass. This half brother to Mast Track, who won the Hollywood Gold Cup
Stakes (Gr.1), was consigned just as the top price was, by The Channel Consignment who had a
great sale, selling 11 lots for €1,372,000. The tandem consisting of Alban Chevalier du Fau and
Jamie Railton also consigned lot 1, a daughter of New Approach, young sire in the limelight
thanks to the unbeaten Dawn Approach, brilliant winner of the Newmarket 2000 Guineas last
week. Out of a sister to Group 1 placed Charming Prince, this filly was bought for €175,000 by
Richard Brown (Blandford Bloodstock) and will go into training with William Haggas, having been
in the object of a bitter duel between the Blandford Bloodstock and Jean‐Marie Callier and
Chantilly Bloodstock.
Roger Marley (Church Farm Stables) achieved a very successful pinhooking coup thanks to lot 46,
a colt by Green Tune bought for €24,000 at the ARQANA October Yearling Sale and sold for
€155,000 this afternoon at Saint‐Cloud. It was Stephen Hillen, acting on behalf of British owners
Matt and Lauren Morgan, who bought this son of a half sister to the excellent Silver Pond, who
will now go into training with Kevin Ryan.
Furthermore, two particularly well bred fillies left their mark on the sale the ring on this Saturday
and both found buyers for €140,000. The first was lot 22 (consigned by Kilminfoyle House Stud), a
daughter of Galileo and the Sprint Cup (Gr.1) winner Pipalong, already the dam of Walk On Bye,
who won the Anglesey Stakes (Gr.3) and finished third in the Phoenix Stakes (Gr.1). Irish
bloodstock agent Hubie de Burgh bought her for an Australian owner breeder who intends to
race her in Europe before sending her back to Australia where she will join his own broodmare
band. The second filly sold for €140,000 was lot 36, a daughter of the exciting young stallion
Lawman and Group 3 winner Secret Melody who numbers the excellent Pearl Flute among her
progeny. Bought at the October yearling sale, the last named won the Prix des Chênes (Gr.3) last
year and will run in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Gr.1) on Sunday. This filly consigned by Haras
du Saubouas was eventually knocked down to Oliver Saint Lawrence, acting on behalf of
Gaybrook Stud, and will go into training with Marcus Tregoning.
At the end of the day, ARQANA chairman Eric Hoyeau commented: “The demand was very
sustained at the top end of the market and all the major players had travelled to Saint‐Cloud and got
involved in some nice bidding wars. The same applies to the middle market which is noted for its
very European flavour. As such, a large proportion of the horses bought are likely to stay in training
in France, a country which benefits from prizemoney which offers a better possibility of return on
investment. In this sense, the Breeze Up Jackpot brings an added incentive thanks to a €200,000
package entirely financed by ARQANA. We would like to thank all investors who made the trip to
Paris to take part in the sale and we would like to highlight the quality of the horses which were
entered by all buyers as well as the excellent level of preparation of all their two‐year‐olds. Added to
this the reduced number of horses catalogued and the more rigorous selection were determining
factors in the dynamism of the sale. The results of this major sale at the beginning of the year give us
great confidence and optimism for the forthcoming yearling sales.”
Full results are available online at www.arqana.com
Next Sale: summer sale from 2 to 4 July in Deauville
