‘I really like the pedigree’ – Criquette Head buys blue-blooded Bursa
The fourth and final day of Arqana’s Breeding Stock Sale was topped by Haras de Bouquetot’s unraced Frankel (Galileo) mare Bursa, who went the way of Haras du Quesnay for €38,000 (approx. AUD$61,500).
The five-year-old is out of a winning full-sister to Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr 1, 2400m) heroine Plumania (Anabaa) and was consigned carrying to Al Wukair (Dream Ahead), whose first runners hit the track next year.
Bursa has a yearling filly by Ectot (Hurricane Run), while she produced a filly by Al Wukair earlier this year. She hails from a family that also includes Prix du Muguet (Gr 2, 1600m) scorer Plumatic (Dubawi) and Prix de Royallieu (Gr 2, 2500m) victress Balladeuse (Singspiel), the dam of Prix Vermeille (Gr 1, 2400m) heroine Left Hand (Dubawi) and Prix Jean Romanet (Gr 1, 2000m) third Romanciere (Dansili).
Criquette Head, whose family own and run Haras du Quesnay, said: “I really like the mare, and the pedigree! It’s a lovely Wertheimer family and it’s great to get into it. The mare corresponds to several of our stallions, but the choice doesn’t stop there.”
Al Hamla sets the early standard
It was a productive day for Al Shaqab’s breeding arm as the well-related Al Hamla (Medaglia D’Oro) was snapped up by Windfield Bloodstock for €27,000 (approx. AUD$43,765) early on in the session.
The unraced daughter of Medaglia D’Oro (El Prado), who was covered by Zelzal (Sea The Stars) this year, is out of the Grade 3-winning mare Genuine Devotion (Rock Of Gibraltar), herself a half-sister to multiple Group 1 victor and leading sire Mastercraftsman (Danehill Dancer).
Genuine Devotion, who has also produced Listed third Genuine Quality (Elusive Quality), can also count Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) runner-up Famous (Danehill Dancer) and Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) third Il Paradiso (Galileo) among her immediate family.
Jean Biraben explained Windfield’s purchase by saying: “She’s a beautiful mare by Medaglia D’Oro with a page – her dam is by Rock Of Gibraltar and a sister to Mastercraftsman. It’s a young pedigree that could turn something up.”
Al Wukair colt makes €22,000
Haras du Saubouas went to €22,000 (approx. AUD$35,675) to land the winning bid for La Motteraye’s Al Wukair colt foal from the family of Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Style Vendome (Anabaa).
Out of the unraced mare Green Media (Green Tune), the grey colt can also count Cherry Hinton Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) winner Crime Of Passion (Dragonara Palace) – the granddam of Golden Shaheen (Gr 1, 1200m) scorer Muarrab (Oasis Dream) and Molecomb Stakes (Gr 3, 5f) winner Bungle Inthejungle (Exceed And Excel) – among his page.
Sale statistics
From 167 lots offered on Tuesday, 131 sold for a clearance rate of 78 per cent and turnover of €839,500 (approx. AUD$1.36 million), 64 per cent down on the €2,308,500 last year, when 122 lots sold from 184 offered at a clip of 66 per cent, an average of €6,408 (approx. AUD$10,400), down 66 per cent on 2019, and a median of €4,500 (approx. AUD$7,300), which was down 55 per cent from last year.
Aggregate turnover for the four days was €25,284,500 (approx. AUD$41 million), a dip of 26 per cent on last year, with 557 lots sold from 704 offered for a clearance rate of 79 per cent, up three per cent on 2019. The average was €45,394 (approx. AUD$73,615), down eight per cent, and median €17,000 (approx. AUD$27,570), down 11 per cent.