Monsun Filly Tops First Deauville Session

Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell topped Friday's opening trading at Deauville's August yearling sale when paying 750,000 euros for a blue-blooded German-bred daughter of Monsun.

Consigned by Haras du Mezeray, the filly is a full sister to both the group I Germany Derby winner Samum and group I Preis der Diana heroine Salve Regina. Monsun currently leads the French sire rankings.

Shadwell also paid 600,000 euros for a Diesis filly out of the Turtle island mare Turtle Bow and 500,000 euros for a filly by Elusive Quality   out of Anja. Both were consigned by Haras d'Etreham,

Green Desert, who this week was moved to the Darley stallion roster, was the sire in demand during Friday's early trading on the first day of the French sale.

British-based agent Margaret O'Toole struck early to get a filly by the veteran sire for 520,000 euros. The yearling, out of group I Fillies' Mile winner Crystal Music, was consigned by her breeder, Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Watership Down Stud.

A Green Desert colt with a distinguished Niarchos pedigree made 420,000 euros when consigned from the family's locally-based Haras de Fresnay le Buffard. Chantilly trainer Richard Gibson, acting for owner Erik Soderberg, signed for the colt, whose dam Here On Earth is a half-sister to multiple group I winner Spinning World.

A half-sister to this year's Prix Ganay (Fr-I) winner Corre Caminos by first-season sire Hawk Wing realized 420,000 euros when bought by agent Marc-Antoine Berghgract.

Of the 149 catalogued for the opening session, 137 were offered and 106 sold for 14,256,000 euros resulting in an average of 134,491 euros and median of 90,000 euros. The sale continues through Monday.