A Galileo colt brought 1.4 million euros ($1.88 million) Aug. 17 during the first day of Arqana’s Deauville Sale, the initial European yearling auction of the year.

The half-brother to group I Prix Jean Prat winner Turtle Bowl was bred by Berend van Dalfsen and consigned from Marc de Chambure’s Haras d’Etreham, usually the leading seller during the auction that continues through Aug. 20. Ireland’s Demi O’Byrne bought the colt for the Coolmore partners after outbidding BBA Germany.

Last year’s top price was 750,000 euros. This year’s 1.4 million is the highest for a Deauville yearling since a record 2 million euros was set in 2002.

This year, 121 horses (136 in 2006) were offered at the opening session, and 95 (105 last year) sold for 17,271,000 euros ($23,299,204). The average was 181,800 euros ($245,254), and median was 120,000 euros ($161,884).

The aggregate increased by 21.7%, the average by 34.5%, and the median by 33.3%. The clearance rate improved to 78.5% from 76.6%.
 
Newmarket, England agent Margaret O’Toole was among the big spenders, paying 950,000 euros ($1,281,584) for a Dansili colt already named Aiglemont. Out of the group III Prix Penelope winner Abbatiale, by Kendor, the colt was offered from Jurgen Winter’s locally based Haras de la Perelle. Like the top-selling colt, he is set to join Ireland’s champion trainer, Aidan O’Brien.

Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate Company was notably active, buying eight lots, including 800,000-euro ($1,079,228) purchase Cadenza, a Dansili half-sister to group I 2000 Guineas third-place finisher Kandidate, sold by the Haras de la Rebousiere et de Montagu.

A Linamix half-sister to last season's Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner Red Rocks proved predictably popular. Sent over by Irish-based breeder Ballylinch Stud, the March-foaled gray filly was bought by the France Pur Sang agency for Andreas Putsch’s Haras de Saint Pair Du Mont for 620,000 euros ($836,402).
 
Trainer Robert Collet paid 780,000 euros ($1,052,248) for a Cape Cross filly from a family he knows well. The Kilfrush Stud offering is a half-sister to his smart sprinter Beauty Is Truth.