Abilene, a 3-year-old Samum filly offered out of training, brought the day's highest price of €270,000 ($370,291 in United States funds) at a vibrant second session of Arqana breeding stock sale Dec. 8.
Total sales were up 24% compared with the corresponding session in 2012, with 226 mares and foals selling for an aggregate €5,427,500 ($7,446,602).
Average price grew 19% to €24,015 ($32,945), and the clearance rate was 80.1%.
Revenue through two days of the sale has already surpassed the €20,699,000 in total sales at last year's auction, reaching €24,163,000 (33,139,088). The Arqana breeding stock sales continues Dec. 9 with the third session.
Ghislain Bozo's Meridian International secured the session-topping Samum filly on behalf of Capital Pur-Sang from the Wildenstein family's Haras du Bois Roussel consignment. Out of stakes-placed Altamire, by Peintre Celebre, she was unraced as a juvenile and won one of seven starts this year. Her record includes three third-place finishes, most notably the listed Prix Solitude Nov. 9 at Saint-Cloud.
Abilene is expected to race next year as a 4-year-old for current trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.
Altamire is a full sister to French group III-placed Andromeda Galaxy. The session topper's second dam is French stakes winner and group III-placed Arlesienne, a full sister to 2005 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) winner Angara and a half sister to French group II-placed Actrice. Her extended family includes 1993 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Arcangues.
