A Duke of Marmalade colt sold for €145,000 ($199,858 in United States funds) Oct. 22 to lead a second day of strong trade at the Arqana October yearling sale in Deauville.
Market indicators were up by double digits from last year's corresponding session fueled by buyers from a number of European nations as well as Qatar, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
Total receipts of €3,436,000 ($4,736,127) soared 40% with sales on 122 of 149 horses offered through the ring. The number sold is 14 more than at the same session in 2012, when only four fewer horses were cataloged.
The average price was up 23.4% at €28,164 ($38,809) and median soared 39% to €25,000 ($34,449).
The clearance rate improved from 74.5% at the same session in 2012 to 81.9%.
The session-topping Duke of Marmalade colt, a half brother to two winners, was bought out of the Ecurie des Monceaux consignment by Andriy Ostapchuk's Imperial Bloodstock on behalf of an unnamed Russian client.
The dam of the handsome bay colt is the unraced Montjeu mare May, who is a half sister to 1997 Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) winner Classic Park, dam of 2005 Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-I) runner-up and sire Walk in the Park. May also is a half sister to U.S. multiple graded-stakes winner Rumpipumpy.
As the session neared its conclusion, a colt from the first crop of 2008 Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-I, French Derby) winner Vision d'Etat out of a half sister to multiple group I winner Cirrus Des Aigles sparked a bidding battle between pinhookers, with Alban Chevalier du Fau and Jamie Railton of The Channel Consignment ultimately securing the youngster for €110,000 ($151,605).
Offered by Haras de Grandcamp, the colt is the first foal out of the Alamo Bay mare Vie des Aigles. He will be pointed to the Arqana breeze-up sale in May.
