A Dubawi colt and a Galileo filly each sold for 1 million euros ($1,332,676 in U.S funds) Aug. 17 on opening day of the Arqana Deauville yearling sale, where buyer demand for quality horses fueled a particularly solid market.
Arqana reported 66 of 87 horses offered as sold for total receipts of €14,091,000 ($8,778,736). The gross, which includes one private sale, marked a 50% increase compared with the first day of last year's sale.
The average price increased by almost 40% to €214,323 ($285,623). The median price was €128,000 ($170,583), and the clearance rate was 74.7%.
Six horses sold for €500,000 ($666,338) or more, 11 were sold €400,000 ($533,318) or more, and 22 for more than €200,000 ($266,659), compared with 15 at that price in 2012.
A Dubawi half brother to 2008 Falmouth Stakes (Eng-I) winner Nahoodh brought the first million-euro price, selling to Irish bloodstock agents Peter and Ross Doyle out of the consignment of breeder Ballylinch Stud. The chestnut colt is out of the unraced Indian Ridge mare Mise, who also produced French group III winner Not Just Swing, by King's Best.
"With a horse like him, you have to expect that sort of price," Doyle told Racing Post.
A half hour later, Coolmore's M.V. Magnier prevailed in a bidding duel with bloodstock agent David Redvers to secure a filly by leading European sire Galileo for the same price.
Offered by Lucien Urano's Ecurie des Monceaux, who co-bred the filly in Ireland with Lady O'Reilly's Skymarc Farm, the bay filly is a three-quarter sister to 2013 Irish Oaks (Ire-I) winner Chicquita, who also finished second in the Prix de Diane (Fr-I, French Oaks).
"She is an extremely nice filly," Magnier told Racing Post about the co-session topper, who is out of French stakes winner Prudenzia, by Dansili.
"She couldn't be born any better, and we'll bring her back to Ireland before deciding where she will go," he said.
Galileo, who stands for Coolmore in Ireland, topped the first session sire list, with seven horses sold for €2,910,000 ($3,878,087).
The Doyles also went to €650,000 ($866,239), the day's third-highest price, for a Galileo half sister to Zagora, last year's Eclipse Award winner as champion turf female. Bred in Great Britain by Eric Puerari and Michel Zerolo's Oceanic Bloodstock, the bay filly is out of the unraced Mtoto mare Zaneton.
A French-bred colt, who is closely related to U.S./European top-level winner Stacelita, sold for the same price to Nicolas de Watrigant's Mandore International Agency.
By deceased German sire Monsun, the bay colt is the first foal out of Sandy Girl, by Footstepsinthesand. Sandy Girl is a half sister to six-time group I winner Stacelita, who also is by Monsun. The colt was offered by Haras des Capucines.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's bloodstock adviser, John Ferguson, underbidder on the co-session-topping Dubawi colt, outbid French trainer Pascal Bary and the Hong Kong Jockey Club for an Oasis Dream colt at €620,000 ($826,259). The bay colt is the second foal out of the dual German listed winner Mambo Light, by Kingmambo, and is from the family of Irish group I winner Chimes of Freedom.
The sale continues Aug. 18 with the second of three sessions.