Craig Bernick of Glen Hill Farm near Ocala, Fla., went to a sale-topping price of €200,000 ($268,330 U.S.) to secure the Galileo filly Gulsary at the Arqana February mixed sale Feb. 11 in Deauville.
Bloodstock agent Jean-Marie Callier signed the ticket on Bernick's behalf for the 4-year-old filly, a half sister to 2001 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Majestic Barriere (Fr-I) winner Imperial Beauty from the family of U.S. grade I winner Together and French group I winner Jan Vermeer.
Offered as a horse in training, Gulsary had two wins and a second from 10 career starts for trainer Christophe Aubert, who offered her in his consignment. The Irish-bred filly is out of the Arctic Tern mare Multimara, who also has produced stakes-placed Be My Queen and Dubai Tower.
Following Arqana's record-breaking December breeding stock sale to conclude last year on a high note, the February mixed sale kicked off the 2013 sales season by continuing the trend as the one-day auction closed with record total revenue at the Elie de Brignac sales complex.
Arqana reported the 187 horses through the ring sold for total receipts of €1,487,000 ($1,992,227), but 13 private sales for €42,000 ($56,525) pushed the aggregate to a record €1,529,200 ($2,048,429).
Factoring in private sales, the clearance rate was 76.6% .
Average and median prices were unchanged at €7,958 ($10,656) and €4,500 ($6,030), respectively.
For complete sales results, visit www.arqana.com