A son of High Chaparral was the most expensive horse sold during the third session of the Arqana Deauville August yearling sale, bringing €220,000 ($271,313 in U.S. funds). Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency purchased the bay colt Aug. 20 in France.
Ecurie des Monceaux bred the yearling in Ireland and consigned him to the auction. The colt is the second foal out of the unraced Monsun mare Nightdance Sun, who is a half sister to 2005 German champion Nightdance Forest (by Charnwood Forest) and Switzerland’s 2011 Horse of the Year Nightdance Paolo (by Paolini).
The results for the third session included a gross of €5,462,000 ($6,735,960) for the 95 yearlings that were sold. The average price was €57,495 ($70,905) and the median price was €47,000 ($57,962). The clearance rate was 62.9%.
Compared to last year, when 86 horses were sold, the gross rose 2.6%. The average and median declined 7.1% and 6%, respectively. The clearance rate in 2011 was 78.2%.