A son of Sea The Stars topped Part 1 of the Arqana Deauville August yearling sale in France by bringing €1.2 million ($1,479,740 in U.S. funds) during the second and final session. Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency purchased the gray colt for Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Aug. 19.
A member of his sire’s first crop, the yearling will be trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre. Ecurie des Monceaux consigned the colt to the auction and bred him in partnership with Skymarc Farm in Ireland.
The yearling is the first foal out of Alpine Rose (by Linamix), who captured the Darley Prix Jean Romanet (Fr-I) and Prix Corrida (Fr-II) in 2009. She is a full sister to French champion and 1998 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I) winner Fragrant Mix, 2005 Prix d’Hedouville (Fr-III) winner Fracassant, and French stakes winners Farfala and Fascinating Mix.
The results for Part 1 of the sale included a gross of €19,538,000 ($24,092,700) for the 124 horses that were sold. The average price was €157,565 ($194,297) and the median price was €110,000 ($135,643). The clearance rate was 71.3% compared to 71% in 2011.
The average rose 8.3% from a year ago, when 149 yearlings were sold, but the gross declined 9.9%.
In addition, Arqana reported that 10 yearlings were sold privately this year for a gross of €732,000 ($902,644). The gross for Part 1 with private sales included was €20,270,000 ($24,995,300).