Nickelle commanded the top price of €85,000 ($112,137 in U.S. funds) during the Arqana February mixed sale in Deauville in France. Thierry Delegue, representing the agency Your Equine Solution (YES), purchased the 9-year-old daughter of Sagamix Feb. 13. She was part of the dispersal of the estate of Sylvia Wildenstein.
Winner of four of her 19 career races, Nickelle captured the 2007 Prix de la Pepiniere and 2006 Prix Wild Monarch-Pouliches Hurdle in France. She has earned $222,463.
Nickelle is out of the Marignan mare N’avoue Jamias, who won the 2000 Prix Alain du Breil-Course de Haies d’Ete des Qatre Ans Hurdle and 1999 Prix de Chambly Hurdle in France. N’Avoue Jamais’ other offspring include N’oublie Jamais (by Loup Solitaire), who scored in this year’s Grande Course de Haies de Cagnes Hurdle and the 2011 Prix Wild Monarch Hurdle.
The results for the auction included a gross of €1,627,500 ($2,147,100) for the 204 horses that were sold. The average price was €7,978 ($10,525) and the median price was €4,500 ($5,937). Compared to last year, the number sold and gross rose 23.6% and 72.5%, respectively. The average and median grew 39.5% and 28.6%, respectively.
The clearance rate was 78.2%, up from 67.6% in 2011.
Eleven horses were sold privately for €75,000 ($98,945). Last year, eight horses were sold privately for €33,000.
The 11 horses from the Wildenstein dispersal that were sold grossed €413,500 ($547,251).
