(Edited Arqana press release)
Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock manager, John Ferugson, who was the biggest spender at the recent Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction, was busy again Aug. 14 during the opening session of the Arqana’s Deauville August yearling sale in France. He bought the session-topping Storm Cat colt for €900,000 ($1,282,860 in U.S. funds) from Etreham.
Produced from the 15-year-old Arazi mare Elbaaha, the chestnut yearling is a half-brother to Electrocutionist (by Red Ransom), who captured the 2006 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) while racing for Sheikh Mohammed under the Godolphin banner and the 2005 editions of the Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-I) and the Gran Premio di Milano (It-I) while racing for Earle Mack. A champion in Italy and the United Arab Emirates, Electrocutionist died in September 2006 of what was believed to be a heart attack several days after an abnormality was detected in his heart.
The €900,000 colt also is a half-brother to 2006 French stakes winner Grigorieva (by Woodman).
Coolmore Stud’s chief agent Demi O’Byrne paid €750,000 ($1,069,050) for the opening session’s second-highest-priced horse, a Montjeu – Dibenoise colt, which was consigned by Reboursiere Et De Montaigu. The yearling is a full brother to French group I winner Corre Caminos and a half-brother to French group II winner Racinger.
In all, 79 horses were sold, grossing €19,095,000 ($27,218,013) and averaging €241,709 ($344,532). The clearance rate was 75.2%. Compared to a year ago, when 80 horses were sold, the gross rose 9.5% and the average grew 10.9%.
Private sales grossed €775,000 ($1,104,685) compared to €280,000 in 2008.
“Our aims were to keep upgrading the quality of the catalogue as well as to further broaden our client base, and today’s results are a major step in this direction,” said Arqana president Eric Hoyeau. “We are particularly pleased with the diversity of buyers at €300,000 and above, which reflects a very solid market.”
