Record Price Set During Opening Session of Deauville Sale

A sale record was set at Arqana's December sale at Deauville during the opening session Dec. 2, when the mare Mandalara (Lahib - Madiriya by Diesis) was sold for 1.7 million euros (about $2.25 million) to Japanese agent Nobutaka Tada.

The 9-year-old is the dam of Mandesha (Desert Style), who scored a group I hat-trick this year with victories in the Prixd'Astarte, Prix Vermeille, and Prix de l'Opera, while she is also a half-sister to the multiple group I winner Manndar.

Mandesha recently scooped the prestigious Cartier Award for leading 3-year-old filly of 2006 in Europe.

Mandalara was sold by the Aga Khan's Studs for a mere 16,000 euros two years ago at this same Deauville sale and is now the fourth most expensive mare to be sold in Europe this year.

She is in foal to the Turkish stallion Dinyeper after being exported to that country, and was consigned by Eric Puerari's Haras des Capucines.

For the session, the sale company reported 152 horses were sold for gross receipts of 10,130,000 euros ($13,438,154), with only 23 of the total 175 offered not selling for an RNA rate of 13.1%.

At the same session one year ago, 156 horses grossed 4,555,500 euros, with an RNA rate of 21.6%. This year's session average increased 128.22% to 66,645 euros from the 29,202 euros figure last year. The median was up 66.67% to 32,500 euros, compared with 19,500 euros in 2005.