A colt by King's Best brought the second highest price Monday, going for 400,000 euros to agent Charlie Gordon-Watson. Sold by Haras d'Etreham, he is out of the Nureyev mare Manureva and is a half-brother to group I winner Riviera.On Sunday and Monday, 204 yearlings were offered and 149 were listed as sold. The buy-back rate was 27%, up from 20% a year ago. Both the gross and average are down from 2004. The gross of 16,869,000 euros compares to 21,910,000, and the average of 113,215 euros is down from 115,316.
A filly by Montjeu topped the select portion of the Deauville sale Monday in France, with a final bid of 580,000 euros (about $710,000).Consigned by Haras du Mezeray, the filly was purchased by Hubie de Burgh as agent for Rick Barne's Grange Con Stud in Ireland. Produced from the Riverman mare Valley of Hope, she was bred in Ireland by Peter Savill at his Oak Hill Stud. The sale topper is a half-sister to Irish Oaks (Ire-I) third Sister Bella (by Sadler's Wells).
