The European yearling sales concluded this week in Deauville but it won’t be long before we see some of those offered for sale back in the ring at next spring’s breeze-up sales.
The breeze-ups are a good gauge as to the popularity of the offspring of first-season sires and the stock of one Darley freshman have already found favour with one of the most respected two-year-old consignors.
Con Marnane of Ireland’s Bansha House Stables purchased only two yearlings at Arqana’s December sale but both were by Darley stallions and in the top five lots sold that day. A first-crop son of Iffraaj out of the Listed winner Ethelinda was the third highest price yearling when selling for €36,000.
“I’ve bought three Iffraaj yearlings and I love them. I bought a nice one here in August and one in Italy. They look like real runners and this colt has a proper page. He’s a late foal but the French sale is not until May so I’ll take my time with him,” said Marnane, who confirmed that the colt would be heading for Arqana’s breeze-up at Saint-Cloud.
Later in the sale, he also selected a very well-related son of Shamardal for €34,000. The colt is out of Legendary (Fabulous Dancer), a nine-time winner herself and a half-sister to the multiple Grade One-winning filly Golden Apples and to Alexander Three D, whose Green Desert colt topped the Tattersalls Craven breeze-up sale in 2006 when sold to Katsumi Yoshida for 625,000gns.
