The sales round continued this week with the action returning to Normandy for Arqana's October sale in Deauville where the name of dual French Classic winner Shamardal was once again in the headlines.
Just as his offspring have been doing on the track this season, a colt by Europe's leading first-season sire set the pace when topping the sale at €170,000 during the second session. A half-brother to the Stakes winners Coupe de Champe and Obrigado, he is out of the Funambule mare Banakill and was offered by Haras de Grandcamp. BBA Ireland signed the ticket on behalf of Willie Browne.
With just five yearlings realising six-figure sums in the ring, Dubai Destination and Shirocco were responsible for the joint sixth highest-priced horses of the sale with a filly and a colt each making €85,000.
Lot 78, a filly by Dubai Destination out of the dual winner and Listed-placed Shifting Sands (Hernando), was consigned by Haras de la Louviere and was the selection of the Broadhurst Agency while Haras d'Etreham's Shirocco colt out of Basse Besogne (Pursuit Of Love) was another to have been knocked down to BBA Ireland.
Lot 145, a colt by Green Desert and the first foal of Vadazing (Spinning World), a half-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Vadawina, got the vote of Guillaume Gorse, who went to €75,000 and earlier in the sale had also been the successful bidder when the hammer came down at €53,000 for a Refuse To Bend colt out of Style For Life, a half-sister to the Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow.
Shamardal's appeal was also evident in the sale of another pair of colts, who fetched €67,000 and €65,000 respectively. Despite appearing just a few lots from the close of the sale, Haras de Mezeray's colt out of Pharma West (Gone West) looks likely to re-appear at next year's breeze-up sales after selling to Jim McCartan's Gaybrook Lodge Stud for €67,000 while Mandore International Agency went to almost the same price for Haras de la Reboursiere et de Montaigu's Shamardal colt, who is already named Trompettiste.
Broadhurst Agency struck again for a daughter of Slickly out of Phlizz (Kaldoun), who was a €62,000 purchase while a first-crop daughter of Slickly's fellow Haras du Logis resident Librettist fetched €60,000. The filly, bought by trainer Carlos Lerner, is out of Mrs Ting (Lyphard) and is a half-sister to Group Three winner Tripat.
