Half Sovereign Tops Opening Session of Arqana December

Karl Burke has pulled quite a few rabbits out of the hat down the years. However, turning a 12,000-guinea yearling into a €2.6 million (US$3,027,440, €1=US$1.16) filly in training surely rates a personal best, even by his lofty standards. That monster touch was achieved after the Prix Miesque (G3) winner Half Sovereign (FR) was offered during Day 1 of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in Deauville Dec. 6. The seven-figure showdown boiled down to a straight duel between David Redvers, bidding in the ringside restaurant, and agent Henry Lascelles, who stood at the top of the stairs opposite the rostrum. Lascelles found himself in a similar position Dec. 2 when Barnavara (IRE) topped the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. On that occasion he filled the role of frustrated underbidder after the price reached 4.8 million guineas, but he would not be denied for a second time in a week. Lascelles was unable to reveal the identity of his client, but said: "She's a lovely filly and she's going to go back to Karl Burke and hopefully be aimed at the French Guineas with a trial before. She was very impressive last time and, looking at her, she's a big, scopey filly so you'd hope she'll go on next year. "She's a lovely looking filly and a very good racing prospect. When you're buying race fillies with that sort of record, they can make that sort of money. We saw that on a couple of occasions in Newmarket earlier this week." Half Sovereign was bred by Haras Des Trois Chapelles and was plucked from Petches Farm's Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale draft last September. Burke said he was convinced he had snared a bargain even then. "It's just brilliant, and she comes back to us as well, so it's win-win," he said. "I didn't expect that. She was just a lovely model as a yearling. I worked the Somerville Sale with my wife, Elaine, and we just loved her. We couldn't believe we got her for 12 grand. Literally before I'd signed the docket Mick Easterby came up and offered me a grand profit, and two or three other people came up as well. "Luckily for Adam (Spratt, co-owner) a friend of his came up and asked if I'd sell half. I hadn't met Adam at that time but I said no problem. We would've sold half to someone and I'm delighted it was him." The daughter of Ten Sovereigns (IRE) was the sole offering in the catalog by Consign, the up-and-coming operation run by Harriet Jones and Chloe Battam. Talvard living the dream The seven-figure mark was reached twice more during the marathon session, including when Haras du Cadran went to €1.05 million for Lily Hart. The 4-year-old raced for a partnership of Masaaki Matsushima, Coolmore, and Westerberg, and was presented in Deauville by La Motteraye Consignment. The daughter of Galileo was bred by Coolmore from the winning and listed-placed Danehill Dancer mare Charlotte Bronte. Her five winning full siblings include 2021 Munster Oaks (G3) third High Heels and the listed-placed Facade. Lily Hart also did her bit to uphold family honor, winning two of her nine starts for Aidan O'Brien and signing off her racing days by finishing second in the 2024 Loughbrown Stakes (G3). She was offered in foal to Wootton Bassett, meaning her first foal will be bred on the same cross as group 1 stars Al Riffa (FR), Hawk Mountain (IRE), Maranoa Charlie (FR), Puerto Rico (IRE), and Whirl (IRE). The other millionaire was the 11-year-old Margie's Music (FR). She fetched a round €1 million from Ecurie des Monceaux and Broadhurst Agency. The Haras de la Cour Blanche-consigned mare is already the dam of the group 3-winning and group 1-placed Mr Hollywood (IRE) and the group 3-placed Magical Beat. Not only was she offered in foal to champion sire elect Night of Thunder (IRE), but her profile was enhanced further when her 2-year-old Lope de Vega (IRE) filly A La Prochaine made a winning debut at Newbury for Ralph Beckett and Wathnan Racing. Nyra on the move to O'Brien Before Half Sovereign hogged the limelight, the market was headed by group 3 winner and Preis der Diana (German Oaks, G1) third Nyra (GER). Dr. Christoph Berglar's homebred daughter of Isfahan (GER) was offered by Ronald Rauscher and went the way of David Lanigan at €875,000. "She'll go into training with Joseph O'Brien and she's been bought for Scott Heider," said Lanigan, who signed alongside fellow agent Ted Durcan. "The big thing is that she's a 3-year-old turning 4. There's been very few of those on the market this year and it's been hard to buy fillies privately that aren't 4 turning 5. "We tried to buy Lush Lips at Keeneland (who made $3.7 million) but those fillies with that form are making top money. This filly will stay a trip so it probably makes sense to have her in Ireland to start with and see how she goes. We'll leave the program completely to Joseph." Nyra is out of Nightlight Angel, an unraced Manduro half sister to Novellist (IRE). Asked about longer-term plans, Lanigan said: "Scott is very selective on the mares he keeps and he's not afraid to put them back on the market when they've finished racing. On average he keeps between 10 and 15 mares; we've got a lot of grass mares in Kentucky at the moment so he'd probably be more inclined to keep a dirt mare at the moment. It depends what she does going forward though. At that sort of price, if she could improve her race record you could put her back on the market once she's finished racing and you could get your money back." Global gathering There was a distinctly international flavor to the opening stages of the session as a diverse cross-section of global buyers drove the early market. Japanese powerhouse Shadai Farm dipped into the part dispersal of stock from Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot as Balsam brought a final bid of €480,000. The 4-year-old daughter of Wootton Bassett won the 2023 listed Prix des Reves d'Or at 2 and was offered having been covered for the first time by Starspangledbanner (AUS). Chantilly-based trainer Satoshi Kobayashi was on bidding duty on Shadai's behalf and indicated that Balsam could be covered in Europe before heading east. She is the eighth foal out of the group 3-placed Doyen mare Bea Remembered, making her a sibling to six winners. It took just 10 lots for the €400,000 mark to be reached as United States trainer Philip Antonacci secured Ashikidah (FR) from the Aga Khan Studs draft. The 3-year-old daughter of Belardo (IRE) won two minor races for Francis-Henri Graffard and was last seen adding black type to her profile when runner-up, beaten just a head by Medusa Merger, in the listed Prix de Saint-Cyr. "She's a nice filly who showed a big turn of foot," Antonacci said. "She looks like she could be progressive at just the right time. She'll suit those mile races in the U.S. We're looking for quick fillies who can compete in New York and Kentucky and she fits that profile. "There's some real upside to her and it looks like her best racing is her most recent, and she was very impressively visually watching her replays. Those were the things that attracted us to her." Antonacci added: "I actually wasn't here myself last year but we were underbidder on a few of the big horses. We came back this year to try to find more. She'll head to Florida now and have an easy time for a couple of months then we'll gear her up for Saratoga and try to make her into a stakes horse." Leading Indian outfit Poonawalla Stud made its presence felt when racing and bloodstock manager Raunak Banerji and agent Ajay Anne went to €400,000 for the high-class Donjah (GER). The 9-year-old daughter of Teofilo won the 2020 Preis von Europa (G1) during her time on the track and was offered by Haras de Montaigu carrying to the champion miler Charyn (IRE). "We've got two new stallions in Territories and Economics this year, so we're trying to improve the quality of stock that we've got in India," Banerji said. "We feel a mare like this will definitely improve the stock of India and our farm, and will definitely be competitive internationally as well." Despite 36 more lots through the ring, Day 1 of the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale saw declines across all metrics compared to the corresponding session in 2024. Of the 227 lots offered, 174 sold for a 77% clearance rate, compared to an 83% clearance rate last year when 158 were sold on the first day. Saturday's session realized a €33,082,000 turnover, down 20% from last year, with a €190,126 average, down 27%, and €105,000 median, which was behind last year's mark by 31%. The opening session of 2024 had a turnover of €41,349,000 with an average of €261,703 and a median of €152,500. The four-day Arqana sale continues Dec. 7 with lots 249-557 slated to go through the ring. The session begins at 10 a.m. local time.