Sam Sangster Lands Invincible Spirit Mare Invaluable

Arqana's Breeding Stock Sale continued Dec. 8 with the well-bred Invaluable (GB) leading the way after being knocked down to Sam Sangster at €121,000 (approx. US$140,875, 1 Euro=$1.16). Fairway Consignment's daughter of Invincible Spirit received a group 1 update courtesy of Bay City Roller (IRE)'s romp in the Preis von Bayern (G1) at Munich last month. The New Bay colt is out of dual-listed scorer Bloomfield, a Galileo three-parts sister to Invaluable's group-winning dam Prima Luce. Invaluable, in foal to Vandeek (GB), is a sister to stakes winner Emmaus, and under the third dam is the influential Cassandra Go, alongside top-level winners Halfway To Heaven, Magical, Rhododendron, and Auguste Rodin. Haras d'Etreham's Joie De Vivre (FR), an Invincible Spirit mare who is also from the fabled family of Cassandra Go, was another highlight when selling to Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Goff for €105,000 (approx. US$122,247). As well as possessing a brilliant pedigree, the 9-year-old was offered carrying to Lanwades Stud's exciting Study Of Man (IRE). The mare has produced two winners from as many runners, including the Richard Hughes-trained Winding Stream, a 2-year-old colt by Almanzor, who scored stylishly on his debut over 7 furlongs at Southwell in October. Goff said the colt's obvious talent added to Joie De Vivre's allure. Goff said, "I bought her for Lismacue Stud. We saw the mare on Sunday morning, and she is a very good type for a daughter of Invincible Spirit. It is an unbelievable family, the 2-year-old won for Richard Hughes, and he obviously likes the horse a lot, and that's going to run well for us next year." Etreham's filly foal out of Joie De Vivre sold to Riviera Equine for €57,000 (approx. US$66,362) just two lots earlier. The bay is from the first crop of Sumbe's world champion and multiple group 1 winner Mishriff, and Goff was impressed with the youngster. "I very much liked the foal by Mishriff, she had a lot of scope and a lot of class," he said. "Fingers crossed Joie De Vivre can go on and obviously she had a cover to a very good young stallion in Study Of Man. We're very delighted to get her." Oliver St Lawrence also went to €105,000 to secure the Aga Khan Studs' once-raced Wootton Bassett filly Siylheta. The 3-year-old is out of a half-sister to the group 1-winning Siyarafina, while under third dam Sichilla is Haras de Bonneval's leading sire Siyouni. A filly by the ever-popular Mehmas (IRE) was one of the standout foals of the session when selling to JRSA for €90,000 (approx. US$104,783). Haras de Castillon's bay is out of the winning Olympic Glory mare Nouvelle Voie, a half-sister to black-type performers including American grade 3 winner Tigah. Haras de Bouquetot's Siyouni filly Ankara (FR) was the fifth lot into the ring and took the lead early on when making €72,000 (approx. US$83,826) to Blandford Bloodstock. The 3-year-old won her first two starts this year for Henri-Francois Devin, while she also holds an attractive page given her Galileo dam is a half sister to Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) heroine Zagora. The family also includes German One Thousand Guineas scorer Briseida, the dam of 2025 listed winner Darius Cen, as well as dual group 2-winning sprinter Titus Livius.