Coolmore and Godolphin engaged in a bidding battle for the ages when a Wootton Bassett colt (Lot 306) related to Gold Cup (G1) hero Scandinavia (Justify ) shattered the Arqana August Yearling Sale record at €4.6 million (US$5,325,627, €1=US$1.16).
Auctioneer Bernard Condren went looking for an opening bid of €3 million, but it soon became clear the protagonists were prepared to go way beyond the previous high mark for the Deauville auction.
Godolphin, bidding from their usual position down the corridor to the auctioneer's right, threw in two €200,000 increases along the way, first taking the price from €2.8 million to €3 million, and again at €3.8 million to €4 million.
Sheikh Mohammed's operation has rather had the wood over their old rivals at this year's August Sale, with their €13.3m spree including a couple of high-profile purchases that consigned Coolmore to the role of underbidder. However, on this occasion, M.V. Magnier was in no mood to back down.
Magnier signaled the final, decisive €100,000 increase with a determined nod in the direction of the bid spotter stationed just outside the ring.
"It's a case of race him or chase him, gentlemen," Condren said as Godolphin's Anthony Stroud and David Loder pondered a final counter offer. None was forthcoming.
The previous sale record was set 12 months ago when Amo Racing paid €3 million for a Night of Thunder half sister to Diamond Necklace.
Both record-breakers were sold by Ecurie des Monceaux, who added this colt's dam, Deadly Nightshade, to the broodmare band at a cost of 900,000 guineas, carrying the seven-figure colt in utero.
The mare, a Justify sister to Scandinavia, had actually carried the Magnier silks during her own four-race career with Joseph O'Brien. Magnier was quick to acknowledge the unusual association.
"First of all, we're the clowns that sold the mare!" he said after signing the docket. "It's important that we sell good mares though, and we'll be doing it again this year. We want people who support us to do well, so well done to Monceaux. It's fantastic for them as they've been big supporters of ours.
"He's a lovely horse, to be fair. He has everything; he has the pedigree, he's by the right stallion, he ticked the boxes. Like I said, we were the clowns who sold the mare, let's hope we're not the clowns again."
Asked whether Coolmore had kept their powder dry earlier in the sale in anticipation of such a seismic bidding battle, Magnier shrugged and said: "You just have to value horses. It's great to see Sheikh Mohammed and his team being so supportive of the sale here. Let's hope they get a couple of good ones out of it."
The Coolmore camp certainly knows plenty about the pedigree. Not only is the dam a sister to Scandinavia, but in turn she is out of Fabulous, a Galileo half sister to the "Iron Horse" Giant's Causeway. Another sibling is the blue hen You'resothrilling, dam of group 1 winners Gleneagles, Happily, Joan of Arc, and Marvellous.
"I'm shaking a little bit, but I'm extremely proud of the team," said Monceaux director Henri Bozo. "It's not easy to raise horses like him, to have the know-how to handle them properly and to stay cool. It's a big source of pride, and also pride for the partners who keep investing.
"It's a game where, as much as you can, you have to keep investing. We bought this mare at Tattersalls in foal to this fellow. She looked expensive at the time, but this is just incredible. I knew he was popular and that he'd sell well, but I didn't know exactly how well."
Bozo reported that Deadly Nightshade has a "beautiful" Wootton Bassett colt foal and is in foal to Kingman .
The unprecedented transaction contributed to Monceaux retaining its position as the leading vendor at the August Sale. All told, the leading commercial nursery sold 33 yearlings for receipts totaling €19.07 million.
Despite a few nervy presale predictions, the price of the top lot was just one of several records posted across the market indices. Turnover reached a new high at €65.528 million (US$75,864,714). That figure represents a 14% increase on last year, which had also been a record.
The average price rose 4% year-on-year to €278,845 (US$322,831), also a record. The median took a slight dip to €160,000 (US$185,239), down 3% on €165,000 12 months ago. The clearance rate for the three days was 80% as 235 yearlings sold from 295 offered.
