Monday 15 May 2017
The Aga Khan Studs sires took the eye in the sales ring and on the track in Deauville, with SIYOUNI supplying two of the three top prices at Arqana’s Breeze Up Sale, and SIYOUNI and BORN TO SEA both taking second place in the weekend’s two Classics.
Six progeny of SIYOUNI changed hands at Friday’s breeze-up for a total of almost two million Euros (€1,995,000) and an average of €332,500, a remarkable price considering that the youngsters were conceived for a covering fee of €7,000.
SIYOUNI is the sire of the top-priced filly of the sale, a daughter of Listed placed Reech Band (Choisir), from the family of Kentucky Oaks heroine Fran’s Valentine. Consigned by Bansha House Stables, this lot 50 was snapped up for €650,000 by Angus Gold on behalf of Shadwell, and he commented, “I thought she was a beautiful, quality filly with a fantastic temperament by a great stallion who is doing particularly well with his fillies.” The juvenile will now enter the stable of Jean-Claude Rouget, who trained SIYOUNI’s best daughter to date, Ervedya, to Classic glory among her three Group 1 wins.
A colt by SIYOUNI also passed the half-million Euro barrier when the hammer dropped at €550,000 in favour of Richard O’Gorman, who declared, “He is a nice horse by a good stallion who is having a lot of success”. The grandson of Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest victrix Porlezza, out of winning Sinndar mare Ponte Di Legno, is set to join the Godolphin operation.
SIYOUNI just missed out on Classic glory on Sunday at Deauville when his hitherto unbeaten son LE BRIVIDO was denied by the narrowest of margins in the Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains. Making a big step up in class, the representative of André Fabre and Prince Faisal confirmed that he is a top-class colt and he should make his presence felt at the highest level this season. LE BRIVIDO was beaten just a short head by Brametot, who is by Aga Khan Studs-bred stallion Rajsaman, a son of Linamix.
In the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, young Gilltown Stud sire BORN TO SEA almost made the best possible start to his breeding career as SEA OF GRACE found only Precieuse too good in the French 1,000 Guineas. The progressive SEA OF GRACE, from the first crop of Sea The Stars’ three-quarter brother BORN TO SEA, is already the winner of a Group 3 contest as a juvenile and she could now head towards the Irish 1,000 Guineas later in the month at the Curragh or towards the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Updated on 15/05/2017.
