Wednesday 18 August 2021
SIYOUNI and SEA THE STARS were to the fore at the weekend thanks to their progeny on the racecourse and in the Arqana sales ring. At Deauville on Sunday, the Haras de Bonneval’s SIYOUNI signed a superb Group double thanks to juvenile filly Who Knows and talented gelding Wally. Trained by Stéphane Wattel, Who Knows made all to score against the colts in the Gr.3 Prix François Boutin. The daughter of SIYOUNI repelled the attacks of two British raiders in the final stages of the seven furlong event, her first Group victory following a creditable fourth in the Gr.2 Prix Robert Papin.
Later on the card, Jean-Claude Rouget’s hugely progressive Wally picked up his fourth Stakes win of the year when running on strongly to seize the advantage on the line in the Gr.3 Prix Gontaut-Biron. The four-year-old grey had earlier been successful in the Gr.2 Gran Premio Di Milano, Gr.3 Prix Edmond Blanc and LR Prix Saonois, over distances of a mile and ten furlongs, and his handler is yet to discover his limits. Wally is now likely to race once more this season, in the Prix Dollar or Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Arc weekend, and will have Group 1 targets next year.
Both Who Knows and Wally were purchased at Arqana’s yearling sales, for €150,000 and €130,000 respectively, and their sire SIYOUNI was once again in demand at this year’s premier sale in Deauville. 15 yearlings by SIYOUNI were sold for an average of €307,667. The highlight of these was lot 152, a colt out of Galileo mare Cercle De La Vie, a full-sister to Highland Reel, who raised a bid of 1.5 million Euros, one of only two seven-figure lots of the sale, from Oliver St Lawrence on behalf of Fawzi Nass. The colt was presented by the Ecurie des Monceaux, as was SIYOUNI’s top filly, lot 160 out of Shamardal mare Correze, and she joined Coolmore following a bid of €650,000 from MV Magnier.
Gilltown Stud’s SEA THE STARS also enjoyed his share of success, thanks to the prolific Hukum who lifted his fourth career black-type victory in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury. Trained by Owen Burrows, Hukum carries the colours of his breeder Shadwell Estate Company. Representative Angus Gold indicated that the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville could be a possibility, as could the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Hong Kong at the end of the season. Hukum is a full brother to unbeaten miler Baaeed.
In the Arqana sales ring, SEA THE STARS’ progeny were sought after and nine out of ten presented changed hands, for an average of €217,500. His top-price of €575,000 was achieved by lot 154, a half-sister to Group 3 winner Chilean, presented by Baroda Stud. The filly was knocked down to Oliver St Lawrence.
Zarkava’s son ZARAK has made a promising start with his first juveniles on the track this season and two of his yearlings met with success in the ring. A descendant of top-class Aquarelliste, lot 328 is destined for the United States after being picked up for €100,000 by trainer Kenny McPeek, and lot 304, a filly out of Sakes-placed Varsity, was purchased by Eckhard Sauren for €95,000.
Updated on 18 August 2021.
