The top lot on the second day of the Arqana August Yearling Sale came about two hours after racing began on August 17, when Solis/Litt Bloodstock received an online bid of €730,000 (US$805,300, €1 = US$1.1031) for Haras de Castillons Sea the stars Mare out of La Vie. The mare, delivered as Lot 187, was bred in collaboration between Al Shaqab Racing and Sunderland Holding.

The offspring, the first foal from a Shalaa Half sister to the champion racing mare The Fugue was purchased on behalf of United States-based owner LNJ Foxwoods, the banner under which Larry, Nanci and Jaime Roth race and breed.

“Sea The Stars is a top-notch stallion and a beautiful filly,” said Jason Litt. “We’re very happy to have her and hope we get lucky. Nothing’s decided at this point (as far as training plans go), but we’re just happy to get her. They always have good horses here, so we’re just happy to get her.”

Tasleet Relation switches to Saito

Hisaaki Saito completed his major investment in France by purchasing the colt from Ecurie des Monceaux New Bay from a victorious full sister to Tasleet for 620,000 €.

The winning bid was made by long-time advisor Sebastien Desmontils of Chevigny Global, who purchased the 2023 Prix Jean Prat (G1) winner and Tally-Ho Stud resident Good guess and winner of Group 3 Top equipment for Saito.

The colt was bred by the China Horse Club from her presentation filly Lady Light who finished third in the 2019 Bosra Sham Stakes, her second and final appearance at the racecourse.

“We saw the horse on the farm and we liked it,” said Desmontils. “He has a very good father. The mother was a good two-year-old and also has black type.”

“She is a sister to Tasleet from the family of Battaash and The Antarctic, who was a very good two-year-old for Coolmore.”

Desmontils added: “We liked him and he has what it takes to be a stud if he proves to be very good. That’s why he deserves the prize.”

“He’s going on vacation for a few weeks and then we’ll train him and see where he goes.”

At 620,000 euros, the colt is New Bay’s third most expensive yearling to date.

Sumbe Strike for Dark Angel Filly

The combination of Monceaux and China Horse Club achieved another remarkable success with the sale of a Dark Angel Mare from a half-sister to the Hong Kong Champion Romantic Warrior .

In the bidding from outside the ring, it was the Sumbe team that came out on top with €420,000 as Nurlan Bizakov looks to continue his winning streak with the Yeomanstown Stud stalwart, most recently with victories in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) and the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) from Charyn .

“She is the only Dark Angel mare here and I love her,” said Bizakov. “She is a strongly built mare and I would say a very good first foal. And Henri Bozo, as we know, is a good breeder.”

Sumbe is already Angel Blue at her stud farm Monfort et Preaux in partnership with Marc Chan, while Holy Angel finished third in the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) last season.

“Dark Angel has been a very lucky stallion for us, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that she will be as good as some of my other Dark Angels,” said Bizakov. “Hopefully one day she will be a good broodmare for me too.”

The filly’s dam, Exceed And Excel, Melodic charmwas a two-time winner and narrowly missed Black Type honors when he finished fourth in the 2019 Sirenia Stakes (G3).

In addition to Romantic Warrior and Melodic Charm, Folk Melody has as second mother End of the romancea son of Showcasing, who won on his debut at Pontefract for Karl Burke earlier this month.

Current status

As with the first day, trading struggled to keep up with the dizzying highs of the record sale 12 months ago. The second day’s turnover was €13,296,000 (US$14,667,482), a 16% year-on-year decline, while the average and median price fell by 17% and 19% respectively. The first price closed at €201,455 (US$222,235) and the second at €155,000 (US$170,988).

The sell-through rate was 80%, with 66 of 82 lots offered being sold.

The August sale ends on August 18 with another post-race session beginning at 5:30 p.m. local time.