Sceau Royal brother rings the till as jumping prospects take centre stage

In a session dedicated to two-year-old stores it is no surprise to see many of the top lots heading to Britain and Ireland, but the identity of some of the owners who can look forward to the new stock carrying their colours made for a fascinating day in Deauville.

Colm Donlon has gradually increased his interest with both Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls over the last five years – his yellow and blue quartered silks were worn by Harry Cobden aboard Saint Sonnet in last Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup – and the €175,000 top lot fell to him on Tuesday.

Agent Vincent Le Roy struck the winning bid for Authoside (lot 589), an Authorized half-brother to the talented and prolific Sceau Royal consigned by the Haras des Pierres Follets on behalf of breeder Guy Vimont.

Shan Blue is unbeaten in two starts over fences for owner Colm Donlon and trainer Harry SkeltonCredit: Pool

Le Roy purchased Saint Sonnet for Donlon at €62,000 here three years ago and he spent the early part of his career with Augustin de Boisbrunet before transferring to Nicholls last winter.

"I don't know where he’ll be trained but I hope he might stay in France," said le Roy. "The programme is there for a quality horse like him."

Le Roy and Donlon also secured Indien Du Chenet (lot 493), a son of Doctor Dino from Haras des Loges for €50,000.

Browns add to investment with Gordon Elliott

Also relatively new names to feature at the top of the buyers' board were London-based Andrew and Gemma Brown, who secured two promising lots that will initially go to be broken-in by Joey Logan before joining Gordon Elliott.

Joey Logan signed for two high-priced lots on behalf of Andy and Gemma Brown at Arqana on TuesdayCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

Logan kicked off the spree when giving €88,000 for the Channel Consignment's Doctor Dino gelding Fil D'Or (lot 537), who is a full-brother to Listed Flat winner Style Icon and out of a half-sister to Grade 1-winning chaser A Plus Tard.

"He's going back to my farm in Kildare and we'll break him and get him going as a three-year-old," said Logan. "He is a beautiful individual with a real good walk to him and by a good sire. He has a nice pedigree and a good temperament. Andy was on the phone and, when he likes a horse, he buys them."

That served as an aperitif as the same team then struck at €140,000 for an unnamed Martaline half-brother to Irish Saint (lot 551) bred by Haras du Ma.

A son of Martaline (lot 551) was one of two high-profile purchases for Andy and Gemma Brown set to go into training with Gordon ElliottCredit: Arqana

"He'll also go to Gordon Elliott, the same as the Doctor Dino," said Logan. "He's a nice individual with a good pedigree and is a good mover. These were the two horses that really stood out that Andy really liked. We were waiting for them. They were a bit more expensive than we were hoping for, but we're happy to get them."

Macaire returns to familiar source

The elevated levels of prize-money in France and the demand for a race-proven horse mean that, in any financial climate, it will take a serious bid to dissuade certain breeders from keeping stock at home in the hope of adding to their value on the track.

The full-brother to Douvan and recent Goffs UK Point-to-Point sale revelation Jonbon (lot 601) was one such case in point, with Haras d'Haspel opting to buy the son of Walk In The Park back at €100,000.

One horse staying in France that did change hands was Icare D'Estruval (lot 562), a Martaline half-brother to multiple Graded-winning chaser As D'Estruval and dual Listed-winning mare Caresse D'Estruval.

Icare D'Esstruval was secured by Guillaume Macaire for €160,000 at Arqana on TuesdayCredit: Arqana

The man who guided both those careers was trainer Guillaume Macaire, who won out at €160,000 for the right to continue the family tradition.

His siblings were raced by their breeders Monsieur and Madame Bernard Gentil and Icare D'Estruval is the first publicly-offered progeny of Ombre D'Estruval, who was herself a Grade 1 runner-up.

Nicholls to train Clan Des Obeaux relative

Nicholls will be another trainer who will have plenty of family history to call on when he takes delivery of Isaac Des Obeaux (lot 616).

Carrying the famous Obeaux label of the Devilder family, the gelding was consigned by Haras de la Hetraie and is by that stud's prolific stallion Kapgarde.

Highflyer Bloodstock's David Powell struck the winning bid at £100,000 for Isaac Des Obeaux, who is out of a half-sister to the same sire's dual King George winner Clan Des Obeaux.

Isaac Des Obeaux - a three parts brother to dual King George winner Clan Des Obeaux - was knocked down to Highflyer Bloodstock's David Powell for €100,000 at Arqana on TuesdayCredit: Arqana

Many of Arqana's stores have previously been sold in July but the two-year-olds have all been moved to this week, creating a separate session on Wednesday for jumps-bred yearlings.

As such comparisons are not straightforward, but the top of the market at least remained robust.

Only one two-year-old has made more than Tuesday's top lot in six sessions across the last three years, while three horses exceeded the price paid for the best seller in 2019.

Below that, trade was again selective, with a 63 per cent clearance rate and turnover of €2,345,500 for an average price of €25,775.

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