'That's probably what the hot Montjeu blood wants, that bit of sangfroid'

It may have been the opening session of the October Sale in Deauville on Tuesday, but that did not stop a family with a strong affinity with Arqana's flagship August Sale coming to the fore, as a Camelot colt out of Ecurie des Monceaux's foundation mare Platonic brought a winning bid of €210,000 from agent Jeremy Brummitt.

Bidding had already reached €200,000 when Brummitt appeared on the top tier of the auditorium, but a swift €10,000 raise was all that was required from the agent to bring the gavel down.

"The family is fantastic," said Brummitt. "I've been coming to Arqana for many years and have seen the dam and several of the siblings and they all have great presence."

The colt is a half-brother to Prudenzia, the mare with the Midas touch when it comes to the August Sale, having produced four foals who went on to fetch seven figures in the Deauville sales ring, including Ribblesdale Stakes heroine Magic Wand.

Prudenzia is also responsible for 2013 Irish Oaks winner Chicquita, a daughter of Montjeu who later become the most expensive horse sold in Ireland when bought by Peter and Ross Doyle for €6 million at Goffs later that year.

Platonic's Camelot colt surveys his surroundings in the Arqana sales ringCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

Being by Camelot, the colt is also a three-parts brother to Group 3 Prix de Lutece winner Pacifique, a daughter of Montjeu and dam of €2.6m August Sale graduate Parabellum.

"Although they've been different shapes and sizes, their attitude has been a running theme, the family has a lot of charisma," continued Brummitt, who said his purchase would now head to Britain for an undisclosed client. "That's probably what the hot Montjeu blood wants, that bit of sangfroid.

"We want Classic horses and I thought he was the best shot we had of finding one here. We're looking for those high spirits and that turn of foot that Montjeus have and the presence of mind from the dam's family. Hopefully I've got it right and it won't be the other way around."

The sale brought the aggregate price of Platonic's progeny in the Arqana ring to €2.8m. That sum still leaves her some way short of her daughter Prudenzia, however, whose brood have brought a total of €6.57m, including the €420,000 given by David Redvers for her Muhaarar colt back in August.

Platonic delivered her 12th foal, a colt by Le Havre, earlier this year. The 19-year-old daughter of Zafonic was bought from Luca Cumani's Fittocks Stud at Tattersalls in 2004 for what now looks a bargain sum of 100,000gns

There was a timely reminder of Camelot's prowess shortly after Brummitt signed the docket, as King Of Leogrance became the sire's 12th stakes winner when he claimed the Listed Prix Vulcain at Deauville just across the road from the sales ground.

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