Dam of Breeders' Cup heroine Uni headlines Arqana December catalogue

Unaided, the dam of Saturday's Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Uni, is one of the star attractions in the catalogue for this year's Arqana December Breeding-Stock Sale.

The ten-year-old Dansili mare, who was sourced for $230,000 at Keeneland in 2013 carrying a More Than Ready foal who turned out to be Uni, will be consigned in foal to No Nay Never by Haras d'Etreham.

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The stud's 25-strong draft to the auction in Deauville next month also includes last year's Preis der Diana third Wonder Of Lips, a Champs Elysees filly from the productive family of Arc victor Waldgeist, and Just Gorgeous, a winning eight-year-old Galileo sister to Magical and Rhododendron in foal to Almanzor.

The Wertheimer brothers' draft comprises 22 fillies and mares including stakes winners Legerete, in foal to Mastercraftsman, and Bilissie, in foal to Intello.

This season's Group winners Big Brothers Pride, Platane, Polydream, Hopeful and Ziyad are all out of mares sold by the Wertheimers at Deauville in recent times.

The ever popular consignment from the Aga Khan Studs numbers 27 this year and the highlights on paper are Prix de l'Opera winner Shalanaya, in foal to Almanzor; Listed scorer Shamakiya, the dam of Prix Cleopatre winner Shamkala in foal to Awtaad; and Valasyra, a stakes-winning half-sister to Prix de Diane heroine Valyra pregnant to Siyouni.

Haras du Mezeray has entered in the sale Chanterelle, the dam of this season's three-time Group 2 winner Enbihaar with a cover by Wootton Bassett, and Listed scorer Frankel Light, in foal for the first time to Dark Angel.

Ecurie des Monceaux is sending to Deauville 15 mares including three in foal to leading Australian sire and debut shuttler Zoustar – Zotilla, a half-sister to Flotilla; Meandering, a Galileo sister to Dutch Art; and Saccharose, a winning daughter of Exceed And Excel.

Another notable name available to buy at Arqana December will be Red Tea, a six-year-old daughter of Sakhee who won the Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes for Joseph O'Brien in July.

There are also some star names on offer on the fourth and final day of the sale, which is dedicated to National Hunt lots.

They include two stallion prospects in Silverwave, a Group 1-winning Silver Frost three-parts brother to Stormy River, and Khan, a Santiago half-brother to up and coming jumps sire Kamsin who landed the Preis von Europa last year.

Also up for grabs is 16-year-old Saddex, a top-class son of Sadler's Wells who has sired Grade 3 winner Sancta Simona and last season's Cheltenham Champion Bumper runner-up Blue Sari.

Other eye-catching lots in the jumps section of the sale are Star Face, the dam of the great Douvan, and Avanguardia, who produced Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Labaik. Both are offered in foal to Doctor Dino by Haras d'Haspel.

In all, 480 mares, 207 fillies, 335 foals and three stallions will go through the ring at the Arqana December Breeding-Stock Sale from December 7 to 10.

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Martin StevensBloodstock journalist

Published on 5 November 2019inNews