Hunt for the next Trueshan begins in La Teste on Tuesday

One of the bargains of modern times adorns the front page of this year’s Osarus La Teste Yearling Sale catalogue, indicating the opportunity of finding a star in any circumstance.

Trueshan was knocked down for just €8,000 five years ago when offered by breeder Didier Blot through Haras de Clairefontaine. Two Group 1s and a Northumberland Plate later, Alan King’s popular stayer has now earned almost £1.25 million.

Further evidence comes from the two horses sitting alongside him on the cover. Hayjohn, unsold at €17,000 last year, was a significant Listed juvenile winner at Vichy this summer for his young sire Johnny Barnes, while Coeur De Pierre came from the same sale as Trueshan for €47,000 and recently doubled his tally in French Listed sprints.

Trade last year proved disappointing, with a top price of €50,000 and the average and median almost 50 per cent down on 2020, and the sale now drops down to a one-day affair, with action beginning at 1pm CET on Tuesday and the catalogue slimmed down to around 150 horses.

View the catalogue here

More than 50 sires are represented and there are a couple by the ever-reliable Kendargent, a colt offered by Haras des Granges (lot 19) with plenty of US black type on the page, and a brother of the Listed Prix des Lilas winner Snow Bell (27) from Haras de la Cote Fleurie. There is also a sole offering by rising star Zarak from YC Bloodstock (88) and he is a half-brother to the Listed Prix de Saint Patrick third Korevsky.

Con Marnane purchased subsequent Group 1 British Champions Sprint winner Sands Of Mali at this sale in 2016, and there are three yearlings by the Ballyhane Stud stallion's sire Panis in this year's catalogue.

All three are consigned by Haras des Faunes, where the son of Miswaki resides, and the pair of fillies offered by Alain Chopard's farm look the picks on pedigree.

Sands Of Mali beats Harry Angel to Group 1 glory at AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

First up is the second foal out of La Fanette (12), a winning Whipper half-sister to Group 3 Prix de Guiche winner Bodhi. The final Panis yearling through the ring at La Teste (150) is a full-sister to Princesschope, who was placed in three Listed contests for Chopard and Cedric Boutin.

First yearling offerings by a variety of stallions include the Woodbine Mile winner Trade Storm, who has three offered from his home stud of Haras de la Bareliere, Harry Dunlop’s fine stager Robin Of Navan and half a dozen by the consistent miler Tornibush.

The Australian Group 2 winner and Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes second Taj Mahal, a full-brother to Group 1 winners Gleneagles, Happily, Marvellous and Joan Of Arc, is another first-crop sire represented in the catalogue.

The son of Galileo, who stands at Haras de la Haie Neuve, is the sire of VPE Services' colt (149) out of winning Kheleyf mare Incantu.

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