Pick six: the mares who could make waves at the Arqana December Sale

The Arqana December Breeding-Stock Sale takes place from Saturday to Tuesday; here are half a dozen Flat mares who could make the headlines. The catalogue can be viewed here.

Lot 8
Shalanaya
13yo ch m Lomitas-Shalamantika (Nashwan)
Consigned by Aga Khan Studs

The Aga Khan Studs draft is always a popular port of call for mare owners, with the great owner-breeder's cast-offs often proving fruitful for others.

There are 25 on offer at Deauville this year, including a Group 1 winner in Prix de l'Opera heroine Shalanaya. The Lomitas half-sister to Prix Chaudenay winner Shankardeh has produced three winners, though none black-type, and is offered with a cover by Almanzor.

Lot 146
Chanterelle
12yo ch m Trempolino-Spectacular Joke (Spectacular Bid)
Consigned by Haras du Mezeray

Enbihaar won plenty of fans by reeling off three Group 2 victories this summer for John Gosden and now breeders who also admired her can buy her dam, the Trempolino mare Chanterelle.

Chanterelle, a half-sister to Prix Marcel Boussac winner Amonita and multiple Group 3 scorer Cox Orange (the dam of 1,000 Guineas third Vista Bella), is also the dam of stakes performers King Bolete and Silent Attack, and is in foal to Wootton Bassett.

Lot 161
Unaided
10yo b m Dansili-Wosaita (Generous)
Consigned by Haras d'Etreham

Here's a mare who should have the world's biggest breeders fighting over her. Unaided has produced none other than three-time Grade 1 winner Uni, successful in the Breeders' Cup Mile by daylight on her last start, as her first foal.

The ten-year-old daughter of Dansili has a two-year-old colt by Le Havre and a colt foal by Almanzor, and is in foal to the exciting young sire No Nay Never. She also hails from the brilliant family of Invincible Spirit and Kodiac, so stand by for fireworks.

Lot 170
Watchful
15yo b m Galileo-Sharakawa (Darshaan)
Consigned by Haras de Saint Julien

Haras de Saint Julien presents the Galileo mare Watchful to the market on the back of her sixth foal Watch Me winning the Prix Imprudence and Coronation Stakes and running third in the Prix de l'Opera.

The half-sister to stakes performers Kawagino and Rabi, as well as to the dam of dual Listed scorer Khafoo Shememi, is offered in foal to Golden Horn.

Lot 189
Just Gorgeous
8yo b m Galileo-Halfway To Heaven (Pivotal)
Consigned by Haras d'Etreham

There will be few better bred mares on offer in Deauville in the coming days than this full-sister to multiple Group 1 heroines Magical and Rhododendron and Group 3 winner and South African-based sire Flying The Flag.

Furthermore, her dam is Classic heroine Halfway To Heaven, herself a half-sister to Theann and Tickled Pink and out of the fine sprinter Cassandra Go. She is in foal to European champion Almanzor.

Lot 213
Evaporation
12yo b m Red Ransom-Polygreen (Green Tune)
Consigned by Wertheimer et Frere

The Wertheimer brothers' draft of 22 lots at Arqana December is bound to contain plenty of gems, and this dual Listed-winning and Group 2-placed mare catches the eye in particular.

Evaporation is by Red Ransom out of Listed scorer Polygreen, making her a half-sister to Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine Polydream and Group 3-winning sprinter Big Brothers Pride, who sold to BBA Ireland for 975,000gns at Tattersalls this week. She has yet to produce a winner, but with a two-year-old colt by Dark Angel, a yearling colt by Acclamation and a colt foal by Dabirsim, that could change soon.

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