'They've got fast pedigrees and they're both by very good sires'

Mick Murphy was on the right side of some competitive spending on day one of Arqana's August Yearling Sale, coming away with two lots by first-crop yearling sires in Blue Point and Ten Sovereigns, as well as a Wootton Bassett filly.

The Longways Stables maestro battled the mid-30 degree heat in Deauville, not to mention the many persistent rival bidders during the opening session, and he can now look ahead to the breeze-ups next year for his purchases.

The first of the trio came in the form of Fairway Consignment's Ten Sovereigns filly (lot 7), a February-born yearling who is out of the Listed-winning Anabaa mare Kayaba and is therefore a half-sister to Group 3 Prix d'Arenberg winner Yakaba.

The daughter of Coolmore's July Cup and Middle Park Stakes winner also hails from the well-related family of Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Moulin victor Sendawar, a top-class miler in the Aga Khan silks. She sold to Murphy for €150,000.

He said of his purchases: "I look a lot at first-season sires and I'd be happy with them, they're racy looking. They've got fast pedigrees and they're both by very good sires.

"The Ten Sovereigns filly has a very good pedigree with plenty of residual value. We also like first-season sires, Ten Sovereigns was also a very fast horse and it's a very fast pedigree."

Just 11 lots later Murphy signed the docket at €105,000 for Haras de La Perelle's Blue Point colt (18) out of Kodiac's Prix de Cabourg-placed daughter Kodyanna, a half-sister to a familiar performer in last season's dual-winning stakes sprinter Logo Hunter, as well as Listed winner Darkanna, by Dark Angel.

Murphy added: "The Blue Point's Siyouni half-sister is in training in France and there have been good reports on her, while Logo Hunter I'd know very well from home, there's a lot of speed down the page."

The bloodstock industry is always looking to the future and Murphy is eyeing up the breeze-up sales for his new trio, which also include La Motteraye's Wootton Bassett filly (68) out of a stakes-placed daughter of Group 3 Miesque Stakes winner Fantastic Filly for €115,000.

He said: "They've both been bought for the breeze-ups, I'd have thought the Blue Point would be a Craven horse as he's the smaller of the three, while the fillies may take more time and could come back here."

Murphy also reported a generally robust first session, saying: "It's been strong, I followed a good few horses in today and spent a lot of money on vetting.

"For the right horse it is strong but some of the vendors might find it a bit patchy."

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