Classy Zekret bound for Ireland after mystery connections make €520,000 Arqana signing

Big prices came thick and fast during the evening stanza of the Arqana Summer Sale in Deauville on Wednesday. A diverse cast of buyers from both codes ensured there was plenty of trade, particularly at the top end, with aggregate sales duly soaring 61 per cent year-on-year to €6,988,500.

The last lot left the ring shortly after 10pm local time, by which point the €520,000 Zekret was sitting at the top of the pile. Parties from a broad range of racing nations expressed an interest in the highly rated son of Zarak, but it was French agent Nicky Bertran de Balanda who ultimately had the final say from his position to the left of the rostrum. 

The three-year-old was offered by Al Shaqab Racing’s Haras de Bouquetot having made four starts for Andre Fabre. He made a winning debut at Deauville at two and was last seen finishing fifth to Rafale Design in the Group 3 Prix Hocquart. 

De Balanda added Alex Elliott’s Elliott Bloodstock Services brand to the docket but was unable to reveal immediate plans, save that the horse’s future likely lay over obstacles. 

“He’ll go jumping in Ireland,” said the agent. “I don’t know who’ll train him yet. He has a very good profile, good Flat form and we think he’s more of a soft ground horse. He’s a very good-looking horse too and by a good stallion. He’s sound and has good vetting. He ticks the boxes and we liked him a lot.” 

Zekret was making his second appearance at the sales having been added to the Al Shaqab ranks at a cost of €170,000 during the 2023 Arqana October Yearling auction. 

The bid board broke into seven-figure territory not long after Zekret left the ring. However, when the hammer came down at €1,100,000 it quickly transpired that German Derby entrant Juwelier, who was offered in absentia, had gone unsold. 

Despite Juwelier failing to find a buyer the key market metrics all showed positive returns. Turnover was up markedly on the corresponding session in 2024, as was the average price, which showed a 16 per cent gain at €47,220. The median was also fully 67 per cent higher at €20,000, having been €12,000 12 months ago. The clearance rate was a solid 83 per cent as 149 lots sold from 179 offered. 

Kelly and O’Meara combine

David O’Meara has enjoyed plenty of success with his previous Summer Sale acquisitions, including the likes of Group/Grade 1 winners Lord Glitters and Mondialiste. The North Yorkshire-based trainer can now look forward to two more Deauville recruits after agent Jason Kelly secured a big-money brace in quick succession. 

Zekret in the Arqana ring where he made €520,000 to switch to IrelandCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

First came Toyotomi, a Listed-winning son of Blue Point who struck in the Prix Cor de Chasse earlier this year. The four-year-old, who was offered by trainer Manon Scandella-Lacaille, fetched €335,000. 

“He looks a very good horse back sprinting and his last three runs were all at stakes level,” said Kelly. “He’s been bought for an existing client in Jinky Farms. Generally these French horses can take a bit of time to settle back into Britain but he’ll go back to David O’Meara, maybe with an eye on being campaigned in Dubai over the winter. He was an obvious horse, his form is very high class.” 

Although Toyotomi’s price was the second highest on the day, Kelly said he hoped he could show himself to be good value in time. The agent continued: “It was a long old bidding process and we knew we’d have to pay at least 250 [thousand Euro], but he ended up being a bit stronger than that. 

“You’ve got to buy the ones you really like though and he’s got the form to travel and be at the top end, and those horses can pay for themselves. That’s where the prize-money is, with those globetrotting horses, so hopefully he can turn into one.” 

Wednesday was Toyotomi’s second appearance in the Arqana ring having gone the way of Marco Bozzi at €68,000 during the 2022 October Yearling Sale. 

Kelly also snared the very next lot into the ring when bidding €165,000 for Strassia on behalf of Mark Markey’s Akela Thoroughbreds. The four-year-old daughter of Kendargent won two of her eight starts for Ludovic Gadbin, including last year’s Listed Prix Turenne. 

“They [Akela Thoroughbreds] had a lot of luck here with Get Shirty and Epic Poet, who was also from France,” said Kelly. “They were looking for a staying horse. She’s a filly but he has a farm in Ireland and a few fillies so he could possibly breed from her in time. He’ll look to race her in those long-distances races first. She could possibly travel too, as well as running in Britain.” 

Kelly finished the day as the session’s leading buyer, with five purchases made for a combined €571,000.

Petit gets a tune out of Telecaster’s son Macao

Fresh from securing the €180,000 session-topper on day one, Guy Petit appeared at the window of his ringside office and saw off Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins to secure the once-raced Macao at €320,000. 

Listed winner Toyotomi in the ring at Arqana where he was bought by Jason KellyCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

The Henri-Francois Devin-trained three-year-old made a positive impression in a comfortable winning debut at Lyon Parilly last month. The youngster is from the debut crop of Telecaster, the Dante Stakes winner who stands at the Devin family’s Haras du Mesnil. 

“It was a tough battle but we managed to land the win!” beamed Petit after signing the docket. “I love this breeding operation [co-breeder Haras des Sablonnets] and he looks like the real deal. He gallops like a good horse, he’s well-bred, and he’s by an interesting young stallion who looks to be producing well. He will be trained by Venetia Williams.”

Bromley and Nicholls at the double 

That was not the only big result for Telecaster on the day, as Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley also saw off the Kirk-Mullins axis to land Gold Cast at €300,000. The filly made three starts for trainer Mickael Seror, with her most recent outing resulting in success at Auteuil. 

Bryony Frost was in the saddle for that victory, and the purchaser revealed the jockey’s high opinion of the youngster had been factored into their decision making process. 

Gold Cast was Bromley’s second notable purchase on the day, with Pourquoi Pas Papa purchased for €200,000 earlier in the session. Both horses will head into training with Paul Nicholls for a partnership of existing owners within the yard. 

After signing for Gold Cast, Bromley said: “I know Mickael Seror really liked this filly and was sad to lose her. Bryony Frost rode her and gave her a very good write up to the owners, to Paul and to me. I think she’s on a progressive line and although she only won by a short distance, I think she won a little bit cosily. I think there’s good progression in her and she’s got size and scope for steeplechasing one day as well.

“We were in good company [with Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins underbidder]. I don’t normally have these big orders but these were the two horses I wanted to get out of the sale today for Paul so I’m very happy. I am still shaking though!” 

Bromley also gave the stallion a positive mention, adding: “We liked the youngstock we’d seen by Telecaster and they’re starting to do well. The Devins have supported him well and he looks like a very interesting stallion moving forward.” 

Jason Kelly signed for two of the session's most expensive lots to be trained by David O'MearaCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

Pourquoi Pas Papa made just the one start for David Cottin, with the son of Manatee finishing a promising second on debut. 

“It was a very eye-catching run on debut at Clairefontaine and that race has thrown up a few good horses in the past,” said Bromley. “I bought Peace And Co out of that race many years ago and it’s normally quite a decent contest. This horse showed a good action in his run and travelled strongly.

“I’d earmarked him after that and he stands up a nice big scopey horse. Benoit Gicquel, who I work with, saw him at the racetrack and commented that he was our type of horse. When Paul wanted to buy a nice horse out of this sale he was already on our radar. It’s a big advantage being a maiden as he doesn’t have a winner’s penalty. He looks like a horse who’ll progress into a nice chaser one day too.” 

Konada heads to the Middle East

Another six-figure lot heading overseas is the Jerome Reynier-consigned Konada. The winning and Listed-placed daughter of Toronado was bought by BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe at €280,000. 

The agent said: “Physically she’s a very good-looking filly and she has some good form, there were plenty of excuses for her last run [when last of eight in the Prix de Royaumont]. She’s been bought for a client to go to the Middle East; she’s a filly we think will suit the conditions out there. 

“There’s a good programme for those fillies now with proper black type stakes races in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and in Dubai. She’ll hopefully end up running on Saudi Cup weekend, that would be the aim for 2026. The client has some broodmares and stallions in the Middle East so she could end up in the broodmare band.”

Boniface books ticket to Australia 

The progressive Boniface is also bound for pastures new after Arthur Hoyeau bid €250,000 for the Anastasia Wattel-consigned son of Make Believe. The three-year-old has won three of his five starts in France, most recently scoring over a mile at Saint-Cloud. 

Hoyeau signed the docket with his Windfield Bloodstock brand as well as OTI Racing, Narvick International and De Burgh Equine. 

The agent said: “He’s a relatively unexposed horse. He still has improvement and he won nicely last time out. He will go to Australia to be trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent. OTI are taking half of the horse. He has a sharp turn of foot and he’s well put together.”

Anthony Bromley was one of the busiest buyers at Arqana late on Wednesday nightCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

Boniface showed a tidy profit on his initial purchase price as he was bought by his trainer and Marta Kubicka for €53,000 at the V2 Yearling Sale in 2023. 

Kirk and Mullins on the mark

Although Kirk and Mullins missed out on a couple of the day’s higher profile lots, the all conquering operation was on the mark when landing Diamond Du Berlais for €160,000. 

Although the well-related daughter of Zarak remains a maiden after 13 starts, she has compiled some good form in defeat, including when third to Mamisuz De Houelle in the Grade 2 Prix Magalen Bryant and when runner-up behind Coeur D'Amour in the Grade 3 Prix General de Saint-Didier. 

Aga Khan Studs' Nemone Routh with Emeric Guetin of Meridian International at ArqanaCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

“She might be a bit of value,” said Kirk. “She’s got very good form and is still a maiden, and she’d probably have a good rating if she needed to go into handicaps. She’s a good jumper too so I thought she was good value. She can start off by winning a maiden and then go from there. She has loads of experience. Maybe the fact she’s four and had run a lot put some people off but she’s got loads of experience and a good pedigree, so she can be a broodmare as well.” 

The filly is out of Crystal Du Berlais, a Great Pretender half-sister to the classy siblings Gitane Du Berlais and Tzigane Du Berlais. 

Lenglet hits the net

French football international Clement Lenglet was among the owners adding to their string in Deauville after Meridian International went to €130,000 for the Aga Khan’s Dalakir on behalf of the defender’s Ecurie Lenglet. 

Dalakir ran five times for the Aga Khan operation and Francis Graffard, with victory coming on his third start over a mile and two furlongs at Lion D’Angers. He was last seen finishing runner-up to Zingaro over half a furlong further at Longchamp in late May. 

The three-year-old colt is by Zarak and is the tenth foal out of Daltama, making him a sibling to five winners, most notably Dubai Sheema Classic heroine Dolniya, who in turn bred the high-class Group 3 scorer Dilawar. 

“We bought him for the Lenglet stable, that is to say, the football player Clement Lenglet [former Spurs defender],” said Meridian’s Emeric Guetin. “The horse will remain in Francis Graffard’s stable. Clement Lenglet has already owned several good horses like Bois D'Argent, who went on to have a great international career, and Magellan, who has achieved great things.”

Blandford’s Boman breaks six-figure mark

The first six-figure transaction of the day came when Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock went to €110,000 for Kizlyar, who also hailed from the Aga Khan Studs' draft. 

Kizlyar on his way to making €110,000 at Arqana Credit: Zuzanna Lupa

The three-year-old son of Make Believe was listed as unraced in the catalogue, but had subsequently debuted for Mikel Delzangles with a third-place finish at Saint-Cloud, was runner-up at Lyon Parilly and shed his maiden at the third time of asking at Compiegne just five days before he came under the hammer. 

The colt is out of Kisanga, a daughter of Redoute’s Choice from the further family of Kahyasi. 

“He’s down there as being unraced but he’s now a winner from three starts and is rated 94,” said Boman. “He’s got a great way of going and is a really good-looking horse. He’s out of a Redoute’s Choice mare, which probably means more to me than most! He’s going to stay within Europe for an existing client and will go to Joseph O’Brien. 

“I like buying from the Aga Khan because the horses just keep improving, and similarly Mikel Delzangles. I’ve had luck buying from him before and he produces his horses to progress well.” 

The Summer Sale concludes on Thursday with a session of breeding stock that begins at 11am local time (10am BST). 

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