Sons of Wootton Bassett in demand on quiet day of trade

Sons of leading French second crop sire Wootton Bassett were in strong demand during a quieter third day of Arqana’s Breeding Stock Sale on Monday when he accounted for two of three top lots.

The most expensive lot by Almanzor’s sire came for a January-born colt foal offered from Elevage de Trois Rivieres that was knocked down to Marc-Antoine Berghgracht’s MAB Agency for €45,000.

Out of the dual winning Danehill Dancer mare Pasba, he hails from the family of Pilsudski and Youmzain.

“I’ve bought him on spec as he’s such a good-looking individual,” Berghgracht said. “His sire has done extremely well, and we’ll offer the colt for re-sale next year.”

Just a few lots later, it was the turn of Haras de Bourgeauville’s colt by the Haras d’Etreham resident that sold for €40,000 to Ghislain Bozo’s Meridian International on behalf of an Irish partnership of friends.

The first foal out of the unraced Blame mare Praise Dancing, he comes from the family of Group 2 winner Danceabout.

“He’s very much in the mould of his sire, and we’re delighted to have got him,” Francois Drion said. “We’ll see how he develops, and the plan is that he’ll come back here as a yearling.”

Wootton Bassett will stand at a fee of €20,000 next season. “He’s limited to a book of 130 mares, which will include Almanzor’s dam Darkova,” outlined stud director Nicolas de Chambure, whose family also bred the recently crowned Cartier champion three-year-old colt.

Later on in the day, Stephen Hillen signed for a filly foal by Dawn Approach from La Motteraye consignment for €42,000 under Anglo Irish Bloodstock.

Out of the Invincible Spirit mare Toute Famille, a half-sister to Group 3 winner African Skies, herself the dam of Listed winner Calypso Beat, the January-born foal is from the family of Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Matiya.

After a protracted and tricky day's trading, the clearance rate reached 75 per cent for 193 sold, slightly up from last year.

The median of €6,500 showed a slight decrease, while the drop in the average at €8,863 was noticeable at over 20 per cent.

This was also the case for the aggregate of €1,710,500, down 23 points with only six fewer lots to go under the hammer.