‘The top of the breeze-up market has never been healthier’ - Brown hails relentless trade after claiming leading buyer title with sibling to Valiant Force

Leading buyer honours went the way of Blandford Bloodstock, whose agent Richard Brown was active towards the head of the market throughout the day in Deauville. By the close of trade, Blandford had signed for nine lots for an outlay of €3,695,000, a haul that included some of the session’s most choice offerings. 

Brown’s biggest acquisition was the Mitole half-sister to Norfolk Stakes hero Valiant Force. The filly, who was offered by Tally-Ho Stud, had already cost some punchy figures before, bringing $300,000 from Brookstone Farm at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale before Tulip Stables signed the ticket at $525,000 at Saratoga last year. On Saturday Brown brought the hammer down at €800,000. 

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The agent, who unearthed Wathnan Racing’s Norfolk winner Shareholder at this sale last year, was unable to divulge ownership or training plans. He did, however, express relief at landing the in-demand filly after having to fill the role of underbidder on numerous occasions throughout the day. 

“That’s the one I wanted all day,” he said. “I think she’s an outstanding physical; she stands over a load of ground, she’s a sister to a Norfolk Stakes winner and from a vendor I’ve had a long and happy history with. It’s been a very frustrating day but that’s made it, I’m happy now. The market has been extremely strong and we’ve been on what we perceive to be the best horses here, so it’s been tough. It’s extraordinary trade.

“She’s a beautiful filly and I thought she was an outstanding athlete. Of course the stallion makes a difference, you can’t ignore it, but when they’ve galloped like she did, you don’t need to focus on that element quite as much. He’s a perfectly good stallion who’s started his career well, but the main reason for buying her was how she breezed. She looked pretty special walking around out there.” 

Lot 185, a filly by Mitole, was bought by Richard Brown for €800,000Credit: ZUZANNA LUPA

Having secured one Royal Ascot two-year-old winner at this sale last year, and with this filly being a sibling to a horse who also achieved that distinction, Brown was quizzed over whether this acquisition could also be Royal Ascot bound. 

“The vendor and I disagreed initially,” he said. “She’s a big filly and the more I’ve looked at her the more I’ve come around to Roger’s [O’Callaghan, Tally-Ho Stud’s] way of thinking; that she’s big and mature. We’ll get her back and see. She’ll get a bit of time off and then we’ll see whether we’re going to point and shoot for Ascot or whether we give her a bit more time. Either she’ll be big and mature and can go, and she’ll walk around at Ascot and you’ll think ‘Holy smoke!’ or she won’t. We’ll let her tell us.” 

Brown also reflected on trade in Deauville and the broader European breeze-up season as a whole. 

“There’s been some very smart horses sold today, I think it was a very high-quality sale,” he said. “All credit to Arqana, it’s been extraordinary. I think there’s more depth to the market than normal this year. I actually had a couple of smaller orders at the Guineas Sale last week and got blown out, so I filled those here earlier. 

“This is an elite, select sale, so I think you’d take the kind of clearance rate we’ve had today. Like any sale, I’m sure there’s guys who’ve had tough days and I feel for them because it’s hard when all this is going on around you. But I think you can’t say anything other than it’s been a pretty extraordinary breeze-up season. Saying that, there’s still ways to improve it, and that’s improving the middle and the bottom of the market. Clearly the top is taking care of itself.” 

He added: “The top of the breeze-up market has never been healthier, certainly not in my time. I’ve been fortunate to come here in the past with a 400 grand or 500 grand order and you’d be able to buy the best horse here. Now you need double that and some. I think it’s good for the whole industry as these guys will put it straight back in, so it’ll be good for the yearling sales.” 

Arqana Breeze-Up Sale statistics

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