Venn strikes for session-topper at low-key BBAG Spring Sale

Baden-Baden staged a low-key renewal of the BBAG Spring Sale on Friday, with the clearance rate of 67 per cent the lowest for five years.

The top lot came in the shape of a daughter of champion German sire Areion, who had been put through her paces during the breeze-up session in the morning before the mixed sale got under way.

Offered by the sale's leading vendor Haras de Saint Arnoult, the filly caught the attention of bloodstock agent Richard Venn, who parted with €43,000 to secure her.

Out of the winning Acatenango mare Estella, the filly is a half-sister to winners Edgar and Eliza, from the family of Preis von Europa winner Empoli, and champion German filly Elle Danzig.

Areion was a high-class sprinter for Andreas Wohler, winning the 6f Group 2 Goldene Peitsche, and stands at the trainer's Evershorst Stud, where the 22-year-old son of Big Shuffle currently stands at a fee of €9,500.

From the Nasrullah sire line, Areion is a prolific source of winners in Germany, including Palace Prince, winner of the Group 2 Badener Meile on Thursday.

Saint Arnoult also sold the third most expensive lot. The colt by Literato colt out of the Invincible Spirit mare Calle A Venise sold to Anton Krauliger for €20,000 - a sum less than half of what the top lot realised. The colt is from the family of champion German sprinter Linngari.

The second most expensive lot was the Maxios colt Daxios, a March foal that sold for €30,000 to B Olsson. He hails from a Swedish family including the Swedish Oaks-placed Salta.

The sale recorded it's lowest clearance rate in five years, at 67 per cent, with only 43 of the 64 lots on offer sold for an aggregate of €413,200, down 25 per cent from €549,000 last year, when 47 lots exchanged hands.

This dip was also reflected in the average, which was down 18 per cent to €9,610, while the median also fell 14 per cent to €9,900.