The first of only two yearlings by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah to go through a European sales ring this season fittingly went the way of Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier, who offered €750,000 to outbid Phoenix Bloodstock at the opening session of the Arqana August Yearling Sale on Saturday.
M V Magnier – wants the best American Pharoahs
The athletic bay is a half-sister to the Gr1 Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille heroine Shareta and was consigned by Haras d’Etreham
“She is a beautiful individual out of a Group 1 producer and Bob Baffert has always said that American Pharoah could have been just as good on the grass”, expressed Magnier.
“My grandfather founded Ballydoyle on American dirt horses — that’s where Galileo comes from, that’s where Sadler’s Wells came from. It all goes back to the American Classic horse. And we strongly believe in American Pharoah. He really could be the next big thing. Be it him, or Justify, we think that a horse of that type can once again have a transforming impact on European bloodlines. So that’s what we want to do: to get the best American Pharoahs we can, put them in Ballydoyle, and try to make him a new Northern Dancer. Remember Scat Daddy was an all-American hero, too, and look what he has been able to do on turf in Europe.”
The opening session of the Arqana August Yearling Sale returned a promising set of results following a very similar trend to the 2017 renewal.
With Part I only halfway down, the average price of €230,776 proved extremely close to the 2017 figure for the combined two sessions while the aggregate is just short of half last year’s Part I total.
Lot51 – Galileo daughter topseller (Pic – Zuzanna Lupa / Arqana)
Galileo fillies are hot commodities anywhere in the world and the only two on offer commanded €810,000 and €600,000. The more expensive of the two (lot 51) is a half-sister to the high class juveniles Kenya, Zantenda and Single, and was consigned by Haras des Capucines, with Justin Casse as the winning bidder.
The sale continues today (Sunday).
