Prix de Diane (G1) heroine Sparkling Plenty will depart her native France for the United States after being knocked down to M.V. Magnier for a record-breaking €5 million (US$5.3 million, €1=US$1.06) during the Dec. 7 headline session of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale.
A range of options remain open for the classic-winning daughter of Kingman , as Magnier said the "new partnership" she had been sourced on behalf of would cover her with Justify while contemplating further grade 1 racing opportunities.
The Coolmore man was sitting between the filly's breeder and co-owner Jean-Pierre Dubois and Oceanic Bloodstock agent Michel Zerolo when he signed the highest-price docket ever witnessed in the Deauville sales ring. Her price bests the previous high mark set by Place du Carrousel, who fetched €4,025,000 12 months ago.
"She's a very nice mare and a very good race filly," said Magnier. "The plan is we're going to send her to America, she might go to Chad Brown and we'll have a look at a couple of those races for her at Keeneland. In the meantime, we'll cover her with Justify.
"Justify deserves to get a mare like that, he's looking like he could be one of the best sires in the world right now so we'll look forward to racing the progeny out of her. We've bought her for a new partnership. It's very rare to get the chance to buy a mare like this and we're very lucky to have the people that we have to enable us to do it."
Magnier declined to expand on the identity of those involved in the partnership.
Sparkling Plenty was not Magnier's only seven-figure purchase of the day. Earlier in the session he went to €1.4 million for Tres Magnifique, dam of Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) scorer Tamfana, when she was offered by Gestut Etzean in foal to Soldier Hollow.
Another Late Bloomer for Brant and Tabor
2023 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte (G2) winner Classic Flower will follow a similar trajectory to Sparkling Plenty after she was knocked down to agent Alex Elliott, signing on behalf of Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, at €1.8 million.
"She was the standout race filly for us, myself and the Coolmore team," said Elliott. "She's been bought for a partnership of Peter Brant and Michael Tabor and she's going to be trained by Chad Brown. Her vetting was very clean, her run style will suit the States. She was very obvious and hopefully she can go and win a grade 1 now."
Classic Flower raced in the colors of Gousserie Racing, as did Rougir, and Jean-Etienne Dubois and was offered as part of the debut draft from the Chehboub family's Haras de Beaumont.
Beaumont also offered the high-class 2-year-old Daylight, but retained the group 3-winning and group 1-placed daughter of Earthlight when the bidding reached €2.1 million. Alex added: "We'll race on with Daylight and she'll compete in group 1s next year."
Stewart Steps Out in Deauville
High-rolling U.S. owner John Stewart has invested heavily at Europe sales before, not least when spending 6,265,000 guineas on five fillies at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale earlier this week. And he marked his first in-person appearance in Deauville by adding the Prix de Psyche (G3) winner Excellent Truth to his Resolute Racing string at a cost of €1.6 million.
After signing for the daughter of Cotai Glory, who was offered by trainer Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez, Stewart reaffirmed his desire to dominate at his local track at Keeneland, as well stressing his intention to bring diversity to the bloodlines within the Kentucky broodmare band.
"She was number one on my list so she was going home with me, just like Vertical Blue (cost 3.2 million guineas at Tattersalls)," said Stewart, sitting opposite Ghislain Bozo of Meridian Bloodstock. "I'm looking for horses to take to America to dominate the turf. You guys are going to see a real big coming out in the spring at Keeneland.
"It's softer ground there so these horses that run on heavier turf here, my theory is they're going to do better (in America). I've got grade 1 turf horses in America but they don't run good at Keeneland because they like harder ground. I've won races all around the world and I haven't won at Keeneland yet, even though it's my home track! I'm going to dominate there this year so I came up with this strategy."
Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock brand also signed for the winning 2-year-old Flamme Rouge at €300,000 when the daughter of Sea The Stars was presented by Ecurie des Monceaux, and the listed-placed 3-year-old Blue Point filly Tazara, who drew €750,000 when offered by Haras des Capucines.
Stateside Campaign for Spanish Eyes
David Redvers continued a theme of the day of fillies being recruited for racing in the U.S. when he went to €1.3 million for the classic-placed Spanish Eyes. Offered by Monceaux, Gestut Karlshof's homebred daughter of Zarak advertised her credentials when running second to Erle in this year's German Oaks (G1).
"She's off to the U.S. for Qatar Racing and a partner but no decision has been made about a trainer just yet," said Redvers. "It will be one of the Qatar Racing roster over there. She's an extremely impressive physical and racehorse and she looks like she will really suit the American style of racing. Sheikh Fahad was very keen on her."
Sale Statistics
The near 10-hour session of selling witnessed strong trade from the off, a point reflected by some eye-catching year-on-year increases across the key market indices.
Despite two fewer horses changing hands, turnover rose by 15% to €41,999,000 (US$44,518,940). The average price was up by 16% at €264,145 (US$279,994), while the median rose by an even more impressive 29% to €155,000 (US$164,300), having been €120,000 at the corresponding session 12 months ago. The clearance rate was a rock solid 83% as 159 lots sold from 191 offered.
The Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale continues Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. local time.
