It's far from unheard of for auctioneers attempting to build anticipation on a horse's arrival in the ring to play on their rarity value, and there was certainly no exaggeration on the part of Pierrick Moreau when it came to the top lot at Arqana's single-session February Mixed Sale Feb. 12.
The short yearling filly (Lot 115) broke new ground in being the first European offering by Australian-based Extreme Choice, a sire whose extraordinary strike rate at stakes level from limited numbers is matched only by his versatility, having provided the winner of both the Golden Slipper (G1) and Melbourne Cup (G1).
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Peter Anastasiou—perhaps best known above the equator as the breeder of Cloth of Stars—was well rewarded for sending his More Than Ready mare Grey Queen to be covered by the Newgate Farm resident on Northern Hemisphere time, before shipping her to John Kilpatrick's JK Thoroughbreds in Normandy to foal the filly last March.
Kilpatrick is based virtually next door to Haras d'Etreham and it will be to that renowned nursery and stallion station that the filly will head after stud principal Nicolas de Watrigant gave €110,000 (US$114,329, €1=US$1.04).
There is plenty of star power on the bottom side of the filly's pedigree as well, as Grey Queen, bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, is a full sister to 2013 Prix de Guiche (G3) winner Dalwari, while the sale topper's third dam Daltawa was among the Aga Khan's most influential broodmares, producing both Daylami and Dalakhani. The short yearling is the third foal out of Grey Queen, whose only starter to date is group 1-placed Our Gold Hope.
"The filly is by an Australian sire who has quite exceptional statistics from limited crops," said Haras d'Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure. "I think she's the only Extreme Choice to be sold in Europe. We love to diversify our bloodlines and she'll be particularly easy to cross. I also loved her physically."
Sale Statistics
With no major dispersals at play and 28 fewer horses to sell, the one-day version of the Arqana February Mixed Sale held firm in what is not an obviously propitious wider climate.
A total of 225 of the 281 lots offered found a buyer at a clearance rate of 80%, up from last year's two-day clip of 77%.
In 2024 there were double-digit declines in most of the key indicators, but that slide was arrested with turnover of €2,691,000 (US$2,796,891)—less than €141,000 down despite the smaller catalog—at a slightly increased average of €11,960 (US$12,431). The median was down marginally at €5,000 (US$5,197), from last year's €5,500.
