Justify Colt Tops Opening Session at Arqana

Coolmore and Godolphin engaged in their first seven-figure clash of the new sales season when the rival camps squared up over a well-related son of Justify during the opening stages of selling Aug. 15 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale. Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, standing on the top deck of the auditorium with Peter Brant and Paul Shanahan, lodged his bids with a nonchalant wave of his iPad. However, the decisive play came from the corridor directly below, with Godolphin talent scout Anthony Stroud, standing beside Charlie Appleby and David Loder, signaling the raise that took the price to €1.25 million (US$1.45 million, €1=US$1.16). The Irish-bred colt was bred by Eddie Irwin's Rockhart Trading at Marlhill House Stud in County Tipperary and was sold through Charles Briere's Fairway Consignment. Coolmore already knows plenty about the pedigree as the youngster is the first living foal out of their homebred Joie de Soir (IRE), a daughter of Fastnet Rock who carried the Magnier silks to victory in a brace of French listed races. She also ran second, beaten just a short neck, in the 2022 Prix Kergorlay (G2). The dam was added to the Marlhill House broodmare band at a cost of 750,000 guineas in 2024. "He's an extremely nice horse with beautiful conformation," Stroud said. "He moved very well and he's from an excellent farm in Marlhill Stud, who've produced many good winners. Of course, Justify is doing so well and he's a wonderful stallion. We're very glad to have acquired him." On the seven-figure price tag, Stroud said: "I think you're going to find strong competition for any horse you really want, especially when they have the pedigree and conformation to match. I thought the market looked good so far but it's very difficult to value these horses when they get to a certain level; it's really just a case of whether the principals have seen enough that they want to progress." The Godolphin team has enjoyed some significant success with the progeny of Justify, notably landing the 2025 Two Thousand Guineas Stakes (G1) with the late Ruling Court. The classic winner was also sourced at Arqana, albeit at the company's breeze-up sale, where he fetched €2.3 million. Stroud added: "Ultimately you want the yearlings you buy to develop into top-class group horses. That's the intention and the dream is always there when you come to the sales. Whatever price the horse costs, you want them to be good. It's no different whatever the price tag." The very next lot into the ring brought €800,000 when Ross Doyle secured Baroda Stud's Wootton Bassett colt out of Just Pretending. The youngster, who was bred by Coolmore, is a sibling to two winners, both of whom boast black type, namely the group 3-placed Persia and the listed third Visage. The dam also brings some significant stakes form to the equation, having landed the 2013 One Thousand Guineas Trial (G3) during her time in training, as well as running third in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Irish Oaks (G1). "He's a very special physical and I know it's easy to say now, but he was a bit of a standout," Doyle said. "Our team has seen every single horse at the sale and he was up there in the top tier. He's by a wonderful stallion, from a good family and everything just matched up. It's very exciting. "We were very lucky that our clients were happy to push that far for him, we're very appreciative. He's been bought for Stall Perlen. They've had champion horses in Scandinavia for a long time, and they've moved into France over the last couple of years. They're wonderful people, very game and very enthusiastic." Lope de Vega Filly Makes Immediate Impact Proceedings got off to a flying start when the very first lot in the ring, a striking Lope de Vega (IRE) filly from Ballylinch Stud, fetched €420,000. The winning bid came from agent Hugo Merry, standing alongside Ben Gowans, a member of the bloodstock and racing team at the leading Kentucky farm Gainesway. The youngster is out of Fairy Dancer, making her a sibling to three winners. These include Jubilation (IRE), who also finished runner-up in the Prix de Cabourg (G3), and listed-placed La Fracas. In turn, the dam is a half sister to seven scorers, most notably Brian Meehan's 2006 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) hero Red Rocks, who also defeated Curlin in the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) back in 2008. Group 1 winner Time For Sandals (IRE) also appears further back in the family. "I've bought her for a partnership between Andrew Rosen and Anthony Beck of Gainesway Farm," Merry said. "They actually have a runner (Luster) tonight in King's Plate Stakes at Woodbine, and we're hoping she wins when she runs in about four hours' time and pays for this filly! "The partners will sort out where she races, whether that's in America or Europe, but she'll stay here for the moment. Lope de Vega has done very well in the U.S. so we have lots of options, but we didn't know whether we'd get her or not so we'll worry about plans afterwards." The opening session concluded with 56 sold from 71 offered for a 79% clearance rate. Gross sales totaled €13,966,000 (US$16,140,925) with an average of €249,393 (US$288,231) and a median of €200,000 (US$231,146).