Thursday 27 July 2023
Top class performers Paddington, Emily Upjohn and Straight are among the many yearling graduates flying the flag for the Aga Khan Studs stallions in 2023 - and at the upcoming Arqana August Yearling Sale in Deauville, buyers will have a chance to find their next future star.
SIYOUNI – currently the leading sire of three-year-olds in Europe - was responsible for two of the four seven-figure yearlings at last year’s sale, including the top price of €2.1 million for a full brother to multiple Group 1 winner Sottsass. More recently, a colt out of Isabel de Urbina became the most profitable two-year-old pinhook in Europe in 2023 when selling for €1,200,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale – six times his yearling purchase price of €200,000.
This year, SIYOUNI will be represented by 17 yearlings, members of his first crop conceived at €140,000, among them relations to the likes of Charm Spirit, Danceteria Lope De Vega, Mohaather, Nathaniel, Shamardal and Vadeni as well as recent Stakes winning juvenile Beauvatier.
A similarly elite contingent represent SEA THE STARS and ZARAK, who are each responsible for five yearlings in the catalogue. For the former, recent past graduates of this sale include Sea La Rosa – who became her sire’s 19th Group 1 winner when taking the Prix de Royallieu last October – and 2023 Group 2 winner Cepheus. Meanwhile the first two crops produced by rising star ZARAK, conceived at €12,000, have produced 12% Stakes winners to runners, among them Arqana graduates Purplepay (Group 2 winner), Zagrey (twice Group 1 placed) and recent Listed winner ZARAKem.
