Colt tops Arqana sale at 1.2 million Euros.

Sea The Stars’ first European yearlings fulfilled their promise this weekend at Deauville, with the highlight being sales-topping 1.2 million Euro colt out of Alpine Rose.

This colt, offered as Lot 120 by the Ecurie des Monceaux, represents the Aga Khan Studs on both sides of his pedigree as his dam Alpine Rose (Linamix) is from the high-class Lagardère /Aga Khan family of Fragrant Hill. Alpine Rose is an own sister to another top-level winner in Fragrant Mix, as well as three further Stakes winners. She was purchased from the Aga Khan consignment at the Arqana 2008 December sale, before succeeding at Group 1 level for her new owners, a partnership made of Lady O’Reilly, Lucien Urano and Charles-Henri de Moussac.

A hush descended on the Deauville arena as her first foal, a dark grey colt, entered the ring and bids rose progressively with the participation of David Redvers and Shadwell, before Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International had the last word at 1.2 million Euros on behalf of Qatari client Sheikh Joann Bin Hamad Al Thani. De Watrigant commented, « This is the one colt we wanted to buy here. He is an extraordinary yearling and I hope that he will have the quality of his parents to become a great racehorse and why not eventually make a stallion. We are very excited about what the future could hold for this horse. » The colt will join trainer Alain de Royer Dupré in Chantilly.

Overall, five of Sea The Stars’ seven yearlings met with success in the ring, registering a total of 2.08 million Euros and an average of 416,000 Euros which places the Gilltown stallion top of the sires’ list for this Premier sale.

Updated on 20/08/2012.