14.12.2022

AUCTAV ARABIAN AUTUMN SALE: Saubouas are tops

On November 23^rd, Auctav organised two online sessions, one for PA 2-year-olds and horses-in-training, which entailed 11 lots being sold for an average price of €10,800. The other session revolved around breeding stock, with the eight lots sold averaging €25,582. In total, 19 of the 48 lots catalogued (40 per cent) found buyers, and the overall average was €17,000. Arnaud Angéliaume, the Auctav Managing Director, said: "The open sale has taught us a lot. The PA market had, until recently, only one major sale, and we will make adjustments to what is on offer next year so as to meet everyone's expectations as best as possible."

More than half of the horses in the 2-year-old and horses-in-training session found buyers. Saubouas Bloodstock was the most active of these, having purchased the PA 2-year-old Ainhoa Folwin (Dahess) for €16,000, and Taya (Dahess), a PA 3-year-old of whom Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte is expecting great things as a 4-year-old. On the PA broodmare front, Saubouas Bloodstock paid €25,000 for Mhajiz (Munjiz), and herself a half-sister to the multiple Gr1 PA placed PA Monda (No Risk Al Maury).

Paul Basquin (Saubouas Bloodstock) said: "Taya was a very late foal, having been born in June, so she will still develop physically. Her second place at Toulouse was a good effort. A picture of good health, the filly will be exported to Doha in order to continue her racing career. As for Ainhoa Folwin, he’s an attractive PA 2-year-old by Dahess, and the brother of Ainhoa Petrucio (Séraphin du Paon) who is coming off a win at Agen. I bought him for a

foreign owner and he will begin his racing career in France. As for Mhajiz, I bought her for a client who breeds horses at the Haras de Saubouas. The filly, by Munjiz, is a good frame and a scopey sort. She hails from family which is still going strong via Monda, with the latter having been placed at Gr1 PA, and who will be one of the top PA mares next season. Munjiz has all the hallmarks of becoming a very good broodmare sire. She will be an easy filly which to breed from, being devoid of the blood of Amer."

Consigned by the Haras de Thouars and in-foal to Al Mourtajez, Neige Al Maury (Dormane) was bought privately for €75,000 by Saubouas Bloodstock, the top buyer at the sale. She’s the sister of No Risk Al Maury, Nouba Al Maury, Nevadour Al Maury and Nacrée Al Maury (the dam of Mister Ginoux and Lady Princess). Paul Basquin, of Saubouas Bloodstock, said:  "She’s going to join the broodmare band at the Haras de Saubouas. She’s a mare that we regretted not buying at the Shadwell sale. She has given birth to a nice foal by Muraaqib, and is in foal to Al Mourtajez, a top class stallion who had a very successful year as a sire via Al Ghadeer and Joe Star. We’re delighted to have had another opportunity to acquire her. This is one of the most coveted pedigree pages in the world. Neige is herself out of Nectarine Al Maury (Dormane), so all options as regards breeding from her are possible. We remain hopeful that she will give us a very nice foal by Al Mourtajez."

Jadeeda fetches €60,000

Jaddeeda (Njewman) was consigned in-foal to Af Albahar. A maternal half-sister to Handassa and Jamaheer, the Critérium des Pouliches (Gr2 PA) winner, she has gone on to foal the excellent Madrassa.

Meridian Bloodstock bought the mare privately for €60,000. Ghislain Bozo explained: "She’s a very well-related mare, and one which appealed to me as a prospect from which to breed from."

Kaval de Ghazal (Al Mourtajez) is out of a sister to the Gr1 PA winning Kaoe de Ghazal (Kesberoy), and herself responsible for producing the outstanding PA distaffer Kiss de Ghazal (Dormane). Damien de Watrigant bought this 2-year-old PA colt for €17,000 and he said: "He’s a colt I caught sight of at William Walton's. I liked him as he reminded me of Al Ghadeer physically. In terms of ownership, he will race for a group of friends, a partnership revived by myself, and one which proved successful for us with a PA horse in the past."

Al Cem Stud paid €20,000 for the foal Caipirinha d'Arteo (Al Mourtajez) whose dam is a daughter of Dormane (Manganate), and very closely related to the PA Group winning pair, Izadi Star (Azadi) and Joe Star (Al Mourtajez). Chloé Marchandet (Al Cem Stud) explained: "I bought this foal for a client because as the maternal line is starting to yield very good results, and because her sire, Al Mourtajez, has been prolific PA stallion this year. We hope that she will be even better than Joe Star, who is from the same family. She will be reared in France, at the family stud, before going into training abroad."