The European yearling sales circuit continued in France on Tuesday with the first session of Osarus’ La Teste auction, which was topped by a son of Almanzor bought by Mandore Agency and Jean-Claude Rouget for €50,000.
Rouget is extremely familiar with Almanzor having trained the son of Wootton Bassett to win the Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Champion Stakes and QIPCO Champion Stakes during a stellar three-year-old season in 2016.
Retired to stand at Haras d’Etreham for the 2017 breeding season, Almanzor has been represented by his first crop of two-year-olds this year and according to Weatherbys has sired the winners Faro de San Juan, Queen Trezy and Abbado.
Tuesday’s session topper was offered by HSV Agency out of the winning Dutch Art mare Passion Blanche and hails from Meon Valley Stud’s Reprocolor family that has continued to produce Group 1-calibre horses such as Russian Camelot in recent years.
There were two lots that made €28,000 during Tuesday, with the first of those being a Born To Sea filly from Haras des Faunes bought privately by Nick Bradley Racing.
Out of the Indian Rocket mare Miss Valchope, she is a half-sister to the Group 3-winning Cosachope.
The second to make the figure was Haras de la Haie Neuve’s Seahenge colt who was snapped up by Success Bloodstock Agency.
Out of the Myrakalu mare River Trebor, the colt is a half-brother to five winners and his further family includes Grade 1-winning hurdler Stormy Ireland, Prix Jean Prat hero Stormy River and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud scorer Silverwave.
