Adam Houghton

Day 2 of the Arqana August Yearling Sale didn't quite match the fireworks of the opening session, but it still showcased some impressive results. A filly by Sea The Stars (Ire) took top billing, fetching €730,000 (AU$1,213,000) and selling to bloodstock agents Alex Solis and Jason Litt. Darley's shuttle sire Victor Ludorum (GB) also achieved a notable result, with a homebred colt selling for €420,000 (AU$711,000).

DEAUVILLE, France–As of Tuesday morning it's been six days since Adam Potts landed in Deauville, but there's no time to slow down as the newest recruit to the team of bloodstock agents at BBA Ireland. With the Arqana August Sale fast disappearing in the rear-view mirror, attentions now turn to the v.2 Yearling Sale and the catalogue of 189 lots scheduled to go through the ring when bidding gets underway at 11am local time.

TDN Europe recaps the action from the final day of the 2024 Arqana August Yearling Sale. Despite some ups and downs over the previous two days, the sale concluded with a fitting finale when Coolmore paid €1.7 million (AU$2.88 million) for a filly from the first crop of its shuttle stallion St Mark's Basilica (Fr).

DONCASTER, England–Clive Cox might not possess a degree in mechanical engineering, but it's fair to say that there have been few better trainers than him over the years when it comes to masterminding the career trajectory of a 'Donny Rocket'.

DONCASTER, England–“A victory for small breeders!” That was the emphatic verdict from an emotional Muriel Knox after her family had topped Tuesday's opening session of the Goffs UK Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale with their homebred Havana Grey (GB) filly for £240,000. Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock struck the winning bid on behalf of Skara Glen Stables.

When Moyfinn Stud's Paul Giles sold a Galileo Gold (GB) colt [lot 318] for £68,000 during the second day of the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale, it was said to be the most money he'd ever received for a horse in his life. So, what was Giles thinking just a short time later when his three-parts brother to last week's G2 Gimcrack Stakes winner Cool Hoof Luke (GB) sold to Amanda Skiffington for £350,000, the third highest price in the sale's history?

Godolphin repeated their feat of five years ago when signing for the €850,000 top lot at Friday's BBAG September Yearling Sale, surpassing the previous record fee of €820,000 they paid for a Sea The Stars (Ire) filly in 2019.

Finally there's a feeling that Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) is starting to get the recognition he deserves following his scintillating success in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York's Ebor Festival. Already a two-time winner at Royal Ascot before that career high on the Knavesmire, he's quietly put together the sort of record which ought to earn him a queue of mares at his stable door by the time his racing days are over.

NEWMARKET, England–Fifteen-year-old Ruairi Kilmartin was left speechless after his Dark Angel (Ire) filly–a mere €7,000 buy at the Goffs November Foal Sale–had provided him with a fairytale result when selling to Paul Corrigan for 70,000gns on the opening day of the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale.

NEWMARKET, England–For the second consecutive year Havana Grey (GB) and Whitsbury Manor Stud were responsible for the highest-priced yearling at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale as a filly by the in-demand stallion went the way of Alex Elliott, acting on behalf of Amo Racing, for 140,000gns during Tuesday's session at Park Paddocks.