An Australia bound High Chaparral colt was one of the stars at the Arqana 2YO Sale at Saint-Cloud on Saturday.  Offered by Hawthorn Villa Stud as Lot 34, he made 100,000 euros to the bid of agent Hubie de Burgh.

The High Chaparral – Clever Myth (Green Desert) colt is from the famed Moyglare Stud family of Talking Picture (G1 Spinaway St) and Dress To Thrill (G1 Matriarch St).  “He was the most attractive horse, a real athlete with a good attitude,” de Burgh said.  “He breezed very well and had all the quality of High Chaparral with Green Desert thrown in.”

de Burgh wouldn’t disclose his Australian client but noted High Chaparral had done very well in Australia.  “And the exchange rate is attractive for Australians to buy in this part of the world at the moment.”

The 2010 Arqana Sale maintained its continuous run of growth by producing records across the board.  The 2009 sale bucked the downward trends with a 20% rise and this year that was eclipsed by a 24% increase to 51,645 euros.  The clearance rate was marginally better at 77% while 14 lots made six-figures compared to six last year.

A first crop son of Shirocco broke the previous sale-topping record when agent Fiona Shaw went to 300,000 euros on behalf of owner Earl Macke.  It surpassed last year’s record-setting figure of 270,000 euros for a Dubawi colt.

“He’s just a beautiful horse,” said Shaw.  “He did a very nice breeze and I love his pedigree.  Earl Macke has two horses in France at the moment – one with Jonathan Pease and another with Jean-Claude Rouget – and this one will probably go to Jonathan.

The Chantilly Bloodstock Agency paid 210,000 euros for a Shamardal colt from Haras du Sauboas.  He had been pin-hooked for 22,000 euros at the 2009 Baden Baden September Sale.  A Galileo filly out of a half-sister to multiple G2 winner Tuscan Evening lit up the final minutes of trading when selling to Samuel Blanchard’s Winning Bloodstock for 180,000 euros.  Another standout was the Aussie Rules half-brother to French 2000 Guineas winner Elusive Wave that was knocked down to Prime Equestrian for 140,000 euros.