Swettenham Stud shuttler Equiano (Fr) was popular at the Arqana yearling sale this week with his colt from Ring Of Love making 90,000 euros (AUD 130,550).

Irish agent Bobby O’Ryan purchased the half-brother to Newmarket stakes winner Bahia Breeze offered by Haras de Fresnay.  O’Ryan has a proven track-record with yearlings – his better buys include Group 1 winners Wootton Bassett and Cockney Rebel.

The Arqana Sale was a dress-rehearsal for Equiano leading into the Doncaster Bloodstock Premier Sale next week (August 27 & 28).  The Doncaster Sale is renowned for precocious two-year-olds and there are 19 yearlings by Equiano catalogued over the two sessions.

Equiano shuttles from Newsells Park Stud to Swettenham and his English home-base offers a cracking filly from five-time winning sprinter Impressible (Lot 5) and a lovely, balanced filly out of LR Eternal Stakes winner Clifton Dancer (Lot 387).

Heading up the other yearlings by Equiano at the Doncaster Sale is a half-sister to the Cay Verde (Lot 325) who was a juvenile stakes winner at Chantilly and the Curragh last year.  The filly has been consigned by Catridge Farm Stud.

Another well-bred filly is the half-sister to Bonnie Charlie (Lot 191) who was a G3 placed juvenile at Goodwood and Chantilly.  The filly is part of the Laundry Cottage Stud draft.

Equiano (Acclamation) is back at Swettenham for his third southern book at a $16,500 (inc gst) service fee.  He will parade at the stud’s open day this Sunday, August 25.

– Karl Patterson