French trainer Michel Cheno outbid several high-profile agents to sign for the top priced Galileo yearling at the Arqana August Sale in Deauville on Saturday.

The Day 1 leader by Galileo from Listed winner Prudenzia (Dansili) cost $1.10 million euros.  Cheno did best against David Redvers and Demi O’Byrne.  “She is a remarkably good-looking filly with a very strong pedigree,” Cheno said.  “She will always have residual value, so it is probably better to buy such a filly at this price, rather than a colt.”

Catalogued by Ecurie des Monceaux, the filly is a half-sister to 2011 G3 Prix de Lutece winner Pacifique (Montjeu).  The Ecurie des Monceaux consignment also included colts by Galileo, Sea the Stars and Oasis Dream that sold for a combined 770,000 euros.

The first yearlings by Sea the Stars offered at auction averaged a highly respectable 220,000 euros.  The most expensive proved to be Ballylinch Stud’s half-sister to G1 galloper Canford Cliffs who fetched 360,000 euros.

The Day 1 average of 144,746 euros was up 8% on 2011 but the 95,000 euros median was down 20%.  This year’s Arqana catalogue features 464 yearlings, split into two separate parts over four days, with the quality spread evenly.

Cash converter:   1,000 euros = AUD 1,183