The Arqana December Sale began at Deauville on Saturday with the same fireworks evident at Goffs and Tattersalls in recent weeks.
Australian Paul Fudge made headlines at both sales and he was in the thick of the action again in France. Fudge paid 350,000 euros for Insoumise under the Waratah Thoroughbreds banner.
The Wertheimer brothers bred and raced Insoumise (Galileo) who tailed off at her only start at Saint-Could in June. She is a half-sister to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (Anabaa) and G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Balladeuse (Singspiel).
“She’s from a good family and is a half-sister to good horses,” Fudge said. “She’s a lovely looking sort who will suit our breeding program.”
Arqana reported the Day 1 average surged almost 19% to 74,044 euros, a new sale record. The median leapt forward by a third to 40,000 euros.
The Aga Khan topped the first-session with almost white mare Artistique (Linamix) who made 520,000 euros. She is the dam of five winners, the most notable being 2008 G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Montmartre (Montjeu).
Artistique was offered in foal to Cape Cross and ultimately fell to Robert Nataf of Horse France who was standing alongside Coolmore agent M V Magnier.
Christophe Tsui outlaid second-highest price of the day when paying 450,000 euros for Jumooh (Monsun). Offered in foal to Invincible Spirit, the Shadwell-bred mare is a half-sister to last year’s G2 Queen Mary Stakes winner Maqaasid (Green Desert).
Tsui raced Sea The Stars and he also weighed in with 400,000 euros for Hidden Silver (Anabaa). She is the dam of the 2009 G1 French 2000 Guineas winner Silver Frost (Verglas) and was offered with a Dubawi covering.
Tsui paid 240,000 euros for winning three-year-old Scarlet And Gold (Peintre Celebre). She is a half-sister to the 2009 G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Le Havre (Noverre).
Jumooh, Hidden Silver and Scarlet And Gold are all ultimately bound for a covering by Sea the Stars.
Selling continues at Deauville on Sunday. The catalogue can be viewed at www.arqana.com