Justify Offerings On Top at Arqana
As has often been the case in recent years, Justify had another week of success on the track and in the sales ring when his two mid-week stakes winners were followed by three juveniles bringing the highest prices at Saturday’s Arqana Breeze Up Sale.
The most expensive of those was a €2.3 million colt purchased by Godolphin mid-sale when offered by Oak Tree Farm. Bred by Nursey Place, Manfuso, and Whilhite in Kentucky, the juvenile had been purchased by Norman Williamson when offered at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale before coming to France.
“He's a very nice horse and we loved his breeze. The consignor sold us Native Trail so he was one horse we wanted to take home to Moulton Paddocks. It's early days yet but Justify is truly a remarkable stallion,” Anthony Stroud told Thoroughbred Daily News after signing the ticket on behalf of Godolphin.
The colt is the third foal out of the Grade III-placed Inchargeofme, who is one of three stakes performers from her own dam. That mare – Inchmina – also produced the multiple Group I-placed Johann Strauss and Group I-placed Mythical in addition to the dam of Grade III winner and Grade I-placed Nagirroc.
As to be expected from a mare bred to Justify, Inchargeofme comes from a deep family with the names on the page also including Group I winners Harbour Law, Miss Keller, and Poet’s Word among the 24 stakes performers listed under the dams on the page.
Justify’s second most expensive was the Lynn Lodge Stud-offered colt out of Curlylocks, who sold for €1 million to be the second most expensive of the sale as well.
“I was expecting him to sell well as he was very popular and the right guys were on him,” Eddie O'Leary said. “It was a magic result. I hope he is seriously lucky for Amo and I thank them very much. He's a double of his dad. I even have a photograph of his dad as a yearling to show people how alike they are. Listen, Justify is an unbelievable stallion and we won't be able to buy them again. It's great to be able to sell two of them this week and hopefully they go on to be lucky.”
Purchased by Alex Elliott as agent for Amo Racing, the colt is the third foal out of Curlylocks. That mare is the dam of American Pharoah’s two-time winner and stakes fourth Musical Score as the latest successful broodmare out of Meow.
A stakes winner herself, Meow has been a top-level producer with Curlylocks’ full siblings including four-time Group I winner Churchill, Group I winner Clemmie, Group III winner Blenheim Palace, and the stakes placed Dower House. Curlylock’s granddam Airwave also not only won a Group I but also produced three stakes winners herself.
Bred by the Coolmore partnership, the colt was originally purchased by Margaret O’Toole at last year’s Keeneland September Sale.
Rounding out Justify’s top three juveniles – who were also three of the top priced juveniles overall at the sale – was another Elliott purchased 2-year-old.
The most expensive filly of the sale, the €800,000 daughter of Grade I winner Sara Lynx was also offered by Lynn Lodge Stud and bought on behalf of MV Magnier. Sarah Lynx has three winners with the group including the stakes placed Segra and Sleek Lynx. Another one of her daughters is the dam of the stakes placed Moswaat.
This is a strong page from top to bottom with each of the filly’s four dams named producing at least one stakes horse with three of them producing stakes winners. There are 12 stakes winners and seven other blacktype earners named on the page overall.
Bred by Don Alberto and the Justify Syndicate, this was another purchase by O’Toole at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Sarah Lynx foaled an American Pharoah colt last year.
Justify had six 2-year-olds go through the ring at this sale for none selling for less than €290,000. Unsurprisingly, Justify led all stallions with an average of €1,097,500 and gross of €4,390,000 for four sold at the one-day sale.