Decorated Knight’s 2020 book bolstered by Arqana purchases
9 December 2019
A stakes-placed mare in foal to the much missed Roaring Lion and a half-sister to leading sire Mastercraftsman were among our purchases at the Arqana December Sale.
As with our Goffs and Tattersalls purchases, which included top sprinters Gilt Edge Girl and Mince, the Arqana acquisitions are likely to visit our multiple Group 1 winner Decorated Knight, whose first foals sold for up to 190,000gns recently in Newmarket.
Star Of Bristol is a Speightstown half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning miler Mastercraftsman as well as the Moyglare Stud Stakes runner-up Famous, herself recently in the news as dam of Melbourne Cup third Il Paradiso. Star Of Bristol is in foal to Lope De Vega.
“She will be going to Decorated Knight, my stallion,” Imad Al Sagar told the TDN. “I believe in my stallion very much; I have high expectations. I want to support him to the best of my ability to make him a successful stallion. Any successful stallion needs good mares. I want to give him every chance possible.
“His first foals are gorgeous and he has put his stamp on them. They fetched at Tattersalls up to 190,000gns, which is very good. We’re very optimistic about him.”
Meanwhile Manasarova, by More Than Ready, showed good form for Francois Chappet, winning once at two and running placed in the Listed Prix Ronde de Nuit. A relation to American Grade 1 performer Shaakis, she is carrying a foal from the sole crop of champion Roaring Lion.
We were also delighted to purchase Zotilla, a Zamindar half-sister to French 1,000 Guineas heroine Flotilla. She is a granddaughter of the high-class producer Flanders and therefore related to Group 1-winning sprinter G Force. Making Zotilla particularly exciting is the fact she is in foal to shuttler Zoustar, already a leading young sire in Australia.
There was also a return to familiar territory with the purchase of Tarawa, a close relation to our recent acquisition, the Group 1-winning sprinter Gilt Edge Girl. Tarawa, by Green Tune and in foal to Penny’s Picnic, is also closely related to Arcano and this season’s smart two-year-old Streamline.
Last but certainly not least, we also added Vetlana, a Vale Of York half-sister to Glasgow Stakes winner Sameem. Out of Listed winner Ahla Wasahl and related to Classic winner Menhoubah, she is in foal to Gleneagles.
