Baden-Badener Auktionsgesellschaft (BBAG) e.V.

Pleasing Trade And A Six Figure Sales Topper At The BBAG Breeze Up Sale

A half-sister to last year’s dual Group 3 winning juvenile Grafelli (lot 51) smashed the Breeze-Up sales record at BBAG on Tuesday evening when making €180,000 to a group of Japanese breeders under the name of IECA.

Named Malibu Beach, the filly is out of Listed winner Spark Sept and hails from the first crop of Mastercraftsman. She was offered from the Benillouche family’s Haras de Bernesq, also owners of her illustrious sibling.

Speaking on behalf of the purchasers, Franck Benillouche said afterwards, “The buyers thought her pedigree was very interesting, and they really like the progeny of Mastercraftsman.

“It is possible that she will go to Jim Bolger seeing as he had such success with Grafelli, but they don’t know yet. She will stay in Europe for the moment, and then go to Japan next year. I think she made a good price which reflects the current market.”

Speaking on his decision to sell her, the Frenchman added, “We weren’t going to originally, hence why she went into training, but then you have to make a decision when you have a filly of this calibre.”

A year ago, Grafelli had also been entered in the same sale, before being withdrawn. After his group successes for Bolger, he was sold to Hong Kong where he has since run twice.

Kugelblitz, a two-year-old colt (lot 60) out of Coronation Stakes winner Balisada also proved popular when bought by Andi Wyss for €43,000.

Offered from Helmut Kappes’s GTM, the April born chestnut colt will continue his career in Switzerland in the colours of P. Sander at his private training facility near Zurich. “He is a real two year old, and that is why we bought him,” the colt’s new handler Philipp Scharer said.

“We hold our first juvenile races at the beginning of June, so I think he will be perfect for this. Mr Sander buys to win, and he has a very nice colt here. He breezed really well, and showed great acceleration and we are very pleased.”

The only Dubawi to be offered at the sale, the colt is a half-brother to Listed winner Galactic Star, as well as a relative of deceased sire Inchinor.

Fillies were in popular demand once again after a daughter of Shirocco (44) made €34,000 to Alexandra Renz from Andi Wyss.

Eligible for French premiums, the March born filly is set to be trained by Werner Hefter at Baden-Baden, but campaigned in France.

In the older horse section, it was Windsor (23) who topped proceedings after being purchased by Big Apple Bloodstock for €22,000.

A winner for Markus Klug last month at Bremen, the son of Soldier Hollow is set to stay in Germany for his new owner having previously run for Gestüt Rottgen.

“I have bought him for an existing client, and he will most likely stay with the trainer who likes him,” Daniel Krüger said of the gelding, who hails from the German stud’s famous family of Champion Three Year Old filly Well Proved.

“He has won already and looks like a good Handicap 2 horse. I thought it was a fair price for a three year old who has room for further improvement.”

The sale ended with an increased clearance rate of just over 66% (compared to 64% last year), and an overall aggregate nearly €50,000 down despite the higher top price at €594,000 including private sales. The median finished up at €9,588.

Klaus Eulenberger, BBAG’s Assistant Manager said afterwards, “We moved the sale from Friday to Tuesday to avoid clashing with Arqana, and we are very happy with the result considering the current state of the market.

“We are over the moon to have broken our record for the top priced Breeze-Up horse, which has been in place since 2005.”