Indian pharmaceutical billionaire Cyrus Poonwalla went to 900,000 euros to acquire G1 Coronation Stakes runner-up Kenhope at the Arqana Arc Sale on Saturday evening.

Kenhope (3f Kendargent- Bedford Hope by Chato) will ultimately join Poonwalla’s broodmare band in India but, for the present, she will be aimed for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 19.  She will then head to Dubai International Racing Carnival.

Racing for owner-breeder Guy Pariente and trainer Henri-Alex Pantall, she was second in last year’s G3 Prix Thomas Bryon and began this term with back-to-back wins including the G3 Prix de la Grotte before finishing second in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, third in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville and fourth in the G1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Second-highest price of 580,000 euros was paid for this year’s G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern runner-up Empoli.  The three year-old Halling colt was also bought with the Dubai Carnival in mind by agent Jean-Pierre Deroubaix acting on behalf of a Russian client.

“The Arc sale is an exceptional showcase for high quality horses,” Arqana chairman Eric Hoyeau said.  “Each year, graduates of the sale go on to win all over the world, particularly in Dubai and in Australia.”

Arqana reported total receipts of 5.23 million euros at the Saint-Cloud Sale.  The average price rose 14% to 180,448 euros.

Currency converter:  1,000 euros = AUD 1,436

KENHOPE