Arqana Sale elevates Equiano

Equiano’s explosive start to his stud career was reflected at the Arqana yearling sale on Monday when his second-crop colts sold up to 90,000 euros (AUD 129,205).

The Swettenham Stud shuttler has sired 10 first-crop winners in England this year and his top priced colt was purchased by Group 1 trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. A February foal, he is from Babycakes (Marju) who was a Listed winner of the 2011 Prix Luth Enchantee (1800m).

Newsells Park sold the only other Equiano colt to Crispin de Moubray for 85,000 euros (AUD 122,030). His dam Ile Deserte (Green Desert) is a half-sister G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Kingston Hill.

Equiano sired his 10th individual winner when front-runner Luna Moon scored on debut at Newmarket on Thursday. A day later, his smart filly Dark Reckoning doubled up at Redcar after saluting at Pontefract last month.

Trainer Ann Duffield is lining up black-type assignments for Dark Reckoning who is owned by Qatar Racing. “I knew she would be better for six furlongs (1200m),” Duffield said. “She will get an entry in the Listed Redcar 2YO Trophy but the race for her might be the Group 3 Firth of Clyde Stakes at Ayr.”

The Charlie Hills trained Equiano colt Strath Burn is ready to elevate his record at Group level. He was runner-up in the G2 Prix Robert Papin (1100m) at Maisons-Laffitte last month and is being set for the G1 Middle Park Stakes (1200m) at Newmarket in October.

Swettenham Stud and Newsells Park have donated a 2014 nomination to Equiano that will be auctioned, along with five other Super VOBIS stallion noms, during the Inglis August Sale at Oaklands Junction this Friday. The proceeds will support the local breeding industry through Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria.

Equiano (Fr) will stand for an unchanged service fee of $16,500 (inc gst) this year.

PHOTO: Equiano – Babycakes colt made 90,000 euros at the Arqana Yearling Sale