Foote continues Cambridge buying blitz at Arqana

3 min read

John Foote's busy buying month for Cambridge Stud in the Northern Hemisphere continued as they added another two fillies at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in France on Sunday to make it six purchases for the week.

Added to the seven lots Cambridge bought at Tattersalls last week, it has been quite a haul for Brendan and Jo Lindsay. Foote said it was part of a concerted push to restock their broodmare band having taken control of Cambridge earlier this year.

“Before they bought Cambridge, they had a good broodmare band of their own, but only about 25 mares." - John Foote

“Before they bought Cambridge, they had a good broodmare band of their own, but only about 25 mares,” Foote told TDN.

John Foote at the Arqana Sale

“They inherited 85 mares from the old Cambridge and they’re going to sell some of them, so they’re just restocking and getting some new blood and some European blood that suits New Zealand."

"But we’re just trying to buy a bit of value, and it’s working out pretty well. So we just have to hope they’re good-it’s the easy part buying them, we just have to hope they produce winners."

Accessing the Just the Judge family

Sunday's two purchases included Lot 366, the 3-year-old filly Aumale (GB) (Dansili {GB}), which they paid €90,000 for.

She is out of Amber Silk (Lawman {Fr}), who is a full sister to G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Just The Judge (Lawman {Fr}).

A 300,000 guineas Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling in 2016, Aumale won one of her six starts. Her family have been doing great things at the sales. Just The Judge's yearling colt by Dubawi (Ire) sold for €1.4-million at the Arqana August Yearling Sales and the weanling full-sister to that colt sold for $1 million on Day 1 of this sale.

“She’s something that could be worth a lot more one day, and probably won’t be worth any less,” Foote said of Aumale.

“She’s a nice filly. She’s by Dansili and has a good pedigree." - John Foote

“She’s a nice filly. She’s by Dansili and has a good pedigree. The half-brother was only beaten a nose first time out in Newmarket and the mother has been bred very well. We’ll just hope for the best.”

Foote and Cambridge also paid €20,000 for the filly Illadore (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), out of stakes-placed Pestagua (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who is a half-sister to stakes winner Sunday Nectar (Ire).

Illadore, originally a €105,000 yearling, has had one win and five placings in her career.

Mills doubles up

Australian bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills also bought a couple of fillies on Day 2.

He paid €55,000 for Lot 491 Zone Regard (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), a three-time winner who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed Charlie Farnsbarns (Cape Cross {Ire}).

Sheamus Mills

Mills also bought Lot 400, Djiva (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), an unraced filly out of the family of superstar mare Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa {USA}), for €25,000.

Djiva's dam Born Again (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}) is a half-sister to 14-time Group 1 winner Goldikova as well as seven other stakes-winners.