One of the most successful associations with the turf draws to a close in the coming weeks with The Wildenstein Stables Limited Dispersal. A total of 108 horses are set to go under the hammer, starting with a draft at the Goffs Orby Sale on 28 September. Each will be sold through The Castlebridge Consignment.
The dispersal comes just several years shy of the Wildenstein stable’s 100th anniversary. Georges Wildenstein established the stable in 1923 and ran it with great success until his death in 1963. His son, Daniel Wildenstein, a world renowned gallery owner and art authority, picked up the mantle with the same enthusiasm and ambition as his father and went on to be France’s leading owner on nine occasions, starting from 1969 and once posthumously in 2001.
In turn, those famous pale blue silks were carried by some of the greatest runners to ever grace the turf.
There were the four Arc winners, among them champion Allez France, who carried all before her during the early 1970s, and Peintre Celebre, the record-setting winner of 1997.
There was also the annus mirabilis of 1976, in which Pawneese travelled to England to take the Oaks and King George (as well as the Prix de Diane in between), Flying Water won the 1,000 Guineas and Crow took the St Leger.
The 1980s, meanwhile, was highlighted by legendary globe-trotter All Along, who was champion in both Europe and the U.S. courtesy of victories in the Arc, the Rothmans International, Turf Classic and Washington D.C. International.
Another homebred, Arcangues, also enjoyed his biggest success in America when the shock 133-1 winner of the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The family continued to operate the stable with great success in the years following Daniel Wildenstein’s death, notably through champions and/or G1 winners such as Aquarelliste, Beauty Parlour, Planteur, Vallee Enchantee and Westerner. His eldest son, Alec Wildenstein, died in 2008 aged 67.
The dispersal kicks off on the second day of the Goffs Orby Sale with a group of 18 yearlings and 41 horses in training, highlights of which are listed below.
Another 27 mares, 20 foals and two fillies in training will sell at the Goffs November Sale on 17 - 18 November.
455) GRANDE VADROUILLE
2015 f Smart Strike - Galateia (Dansili)
A rare European representative by Smart Strike, this filly is from the penultimate crop of her champion sire.
She is the first foal out of the listed-placed Galateia, herself a daughter of the classic-placed Gagnoa, a G3 winner who ran third in the Prix de Diane. In turn, Gagnoa is a half-sister to Derby hero Pour Moi and a direct descendant of Royal Statute, the ancestress of Bosra Sham, Lammtarra and Act One among others.
458) PATHS OF GLORY
2015 c Mastercraftsman - Pacific Rim (Singspiel)
A first foal out of G2 Prix de Malleret winner Pacific Rim, this colt is a member of the Wildenstein’s noted Paix Blanche family.
It is a family that has served the Wildensteins well for several decades; Pacific Rim is a half-sister to G2 Prix Hocquart winner Prairie Star and the listed-placed Prairie Flower, herself a stakes producer as the dam of the G3-placed Desert Sage. Granddam Prairie Runner was a G3 winner and is a half-sister to the G1-placed Poussin.
By a sire who was quick to make his presence felt as one of Europe’s young leading lights, this colt is bred on the same Mastercraftsman - Sadler’s Wells cross as The Grey Gatsby and Even Song.
Prairie Runner’s own yearling, a colt by Pour Moi, is lot 463.
459) PREMIO
2015 c Oasis Dream - Peinture Rare (Sadler’s Wells)
Perhaps the most memorable Wildenstein champion of recent years was Peintre Celebre, the Prix du Jockey Club winner of 1997 whose sweeping winning run in that year’s Arc remains one of the iconic moments in the race’s history.
This colt is the fourth foal out of Peintre Celebre’s talented half-sister Peinture Rare, who won the G2 Prix de Pomone and ran second in the G2 Prix de Royallieu. Their dam, the G2 Long Island Handicap winner Peinture Bleue, bred seven winners in all, a group that also included G3 winner Pointilliste and listed scorer Peinture Rose.
Peinture Rare is already the dam of a winner, Perle Rare, who struck at Maisons-Laffitte on debut. Her 3-year-old daughter Painter’s Muse, a placed daughter of Smart Strike, is lot 506, while her 2-year-old filly by Dubawi, Pavini, is lot 478.
470) AELITA
2015 f Giant’s Causeway - Andromeda Galaxy (Peintre Celebre)
The Wildensteins have consistently owed much of their success to the Irish River mare Albertine, a G2-placed homebred for Daniel Wildenstein who later foaled the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arcangues and Classic-placed Agathe, later dam of champion Aquarelliste.
Another daughter, Ange Bleu, foaled G1 winner Angara and listed winner Arlesienne. The latter went on to lay down her own roots at stud as the dam of G3 winner Affaire Solitaire and listed winners Aizavoski (now at stud in Ireland) and Andromeda Galaxy.
Lot 470, a daughter of leading sire Giant’s Causeway, is the second foal out of Andromeda Galaxy following an Elusive Quality filly, Andira (495).
472) BEING THERE
2015 c Dubawi - Beauty Parlour (Deep Impact)
Never afraid to think out of the box, the Wildensteins were influential in showcasing the merits of Deep Impact as a stallion to European eyes, firstly through through listed winner Barocci, a one-time classic prospect, and then G3 Prix Allez France winner Aquamarine.
Barocci’s sister Beauty Parlour raised the bar even higher, taking the 2012 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and G3 Prix de la Grotte. She also ran second in the Prix de Diane.
This colt, her first foal, is an obvious highlight as a son of the internationally renowned Dubawi. But this is also a pedigree that has broad global appeal, not just through the presence of Deep Impact, now regarded as one of Japan’s greatest ever sires, but through this colt’s third dam Benediction, an influential mare who bred Australian champion Might And Power. Benediction is also the granddam of Hong Kong champion Lucky Owners and Australian G1 winner Moseen.
Lot 472 will be preceded into the ring by Barefoot Contessa, a half-sister to Beauty Parlour by Dansili.
477) PARAUARI
2014 c Lawman - Parade Militaire (Peintre Celebre)
Parauari created a good impression when scoring by three lengths over 7f on his second start at Vichy in August for Mikel Delzangles. Prior to that, he had made a pleasing debut when third over 7f at Clairefontaine.
Parauari is a half-brother to a winner and out of a winning half-sister to listed winners Pretty Tough and Parisienne. Granddam Poughkeepsie is also the third dam of Protectionist and is a daughter of Daniel Wildenstein’s 1976 King George heroine Pawneese.
489) VILLA NOVA
2014 f Silver Frost - Verveine (Lear Fan)
This is the final foal out of the Wildensteins’ fantastic mare Verveine.
A granddaughter of Wildenstein matriarch Virunga, Verveine added to the family’s lustre on the track by winning the G2 Prix de l’Opera and filling in the frame in three G1 races, including the Prix de Diane.
At stud, she is the dam of no fewer than 11 winners, led by Vallee Enchantee, winner of the G1 Hong Kong Vase, Volga, winner of the G1 E P Taylor Stakes, G3 winner Victory Cry and listed winner Vesuve. Another three foals, Vagabond, Vassilievsky and Voltmeter, were stakes-placed.
Only this month, the family received another major update when Landfall, a grandson of Volga, won the G3 Champion Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.
This filly sells amid the best season yet for Poule d’Essai des Poulains hero Silver Frost, whose representatives this year include G1 winner Silverwave.
498) BENGALA
2014 f Pivotal - Bright Sky (Wolfound)
By a leading broodmare sire, the unraced Bengala holds obvious residual value as a daughter of Prix de Diane heroine Bright Sky, the champion French 3-year-old filly of 2002.
Bright Sky’s dam, Bright Moon, was also a talented filly for the Wildensteins who won the G2 Grand Prix d’Evry and two renewals of the G2 Prix de Pomone.
Bright Sky wasn’t the only Pattern performer out of Bright Moon either, since her Anabaa filly, Board Meeting, won the G3 Prix de Flore before foaling the G1-placed Big Blue. Such a record should also spark plenty of interest in Bright Moon’s final foal, the Silver Frost 2-year-old Barrancas, who is lot 497.
511) ASTERINA
2013 f Dalakhani - Altamira (Peintre Celebre)
Another talented member of the Albertine clan, Asterina narrowly failed to gain black type on her fourth and most recent start when fourth to Zghorta Dance in the G3 Prix Vanteaux at Chantilly. Prior to that, she had broken her maiden in authoritative fashion over a mile at Maisons-Laffitte.
As a daughter of Dalakhani, there is every chance that Asterina will progress again at four. But she would also make a fine addition to any broodmare band as a half-sister to last year’s G1 Prix du Moulin runner-up Akatea. She is out of the listed-placed Altamira, herself a half-sister to G3 winner Affaire Solitaire and from the further family of G1 winners Arcangues and Angara.
512) ARMURE BLEUE
2013 f Invincible Spirit - Aquarelle Rare (Rainbow Quest)
Armure Bleue struck over 1m4f at the provincial track of Vittel for Mikael Delzangles in July. While such form wouldn’t be on everyone’s radar, the race was her debut, allowing for the strong possibility of further improvement down the line.
She is one of three winners out of Aquarelle Rare, a daughter of champion Aquarelliste. Aquarelliste won three G1 races during her career with Elie Lellouche - the Prix de Diane, Prix Ganay and Prix Vermeille - and has since bred listed winner Ame Bleue as well as the G3-placed Artiste Divine.
Like a number of lots catalogued, Armure Bleue is also a member of the Wildensteins’ productive Albertine family.