Shirocco shines

Two winners and a successful Arqana sale round off a good week for the young Darley sire

First-season sire Shirocco has been enjoying a successful spell of late, not only siring two winners in one weekend, but also posting a very profitable average at the recent Arqana Deauville Sale.

Surfista became his first winner on 14 August, winning first time out over seven furlongs at Dax. Bred by Marquesa De Moratalla, Surfista is out of the Kendor mare Subasta, also dam of G3-winning miler Rageman.

Just a day later, Pray From Heaven increased Shirocco's winners' tally to two when landing a six-furlong conditions race at Budapest in Hungary. She is out of the Listed winner Power Girl and is from the family of G1 German Derby-winning duo Philipo and Pik Konig.

Meanwhile at the Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale, members of Shirocco's second crop of yearlings proved popular and averaged a highly respectable €48,286 for 14 sold - almost five times his covering fee.

His top price was €85,000, given by Jean-Claude Rouget for his colt out of the Lando mare Ilerda, whose half-sisters Incitation and Iberi have produced four Black type performers between them. Incitation is also the grandam of Tiger Hill's G1-winning daughter Iota.

Shirocco has one yearling catalogued at next week's Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale, nine at the BBAG Sale, plus seven in the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part One.