SOKOLSKI SETS SALES RECORD
Encouragement from Francis Graffard was enough for owner Brae Sokolski to set a new price record during Monday's horses-in-training session of the Arqana Autumn Sale in Deauville, with his new purchase to be trained by Danny O'Brien.
Graffard, who oversaw Verry Elleegant's four-start European campaign, is the Aga Khan Studs' primary trainer in France and prepared Carini on behalf of the racing and breeding giant.
When Aga Khan Studs decided to list Carini for sale at the Autumn Sale, Graffard contacted Sokolski to advise him of the opportunity.
"Francis contacted me and was effusive in his praise for the horse, his ability, and held the belief he would measure up to some better races in Australia," Sokolski told Racing.com.
"They (Aga Khan Studs) have a policy of selling geldings but Francis felt that he was a progressive stayer that would fit into the Australian system.
"Given that endorsement from Francis, I felt that he was one worth pursuing."
Sokolski pursued Carini to €600,000 (A$925,000), with the acquisition made through agents Nicolas Lefevre (Equos Racing) and Louis Le Metayer (Astute Bloodstock), and it was the dearest buy in the history of the horses-in-training session of the Aquana Autumn Sale.
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Carini eclipsed the mark established by Master Dino in 2019 when bought for €420,000 and was almost double the amount of last year's top lot when Foxfire Glow fetched €315,000.
Carini has raced six times, all as a three-year-old, for three wins and two minor placings.
The son of Siyouni notched three-consecutive wins on good tracks from 1600 to 2000 metres at Parisian courses Saint-Cloud and Longchamp midway through this year.
He most recently finished runner-up to Surrey Mist in the Listed €55,000 Prix Vulcain (2500m) at Deauville on October 19.
Casterton (2017) and King Of Leogrance (2018) are past winners of the Prix Vulcain who have then raced in Australia, with the latter winning the G2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) in 2020 for owner Lloyd Williams.
"Carini is going to arrive in Australia on a relatively low rating and we're in no hurry with him," Sokolski said.
"We'll look to take him through his grades in the autumn but we're not rushing to set him for major races in 2023, it might be more about the year following.
"We think he'll get over a proper staying trip but we think he's sharp enough to be competitive over 2000 metres, which I think is important, I'm very reluctant to buy horses that are one-dimensional stayers for Australian racing because your options are just so limited.
"I think you need to be purchasing horses that have a turn of foot and be sharp enough to be competitive over middle distances as well. He fits that bill."
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Sokolski will entrust Carini to Danny O'Brien as he looks to form a syndicate of owners in the gelding.
"I've got some nice young horses coming through the system with Danny, he's a guy I've got a lot of respect for, he certainly knows how to prepare stayers as well as anyone," Sokolski said.
"He has got those amazing facilities at his disposal down at Barwon Heads and I think it is important with these European horses to have multifaceted facilities."
By Carl Di Iorio for Racing.com