by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Offspring from Donato Hanover and Cantab Hall fetched the top prices at yearling sales in Italy and Sweden this week.

In Italy the colt Toronto AS was sold for $265,000. He is sired by Donato Hanover and out of Victoria Sib, she by Armbro Goal. Victoria Sib is the dam of several Gran Premio winners in Italy, among them is Faliero As, by Lemon Dra, who won $620,000.

In Sweden the filly Charlene Am, by Cantab Hall and out of Novelty As, she by Striking Sahbra, was sold for $95,000. She is the second foal out of Novelty As, who raced in the United States and Canada and was trained by Anette Lorentzon. Novelty As took a mark of Q1:55.4s and earned $197,840.

Charlene Am was sold on the first day of the Swedish Kriterium sale. The average price of $22,500 was equal to last year, but fillies were more in demand this year and the average price for fillies rose by 44 percent.

The Kriterium Sale can be followed at www.asvt.se on Friday and Saturday as there is live streaming from the sale starting around 12 noon, eastern time.