by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The 22-year-old French stallion Coktail Jet is as popular as ever and on the first day at the Arqana Trot Sale in Deauville, two offspring of Coktail Jet topped the sale. and Coktail jet was also the leading sire by average price.

Belphegor, a colt sired by Coktail Jet and out Hermine d’Urga, she the dam of Oyonnax, winner of the Prix d’Amerique, fetched the top price of 220,000 Euros or about $278,500. He was bought by one of the biggest owners in France, Ecurie des Charmes.

The second highest price was $120,000 Euros or about $151,000, which the Swedish trainer Stefan Hultman paid for Beleo Josselyn, a colt by Coktail Jet and out of Hezia Josselyn, she a sister to the stallion Cezio Josselyn (by Armbro Goal).

A total of 18 yearlings sired by Coktail Jet were sold for an average price of $79,325, followed by Goetmals Wood, who had seven yearlings sold for $76,590.

Coktail Jet has been the champion sire in France seven times; in 2013 he stands at stud for $25,000.

The average price at the first day of the three-day sale was $53,480.

The organizer, Arqana Trot, was formed out of two of the biggest sales companies in France, Trotting Promotion and AF Trot, and it’s difficult to compare this sale with the sales last year.

However, one could compare it to the Trotting Promotion Sale at Vincennes in 2011 and that comparison shows a minor decline of two percent in the average price. Last year just 52 yearlings were sold; this year 70 are scheduled to be sold.