By Sue Finley
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An auction of sought-after stallion seasons and season options will be held in the Arqana sales ring in Deauville tonight, Friday, at 5:30 p.m. to raise money to help combat a mega-landfill project in Nonant-le-Pin, France, in the heart of Normandy's breeding region.
The sale is organized by Arqana and the Association Sauvegard des Terres d'Elevage (the Association for the Safeguard of Breeding Lands).
Up for auction are nominations to: Anodin (Ire), Camelot (GB), Dalakhani (Ire), Evasive (GB), Galiway (GB), Iffraaj, Le Havre (Ire), Makfi (GB), Maxios (GB), Muhtathir (GB), Myboycharlie, Olympic Glory (Ire), Planteur (Ire) and Siyouni (Fr); as well as top jumps stallions Saint Des Saints (Fr) and Martaline (GB). Martaline and Siyouni are already booked full for 2016.
The auction also offers an option to breed to Kingman (GB) at the 2015 fee.
The auction will be followed by cocktails, offered by caterer Henri Morel.
The dump, which would become the largest dumping ground for used automobile parts in France, with the capacity for 2.3 million tons of car parts and industrial waste–opened among the most sought-after breeding ground in France, bordering several existing farms. It was only operational for two days in October, 2013, before protestors blocked the entrance. The funds from the auction will help to fund the legal battle that has waged ever since, which has required an annual budget of around 500,000 euros. Several times, the courts have sided with those seeking to block the project, including in 2014 when an order was issued to close the site permanently. The order was later overturned on a breach in procedure. The initial case has been reopened, with a decision due early in 2016.
Most recently, France's Minister of Ecology, Segolene Royal, has taken up the cause, declaring that the site creates a “grave and imminent danger” to the water table.
“The company's resistance is determined due to the interests at stake, and we now need support more than ever, to end the work that we have started,” read a press release issued by the association. “The survival of a region and its inhabitants, strongly involved in breeding activities (more than 150 stud farms in the direct perimeter of the landfill) is at stake. Furthermore, the land on which the landfill would be placed is located immediately above the ground table that irrigates the department right up to Caen and Deauville, hence the risk of regional water pollution is added to that of the immediate land and air pollution.”
Those unable to attend the auction sale may still arrange to donate to the cause by calling +33 6 86 07 20 46 or emailing ericpuerari@wanadoo.fr.
Donors include H.H the Aga Khan Studs, Coolmore Stud, Flaxman Stables, Qatar Bloodstock, Tweenhills Farm, Sheikh Joaan al Thani, Gerard Augustin-Normand, Mr & Mrs Gilles Forien, Haras de Colleville (Guy Pariente), Haras d'Etreham, Haras de Montaigu and Wertheimer & Frère, Shadwell Stud, Darley Stud, and Juddmonte Farm, as well as the syndicates of the stallions Martaline, Evasive, and Siyouni. All nominations will be guaranteed by the insurers Gras Savoye.
Additional information may be found by visiting www.sauvegardedesterresdelevage.com and www.saveourhorses.fr.
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