Something For Everyone At Arqana

Next week is a busy week in the European sales calendar; in addition to the Goffs November Foal Sale kicking off, Monday also sees Arqana’s November Sale commence for a three-day stint. Taking place in the Elie de Brignac sales complex in Deauville, the sale consists of a mix of horses in training, flat yearlings and national hunt store horses. Last year, 421 horses sold from 521 offered, an 80% clearance rate which included the sales-topping Silverwave (Fr) (Sliver Frost {Ire}) who was knocked down to trainer Alan Couetil for €420,000. The 3-year-old colt subsequently won the G3 Prix La Force at Longchamp in April and was also runner up to New Bay (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Qatar Prix Niel. Tourny (Fr) (Country Reel), a high class 2-year-old this year for trainer Pascal Bary, was also unearthed in last year’s yearling section by Silvain Vidal for just €32,000. Tourny won the G3 Prix De Cabourg at Deauville in August and also finished third to Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G1 Darley Prix Morny, also at Deauville, before being sold at Arqana’s Arc Sale for €400,000 to Francoise Dupuis. Last year, the sale posted the highest-ever aggregate of €7,631,500 and there are a number of lots catalogued next week that should help match or better that tally.

In the horses-in-training section, which opens the sale, the Aga Khan Studs offer 12 racing prospects which include, among others, lot 192, the 3-year-old colt, Zourkhan (Ire) (Shamardal). This Alain De Royer-Dupre trained half-brother to Champion filly Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) has progressed nicely in three runs to date, culminating in a win in a maiden at Saint-cloud Oct. 14. Lot 194, Cherek (Fr) (Paco Boy {Ire}), also from the Aga Khan draft and trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, is a smart and consistent type. The 3-year-old colt has a race record of 7-1-4-1 which includes a third in the G3 Prix Des Chenes at Longchamp last year and a fourth place in the G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. English trainer Harry Dunlop offers lot 190, Red Tornado (Fr) (Dr Fong). This 92 rated 3-year-old gelding won twice as a juvenile and his form this year includes a third placing in the listed Glasgow S. at Hamilton in July. The retiring Jonathan Pease offers lot 120, Make Merry (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), on behalf of owner/breeder George Strawbridge. The 3-year-old filly is a winner this year and the fact that she is a half-sister to G1 winner Montare (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) also makes her a valuable future breeding prospect.

385 yearlings are catalogued over the second and third day and although many are bred for national hunt racing, there are also a number of attractively bred flat horses on offer. Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) has quickly established himself as a leading young stallion and he has two yearlings catalogued, lot 320, a colt from Haras de la Pommeraye and lot 399, a filly offered by Jean-Marie Callier. Stock by first-crop yearling sire Nathaniel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) have been well received at the yearling sales this autumn and the Newsells Park stallion is represented by lot 627, a colt offered by Haras de la Croix Sonnet from the family of Group 1 winner Fragrant Mix (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}). Spanish stud Dehesa De Milagro offer the only Footstepsinthesand (GB) (Giant’s Causeway) sired yearling, a colt, lot 548 hailing from the family of G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). Among those with a pedigree which could translate well to the flat or jumps is lot 418 from Haras des Brousses, a filly from top steeplechase sire Saint des Saints out of a the Listed-winning and multiple group and graded stakes placed mare Playact, a top performer in both Europe and the U.S. This filly is a half-sister to the dual champion steeplechaser PIerrot Lunaire, the Eclipse Award-winning steeplechase horse in the U.S. and champion in Britain.