An Upward ‘Arq’

AN UPWARD ‘ARQ’
By Kelsey Riley
With names like Toronado (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast) on its honor roll and statistics that show a steady rise over the last four years, the Arqana August Sale has certainly earned a place amongst the leaders on the global yearling sales circuit. Last year, Arqana officials broke tradition by reducing the catalogue and staging an additional sale–dubbed the v.2 Sale–upon conclusion of the August sale, and the results spoke for themselves: the clearance rate of 75% was a five-year high for the August sale, and the average–which, at €134,622, breached the six-figure mark for the first time in four years–was at its highest since before the new millennium. The median of €80,000 also hit a 14-year high.
This year, Arqana stages its August sale Aug. 16 to 18 in Deauville in the same format. The three-day stand will see 365 yearlings go under the hammer in two parts. Part 1 comprises 180 youngsters split between evening sessions post-racing Saturday and Sunday, while 185 yearlings make up Part 2 Monday afternoon.
With such strong credentials to boast of, one would not begrudge Arqana officials for entering the sale with confidence. Arqana Chairman Eric Hoyeau, however, is approaching the three-day stand with quiet optimism. When asked how this year’s catalogue stacked up to last year’s, Hoyeau said, “We are confident in the quality of the catalogue. Last year’s market was good and the market this year looks good, too, so we can expect a good sale.”
France a Force On the Rise…
Hoyeau suggests that the recent surge of Group 1-winning Arqana graduates–which also includes G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) and this year’s Classic winners Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) (G1 Poule de Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane) and The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (G1 Prix du Jockey Club) from the Arqana October Yearling Sale–is no coincidence. Hoyeau attributes the rise of Arqana’s yearling sales to the improving quality of mares in France, which is likely a reflection of the country’s generous prize money and owners’ and breeders’ premiums. 
Last year, more than €118 million was distributed in prize money for 4,887 flat races in France. Across the English Channel in the UK, about £62 million was awarded for 6,107 flat races. Maiden and conditions races for 2- and 3-year-olds are worth a minimum of €14,000–and up to €57,000–in France, while listed races for the same age bracket offer between €52,000 and €55,000. Handicaps start at €16,000, and go all the way up to €70,000.
These figures do not reflect the lucrative owners’ and breeders’ premiums on offer in the country. Owners of French-bred horses earn 64% of purses back for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds, and 43% for 5-year-olds and upward. Dual Classic winner Avenir Certain’s owners, for instance, have banked premiums of €555,539 through the filly’s first five starts. Add on her prize money earnings of €868,030, and her connections have collected over €1.4 million for the filly they plucked out of the Arqana ring for €45,000 less than two years ago. More than €43 million in total was distributed through French owner premiums last year. 
Breeders of French-bred horses also stand to be rewarded. Breeders earn 14% of prize money–including owner premiums–for open races in France, and 19% of prize money in races restricted to French-bred horses (calculated without owners’ premiums). A horse racing overseas by a French-based stallion will earn its breeder 10% of the purse for a win, and for second in Group 1s. Hoyeau recognized that it is incentives like this that have likely fueled the improvement of breeding stock in France, and thus sales figures.
“The Arqana August Sale has improved a lot over the last eight years,” Hoyeau said. “The level of horses has improved a lot, for different reasons. The sale is probably more recognized now as one of the really important sales in Europe.”
“The level of breeding in France has improved a lot,” Hoyeau continued. “There has been a lot of investment by breeders to breed yearlings in France–not only French breeders, but foreign breeders also who keep mares here.”
Hoyeau noted all of Europe’s leading sires, including those in England, Ireland and Germany, are accessible from Normandy, France’s breeding epicenter and the place where the majority of Arqana August entrants are born and reared. 
Girl Power…
The improvement of breeding stock in France will be felt for generations to come, and this is already evident in the particularly strong batch of well-pedigreed fillies on offer at Arqana August. They include a half-sister, by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire), to Avenir Certain (lot 179); an Invincible Spirit (Ire) half-sister to Group 1 winners Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) and Most Improved (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) (lot 30); a full-sister to Prince Gibraltar (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), winner of the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (lot 177); a Galileo (Ire) filly who is the first foal out of Dance Secretary (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), a half-sister to Grade I winner Perfect Soul (Ire) (lot 81); a New Approach (Ire) half-sister to Grade I winner and producer Asi Siempre (El Prado {Ire}) (lot 16) and a Sea the Stars (Ire) filly out of Jane Eyre (GB) (Sadler’s Wells), a daughter of triple Group 1 winner Albanova (GB) (Alzao) (lot 120).
“Especially for American people, it is really important to consider the quality of fillies in the first two days [of the sale], especially for future racing and breeding purposes,” Hoyeau said. “We have some really interesting fillies by all the standout stallions in Europe. We have fillies by the likes of Cape Cross (Ire), Dalakhani (Ire), Danehill Dancer (Ire), Dansili (GB), Dubawi (Ire), Galileo, Iffraaj (GB), Invincible Spirit, Sea the Stars and Shamardal.”
Another talking point of the catalogue will be the progeny of Monsun (Ger). Arqana will offer four fillies from the final crop of Germany’s perennial champion sire, headed by a daughter of the successful producer Sasuela (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}). Lot 11 is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Seismos (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Group 3 winner Samba Brazil (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}), and a full to multiple Group 1-placed Soberania (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). Sasuela is a half to Group 1 winners Schiaparelli (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), Samum (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) and Salve Regina (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), as well as the dam of this year’s runaway G1 Deutsches Derby victor Sea the Moon (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). 
There is also strong representation amongst colts in the catalogue. Coulonces Consignment will offer a High Chaparral (Ire) half-brother to G1 1000 Guineas winner Miss France (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) (lot 150) and a full-brother to French and Australian Group 1 winner Reliable Man (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) (lot 160). Ecurie des Monceaux sell an Invincible Spirit (Ire) half-brother to last year’s G1 Irish Oaks winner Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) (lot 178), and Haras des Capucines consign a Pivotal (GB) half-brother to GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) (lot 40). Haras de Grandcamp will offer a New Approach (Ire) half-brother to champion 2-year-old Dabirsim (Fr) (Hat Trick {Jpn}) (lot 7).
Rolling Out a New Look…
With so much quality on offer in the Arqana ring in August, it was decided last year to give the sale a facelift. With the goal of reducing quantity and maintaining quality, Arqana debuted its v.2 sale. Taking place the day after the conclusion of the August sale in a separate catalogue, the v.2 sale offers a sales slot for yearlings with a lighter pedigree that are mature enough to shine physically in August, and are selected based on their precocity. Such yearlings could have previously been buried in the August catalogue or been forced to wait until the October Yearling Sale catalogue, and Hoyeau noted that the v.2 sale, which will be staged again this year Aug. 19, was widely successful in its first renewal.
“We had a clearance rate of about 80%, and the average was a domestic market leader,” Hoyeau said. “There are plenty [of opportunities to win races with precocious horses], so it was well received, and I imagine it will improve again this year.”
He added, “It is a less international sale; mostly French and European pedigrees, but it is to offer a marketplace in August for mature yearlings with lesser pedigrees.” 
The August sale will maintain the same format as last year. Sales patrons will be able to enjoy racing in Deauville Saturday and Sunday afternoons, after which the Deauville ring will light up for its boutique evening sessions. Agent Gatewood Bell, who attended the August sale for the first time last year, likened the atmosphere to Fasig-Tipton’s August Sale at Saratoga.
“It definitely has a Saratoga feel to it because it’s at night, people get a little dressed up, but it’s not all for show,” Bell said. “There are some seriously good horses there, which you can tell by the results they have.”
Bell signed for three yearlings last year–all of which are in training with Wesley Ward in the U.S.–and said he hopes to return to Deauville this year.
“It definitely stacks up [amongst the world’s major yearling sales],” Bell said. “It stacks right up there with Tattersalls October Book 1, Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, Keeneland September Book 1 and Goffs Orby. It didn’t play second fiddle to anyone. It’s a really easy sale to work. It’s a beautiful sales complex with lots of really nice horses, and the Arqana people take care of you really well.”
Hoyeau noted that Deauville in August is simply a great place to be.
“We hope that people here on the ground will have a great time with the parties and very good racing,” he said. “The sale will take place on Prix Jacques le Marois weekend. The [G1] Prix Jacques le Marois was last year rated the best one-mile race in Europe. We hope this year the race will attract all the best milers, including Kingman. Deauville is a great mix of business and pleasure.”