Arqana August Begins Today

ARQANA AUGUST BEGINS TODAY 
Lashing overnight rains at last gave way to sunny skies in Deauville in the early hours yesterday, and the large contingent of international visitors were welcomed by bright skies as they came out in droves to inspect the class of the 2014 Arqana August Yearling Sale. 
Arqana kicks off its flagship three-day sale today, and if the activity on the grounds is anything to go by, the 322 yearlings slated to go under the hammer are sure to spark spirited bidding wars. 
“We are confident in the quality of the catalogue,” said Arqana Chairman Eric Hoyeau. “Last year’s market was good and the market this year looks good, too, so we can expect a good sale.” 
Largely attributed to the country’s healthy purse structure and premiums and improving population of breeding stock, Arqana’s yearling sales have enjoyed an upward spiral in recent years. Last year’s clearance rate of 75% was a five-year high for Arqana August, while other indicators also posted notable results: the average of €134,622 breached the six-figure mark for the first time in four years, and was at its highest since before the new millennium, and the median of €80,000 also marked a 14-year high. 
Not surprisingly, this rise in quality has also resulted in a surge of Group 1-winning graduates. Standouts such as Toronado (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast) were all plucked from the Arqana August ring in 2011, while last year’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) and this year’s Classic winners Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) were purchased at Arqana’s October Yearling Sale. 
Many nationalities were represented amongst those looking at horses yesterday, and the Americans out doing their homework included John and Tanya Gunther, Alex Solis, Jason Litt, Justin Casse, Gatewood Bell, Helen Alexander and Lev Miller. 
Casse is attending the August sale for the first time after having success at last year’s December Breeding Stock Sale in Deauville. 
“I originally had flown into Newmarket for the December sale [last year] and the market was so strong that we vetted a few horses and never raised our hand for anything,” he explained. “Arqana charters a flight from Newmarket to Deauville, and I caught that flight and the market was a touch softer, and I bought a couple of race fillies.” 
Casse explained that while the quality was comparable, the Euro to dollar exchange rate was more favorable. 
“I think a lot of it is just the exchange,” he said. “The Euro to the pound, they spend about the same, but there’s a big conversion to dollars. So we found it more to our liking. We were able to come away with a couple of fillies, one of which is going to run next week in a Grade III at Woodbine. Her name is La Carolina (Fr) (Charge d’Affaires {GB}).” 
Casse said he decided to attend the yearling sale this year after meeting with Arqana’s international representative Freddy Powell in Saratoga. 
“We sat down and had dinner with him and I told him what I’d like to do, so we decided to come over,” He said. “I got a little bit of backing once I made the plans, from a couple of my clients and a couple of new clients.” 
Casse said he is looking for yearlings with international appeal to bring home to the U.S. 
“[My clients] like the idea of bringing some of these bloodlines home,” he said. “As far as the first two days go, the pedigrees and the sires advertise themselves. There are very few sires who require explanation the first two days. I think if you stick around into Monday and Tuesday, it’s a little more regional. I’m sure there are some beautiful individuals in those sessions, but we need something that has international appeal.” 
Like Casse, Jason Litt is attending his first Arqana August sale after visiting last December. Litt noted that the sale fit nicely into the global yearling sale calendar, and that he is also keen to bring some European pedigrees back to America. 
“I think at the end of the day it’s a pretty international market right now, and it has been very difficult for anyone to buy European horses that are running right now, so a logical step is to come and start getting them as yearlings, rather than try to fight the fight and get stuff that can’t be bought,” he explained. “They’ve done a great job recruiting. We saw Freddy [Powell] in Saratoga. We have our eye on some nice horses. We’re enjoying the scenery and the food.” 
The sale is divided into two parts. Part 1 comprises 180 lots divided between today and tomorrow’s boutique evening sessions, which begin at 5 p.m. local time upon conclusion of racing in Deauville. Monday’s Part 2 session is comprised of 185 youngsters that will begin selling at 1 p.m. For the catalogue, results and live streaming, visit www.arqana.com.