Arqana's Breeze-up Sale, scheduled for May 13-14, will be held for the first time in Deauville. Renovation work at Longchamp moves the French Guineas meeting to the Normandy track on the day after the sale, May 15.
The sale has had plenty of top-class graduates advertise its merits of late, including its most recent Group 1 star, Robin Of Navan (Fr) (American Post), who won the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud for Harry Dunlop after being bought from last year's sale in Paris for €47,000 by Matt Coleman of Anthony Stroud Bloodstock from the draft of Bansha House Stables.
The French Classics will doubtless be on the colt's agenda, but Arqana already boasts a G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner in the form of 2013 breeze-up graduate The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), while another high-class graduate is Al Shaqab Racing's GI Donn H. winner Mshawish (Medaglia d'Oro), who heads to the G1 Dubai World Cup later this month.
This year's catalogue contains 133 2-year-olds, 81 of which are eligible for the French owners' premiums scheme.
Brendan Holland's Grove Stud has topped the sale in the last two years and its 10-strong consignment for 2016 includes the sole Frankel (GB) filly to be consigned for a breeze-up sale so far. Lot 68 is out of Ben Sangster's listed-winning mare Rose Bonheur (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Another Frankel juvenile appears in the Mocklershill draft as lot 52. Out of the dual Group 3 winner Noelani (Ire) (Indian Ridge {GB}), who is a sister to top sprinter Namid (Ire), the colt is already an Arqana graduate, having been bought at the August Sale by Willie Browne for €350,000.
Frankel's champion sire Galileo (Ire) is also responsible for two colts in the sale, including lot 122, the first foal produced by the multiple group winner Banimpire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who is also among the Mocklershill offerings.
Coolmore sire Excelebration (Ire), who has his first 2-year-olds racing this year, has six colts in the sale, while France's rising star Siyouni (Fr) is represented by 12 2-year-olds.
“The entire Arqana team is particularly excited to host this sale in Deauville for the first time,” said Arqana President Eric Hoyeau. “The combination with two stellar days of racing featuring three Group 1 races on a bank holiday weekend forms an extremely attractive event, both for our French and international clientele. We are therefore particularly happy to have assembled an outstanding bunch of colts and fillies thanks to the support of our vendors, whose faith in this sale has been rewarded year after year.”
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