Charity Auction a Resounding Success

by Alix Choppin 

The sale of 19 stallion nominations and a luxury safari, held at Arqana to aid in the fight against GDE’s projected dumpsite at the heart of Normandy, proved an overwhelming success and raised €348,500 (U.S. $428,367). All of the proceeds will be used to fund the ongoing legal battle led by breeders in the area. 

The highest price of €40,000 was commanded by a nomination to Siyouni {Fr} (Pivotal {GB}), donated by the Aga Khan Studs. Bidding was fierce for this last chance to secure a season to the French champion first-season sire elect–who will stand for €20,000 next year–and Andreas Putsch of Haras de Saint-Pair eventually admitted defeat at the hands of Tim Richardson, acting on behalf of Craig Bennett’s Merry Fox Stud. 

“Mr. Bennett has been a keen supporter of France and French stallions for several years,” said Richardson. “He keeps mares at Haras d’Etreham and will have a filly in training with Francis Graffard next year. He saw GDE’s plan as a great threat to the environment on which we all rely to breed our horses and was willing to aid [us].” 

Le Havre {Ire} (Noverre) was another French-based stallion to achieve a price significantly higher than his official 2015 service fee, with Alain Jathiere going to €28,000 for a nomination to the Classic sire. 

A season to Darley’s champion juvenile and Classic hero Dawn Approach {Ire} (New Approach {Ire}) attracted the second highest price of the evening, knocked down for €35,000 to David Redvers on behalf of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani. 

Two options to breed a mare to a pair of extremely coveted young sires were also auctioned, meaning that the service fee remained to be paid by the successful buyer. The season option to Juddmonte’s exciting latest recruit Kingman {GB}(Invincible Spirit {Ire}) attracted €32,000 on a bid from Anthony Stroud, with Andreas Putsch once again filling the underbidder role. Kingman’s first book is already fully subscribed, so this was a unique opportunity to have access to the Cartier Horse of the Year. The option to the red-hot Lope de Vega {Ire} (Shamardal), donated by Ballylinch Stud, fetched €23,000 from Sylvain Vidal. 

Other prices of note included €22,000 laid out by Lady O’Reilly for a nomination to Al Shaqab’s new French arrival Olympic Glory {Ire} (Choisir {Aus}); €21,000 paid by Andreas Putsch for a season to leading 2-year-old sire Kendargent {Fr} (Kendor {Fr}); €18,000 spent by Haras d’Etreham on a nomination to Qatar Bloodstock’s Makfi {GB} (Dubawi {Ire}), who will stand in France next year; and €17,000 forked out by Wertheimer et Frere for a season to the Aga Khan Studs’ Dalakhani {Ire} (Darshaan {GB}).

Michel Zerolo of Haras des Capucines, one of the farms that has led the battle against GDE, commented, “We are over the moon with the results. The total money raised is higher than last year and will be a great help in funding the astronomical legal costs incurred by this fight. On behalf of all the organizations and breeders affected by this project, I would like to extend the warmest thanks–to the farms that donated the seasons, the buyers, as well as the underbidders. Such massive, international support is very heartwarming and we now feel as determined as ever to get GDE out of Normandy.”