Arqana's one-day V.2 Yearling Sale was the focus of Wednesday's activity in Deauville and it posted a positive set of figures headed by a turnover of €3,481,000, some 14% up on last year. The average price set a new record in the sale's four-year history at €39,897, up 17%. The depth of the buying bench resulted in 30 horses selling for €50,000 or more against only 14 a year ago, which in turn pushed the median price up 13% from €30,000 to €34,000. The clearance rate remained the same at 75%. At the conclusion of the sale, Arqana president Eric Hoyeau commented, “It is an extremely pleasing renewal of the V.2 Yearling Sale, which has now fully asserted its ability to produce two-year-old winners at a high level. This year's yearlings were the first to have been conceived with the sale in mind and we are thrilled to see the breeders so handsomely rewarded.”
Three yearlings commanded six-figure prices throughout the day headed by two sons of Haras de Bonneval's Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), now a proven source of juvenile talent. Thierry de la Héronnière's Haras d'Ellon offered lot 440, a colt out of the winning juvenile Ponte Di Legno (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}). She is a daughter of Porlezza (Fr), winner of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and subsequent dam of the Group 3 winner Pontenuovo (Fr) (Green Tune). Roger Marley signed the docket under the name of Margaret O'Toole and explained, “We have two by Siyouni at home and love them. This one was my pick of the catalogue, he is a handsome individual with a great page and will be re-offered here at one of the breeze up sales. We paid a bit more than we intended but we really wanted to buy this horse.”
Another Siyouni that commmanded six figures was lot 478 from the draft of Haras d'Etreham. Already named Zanouyi ,the colt was knocked down to another breeze up specialist in Jim McCartan for €105,000. He is a half-brother to the four-time winner Zadrak (Fr) (Dragon Dancer {GB}) and hails from the Aga Khan family of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Zalaiyka (Fr) (Royal Academy). His price tag provided a hefty pinhooking profit on the €37,000 paid by BB Ltd at last year's Arqana Breeding Stock Sale. “He is a beautiful colt with an exceptional walk,” commented McCartan. “I am a big fan of the sire. He will probably be sent to Ireland first to be prepped for the breeze ups.”
Declaration Of War (War Front) began his career in the care of Jean-Claude Rouget before switching to Aidan O'Brien and Rouget was keen to get his hands on lot 463 by the first crop sire. He got his wish but had to stretch to €100,000 to secure the colt offered by Haras des Capucines. He is the second foal out of the winning mare Super Pie (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) from the family of MG1SW Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). “I know the sire well as I trained him,” commented Rouget. “This colt was top of my list and I am delighted to have him. Now we'll wait and see what the future holds.”
Not surprisingly Siyouni finished up leading sire at the sale with seven yearlings sold for €503,000, while the progeny of Penny's Picnic (Ire) (Kheleyf) were also in demand. His six yearlings to sell went for an average of €42,167, showing a healthy return on his €3,000 advertised stud fee.
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