Arqana Deauville Select Sale

DEAUVILLE, France—The more things change, the more they stay the same or, as our French friends here in Deauville would say, plus ça change. Sheikh Mohammed buying the top lot by Dubawi (Ire) at a yearling sale is not exactly a surprise, but it is also not a situation that could have been taken for granted ahead of a sales season shrouded by uncertainty. The elite end of the yearling sales market stuttered into action on Wednesday at Arqana, where vendors' pre-sale jitters appeared to be justified through the first...

The Arqana Deauville Select Sale, which contains full- or half-siblings to 22 Group 1 winners among its 492-strong catalogue, will take place in Deauville on Sept. 24-26. Graduates of the rescheduled sale-which is usually held as the Arqana August Sale--have made an impact on the international stage, with French Classic hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Ire}), G1SW Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and three-time American Grade I winner Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) among their number. Despite the difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, a total of 98 stallions are represented,...