Arqana

Under tight restrictions similar to those experienced in Newmarket over the previous fortnight, Arqana's Breeding Stock Sale began its four-day run in Deauville on Saturday with a strong international feel to proceedings. Participation at this select session from owners and breeders in America and Japan in particular ensured that trade held up pretty well in extraordinary circumstances as the French lockdown continued. The clearance rate was down slightly, but was a healthy 79%, and the turnover of €18,716,000 dipped 18% on last year, when ten more horses were sold. This...

It hasn't been a bad year for Holger Faust's HFTB Agency, all things considered. They have been involved in the sale or purchase of three Group 1-winning fillies in 2020, namely Princess Zoe (Ger), Sunny Queen (Ger) and finally, Donjah (Ger), who will be the only Group 1-winning filly in training to be offered at public auction in Europe this year when she goes through the Arqana sales ring on Saturday afternoon. Faust's involvement with the G1 Preis von Europa winner, who is catalogued as lot 182, is certainly not...

One wouldn't get many pages into this year's Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale catalogue before noticing a sizeable German presence, and one of the standout drafts making the trek from France's neighboring country is that of Ronald Rauscher, who offers 11 mares this weekend. Seven of those go through the ring during Saturday's select session, including two 2020 pattern race winners. An increase in the presence of German fillies at Arqana in recent years has coincided with a growing number of German owners running their horses in France, and Rauscher...

The breeding stock sales caravan rolls on to France this weekend for the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale, and while the pandemic will inevitably lead to fewer making the pilgrimage to Deauville, a typically strong and diverse catalogue-buoyed by another good year on the world's racecourses for the sale's graduates-means that global enthusiasm is unlikely to be dampened at the four-day sale that runs Dec. 5 through 8. "Given the circumstances it's a relief to be able to organize the sale," said Ludovic Cornuel, head of bloodstock at Arqana. "This...

Arqana has released its COVID-19 protocols for its December Breeding Stock Sale, which runs Dec. 5 through 8 in Deauville. Access to the sales complex is restricted to vendors, buyers and sales personnel, and anyone seeking access must fill out a request for access form. Those traveling from abroad will receive a travel authorisation from Arqana to permit them to clear controls. Face masks must be worn at all times on the sales complex-snoods and scarves do not qualify. The auction will take place in the indoor arena, with a...

A quartet of wild cards, to be auctioned on Dec. 5, have been added to the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. There is a 1/50th share in young stallion and champion Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (lot 190) on offer. Three fillies have also joined the Dec. 5-8 sale, with Petite Folie (GB) (Australia {GB}) being offered by La Motteraye Consignment as lot 150. She is a half-sister to Classic winner and MG1SW Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Andrea Marcialis sends Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge heroine Bonita Queen...

During the Nov. 24 sale of breeding rights and stallion shares on Arqana Online, a breeding right in champion first-season sire elect Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) (lot 2) brought €195,000 from Haras du Mont-dit-Mont. Already the sire of 48 winners, 10 black-type performers and four black-type winners led by G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire), the young stallion will command €25,000 at Tally-Ho Stud in 2021. A breeding right to four-time Group 1 winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) (lot 3), whose oldest foals are three, went for...

Arqana on Friday added six wildcards to its December Breeding Stock Sale, to be offered on Saturday, Dec. 5. Newton's Night (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 110) is a full-sister to Grade III winner and multiple stakes producer Dress Rehearsal, as well as to the dams of group winners Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), My Titania (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Majestic Queen (Ire) (Kheleyf). The 9-year-old Newton's Night is in foal to Advertise (GB). Also added to the Monceaux draft are Lions Den (Animal Kingdom), an unraced daughter of...

National Hunt yearlings were in the spotlight during the third and final session of the Arqana Autumn Sale on Wednesday, and colts by Doctor Dino (Fr) and Martaline (Fr) filled the top five spots on the leaderboard. Topping trade was lot 708, Haras de l'Hotellerie's half-brother to listed winner Joplin (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) on the flat and Thyme White (Fr) (Anodin) over jumps. He was bought by JH Bloodstock for €97,000. Haras de Montaigu's Martaline colt out of the dual winner Best Exit (Fr) (King's Best) (lot 648) was...

Two-year-old stores were in the spotlight during Tuesday's session of the Arqana Autumn Sale in Deauville, where 91 horses (62.8%) changed hands for a total of €2,345,500 as of the close of the session. The average was €25,775, and the median €16,000. Tuesday's session this year included stores that would have typically been sold at Arqana's Summer Sale. Vincent Le Roy went to the day's highest price of €175,000 for Authoside (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) (lot 589), a colt offered by Haras des Pierres Follets on behalf of Guy Vimont. He...

The second day of the Arqana Autumn Sale kicked off with horses-in-training on Monday. Although the catalogue was not as deep as 2019's record-breaking sale, 77% of the 160 horses offered found new homes. The gross was €3,050,000 for the 124 sold and two horses were co-toppers at €200,000, with Highflyer Bloodstock snapping up both offerings. In 2019, the highest price was €420,000. The average dropped to €24,597 (-29%) and the median fell to €11,000 (-21%). In addition, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic also presented some challenges, but the sale was...

Arqana's four-day Autumn Sale begins on Saturday with a single session of flat-bred yearlings, with 220 set to be offered after scratches. Following a dark day on Sunday, the sale will pick up on Monday and continue through Wednesday with horses in training, stores and National Hunt-bred yearlings. The single-session National Hunt Breeding Stock Sale will take place immediately following the Autumn Sale on Nov. 19, comprising the jumping stock that was set for the December Breeding Stock Sale. With France in the midst of its second national lockdown due...