Trade Strong At Arqana Autumn

TRADE STRONG AT ARQANA AUTUMN 
By Alix Choppin 
Trade was strong on day one of Arqana’s Autumn Sale, featuring a dense offering of 201 horses in training (from 263 catalogued). The clearance rate was substantially up, reaching 82% against 68% a year ago, allowing the aggregate to take a 22% leap at €4,416,500. The average price improved by almost 10% from €24,389 to €26,767. 

While horses destined for the jumping game fetched many of the six-figure prices, 2-year-olds with form and some upside proved a hot commodity and attracted the most spirited bidding among the flat offerings. Silverwave (Fr) (lot 185), a three-parts brother to G1 Prix Jean Prat hero Stormy River (Fr) and cozy winner of his first two starts, topped the session at €420,000, following a protracted duel between Matt Coleman and trainer Alain Couetil, with the latter emerging as the eventual winner. Although Couetil already has the son of Silver Frost (Ire) in his care, he wasn’t acting on behalf of the horse’s current owner and explained, “I have bought him for another client of mine, HSpirit [Jean-Michel Hegesippe, of Spiritjim {Fr} fame]. He is a horse I have always liked and there is still a lot of improvement in him. We will now shelve him for the winter and start making plans for the spring. We have high ambitions with this colt.” 

Lot 179, Kingoverthewater (GB), will also remain in France after Laurent Benoit of Broadhurst Agency paid €155,000 for the 3-year-old gelding. The son of Dalakhani (Ire) won three races this season under the guidance of Francis-Henri Graffard and saw his rating leap from 86 to 107 on the back of his 2nd place in the Listed Grand Prix du Nord, his first attempt at stakes level. 

“I have been looking for a couple of horses to compete in the Defi du Galop for my client Boetie Racing,” said Benoit. “This horse ticked all the boxes as he is lightly raced and his form is still improving.” 

Benoit also secured Soriano (GB) (lot 177), a 3-year-old son of Halling from the yard of Dominique Sepulchre, for €72,000 on behalf of the same connections. 

Bukhari (Fr) (lot 139) was another juvenile with an attractive profile, having won two of his five starts to date and run fifth in the Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux on his last outing for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. The icing on the cake was provided by his red-bordered green sheet, characteristic of the extremely desirable Aga Khan Studs draft. Bids fired from all around the ring for the son of Dalakhani (Ire) out of the black type performer Brofalya (Fr) (Fasliyev) until Chris Richner offered €82,000. The Swiss-born, Czech-based agent noted, “I have bought him for Mr Durdak, a new client of mine who has a growing number of horses in training. This horse will join Zdeno Koplik and we will try to win the Czech Derby with him. We were looking for a smart 2-year-old and there aren’t many in the catalogue so this one was our pick. He is a little bit on the small side but I am convinced that he will grow over the winter.” 

Another high price from the Aga Khan Studs draft came courtesy of Ashkannd (Fr) (lot 141). The 3-year-old son of Sinndar (Ire) and first foal out of the Group-winning mare Ashalanda (Fr) may still be a maiden in ten outings, but he has posted several eye-catching placed efforts, notably when third in the Listed Prix de Turenne at Saint-Cloud in September. The hammer fell at €78,000 in favour of Australian trainer Chris Waller, who was bidding over the phone via Arqana’s Olivier Delloye, while Marco Bozzi and Emmanuel de Seroux were amongst the underbidders. Delloye explained, “Obviously the form of European imports in Australia is very strong and Chris Waller thought this horse had the right profile to succeed in cups races.” 

The sale continues tomorrow with 181 yearlings, starting at 1 p.m.