MAYBE it says something about the state of German racing or maybe it’s a reflection on the astonishing prices being paid for horses in training these days, but next Saturday evening’s Arqana Arc Sale at Saint-Cloud will feature last year’s German Derby winner and this year’s German Oaks winner.
Staged at 6.30pm on the eve of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, this sale typically sees 60 horses offered for sale, and a couple of them tend to have engagements at ParisLongchamp that weekend.
The catalogue is likely to gain a few more late entries next week.
Star of the show so far is this season’s German Oaks heroine Muskoka. A winner at two, the Henk Grewe-trained filly, whot has been running in the colours of Stall Golden Goal, also won the Group 3 Brümmerhofer Stuten-Meile this season. She is sold with an entry in Sunday’s Prix de l’Opéra. By Sea The Moon, Muskoka has a current rating of 110.
The older horse brigade is headed by dual Group 1 winner Sammarco, winner of last year’s German Derby. Trained by Peter Schiergen and running in the colours of Gestüt Park Wiedingen, he recently finished third in the Group 2 Prix Foy. A son of Camelot out of the blacktype Saloon Sold, Sammarco also has a current rating of 110.
Among the two-year-olds in the sale, the eye is drawn to the Christophe Ferland-trained Julica, a winner of her first two starts over a mile in the colours of LG Bloodstock. The daughter of Kendargent has an entry in the Prix Marcel Boussac and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère on Arc day.
Three wildcards added to the sale this week were Divin Propos, Zulu Warrior and Monapia.
Third in the Coupe de Marseille last week, Divin Propos has been placed in all eight of his outings, winning over a mile and nine and a half furlongs. The three-year-old gelding has a rating of 98.
Zulu Warrior won the Listed Prix Turenne at Saint-Cloud at the beginning of September for trainer André Fabre. The very consistent son of Saxon Warrior has a rating of 106 and has also won twice over 12 furlongs this season.
Monapia was a winner over seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud last time out for Nicolas Clément. The son of Harry Angel has a rating of 98.
These wildcards join recent listed winners Palerma, Zarakem and Eliyass, who have all won at listed level since the catalogue was published. Another to note is Laulne, who finished second in the Group 3 Prix Eclipse last weekend.
The Aga Khan always support this sale and among his consignment is the Johnny Murtagh-trained Shartash. Placed in Group 1 company as a juvenile last year, the son of Invincible Spirit has run respectably in Group 3 sprints this year without winning.
Sale Info
Sale: Arqana Arc Sale at Saint-Cloud
Date/time: Saturday, September 30th (6.30pm)
Lots: 60
Tel: 0033 231 818180
Email: info@arqana.com
Web: arqana.com