LAST year saw records smashed at the Arqana August Yearling Sale in Deauville and hopes will be high that this can be repeated when the hammer falls on the 375-lot catalogue for the latest renewal.
The main yearling sale takes place over three days, starting with Part 1 evening sessions on Sunday and Monday, August 14th and 15th at 5pm, while Part 2 is on Tuesday, August 16th at 1pm.
Last year 259 yearlings sold for a record €42,233,000, up 9% from the previous year and 6% ahead of 2008 when the previous record was established.
The average in 2015 was €163,062 and the median was €95,000, both records. No less than 68 yearlings brought €200,000 or more and sold to 35 different buyers. The Dubawi colt out of Pacifique was the highlight from Ecurie des Monceaux and he sold to John Ferguson for €2.6 million.
Ecurie des Monceaux dominated 12 months ago and this year has the largest consignment with 34 lots. They include half-sisters by Galileo to Oaks winner Chiquita, by Dubawi to Falmouth Stakes winner Giofra and by Frankel to Group 1 winner Seismos. Their colts include an Invincible Spirit own-brother to Charm Spirit, winner of three Group 1s.
Group 1 siblings abound in the Coulonces Consignment and include Havana Gold’s half-brother by Sea The Stars, French Derby winner Reliable Man’s Big Bad Bob half-brother, a Le Havre full-brother to this year’s dual classic winner La Cressonniere and a Galileo half-sister to Art Connoisseur. They offer a Camelot daughter of Group 1 winner Necklace and a Reliable Man son of Group 1 winner Pride.
Watership Down Stud has an Exceed And Excel half-sister to Grade 1 winner Gorella and an Oasis Dream half-brother to Morandi, while Haras du Cadran’s Lawman is a half-brother to the 2016 dual Group 1 winner Qemah. Another well related Exceed And Excel is Haras de Grandchamp’s son of Group 1 winner Molly Malone.
Jemayel is a star of 2016 and her Raven’s Pass half-brother is from Haras des Capucines. First lot of the second session is an own-sister to Prince Gibraltar, followed closely by an Intello half-brother to Prix du Cadran winner Mille Et Mille.
New Approach has a son of Canadian Grade 1 winner Reggane, while Haras de Grandchamp’s Camelot filly is half-sister to Group 1 winner Dabirsim.
Haras du Montaigu has a Redoute’s Choice half-sister to Group 1 winning juvenile French Fifteen.
Haras du Buff will sell an Oasis Dream daughter of 1000 Guineas winner Virginia Waters and Haras des Loges’ Style Vendome is a half-sister to Irish Oaks winner Covert Love.
One of the last lots in Part 1 is a son of Lethal Force, half-brother to Group 1 winner Robin Of Navan, while Haras du Mezeray has a full-sister by Invincible Spirit to Group 1 winner Signs Of Blessing.
IRISH VENDORS
Six Irish vendors have lots for sale in the main catalogue, ranging from a single entry for Horse Park Stud to 10 lots under the Camas Park and Glenvale Studs banner.
Ballylinch Stud’s consignment includes the second yearling in the ring, a Nathaniel half-brother to Group 1 winner Belardo. Their Iffraaj filly is withdrawn while an Invincible Spirit own-brother to Group 3 winner Anam Alta follows soon after.
The draft is completed by sons of Sepoy and Dark Angel and a Lope De Vega half-sister to classic winner Burma Gold and to the dam of Blue De Vega.
The first of the Camas Park/Glenvale draft is a High Chaparral half-brother to Grade 2 winner Striking Dancer. That first evening sees an Excelebration half-sister to Group 2 winner Gibraltar Blue and a Camelot half-brother to dual Hardwicke Stakes winner Maraahel.
Three fillies start with a High Chaparral out of a half-sister to the Oaks winner Snow Bride (dam of Lammtarra) before the Galileo first produce of an own-sister to the dam of Chicquita. Then it’s the turn of a Siyouni daughter of a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Amilynx. The Part 1 draft concludes with a Camelot half-brother to Group 3 winner Confront, while three lots in Part 2 are sons of Camelot, Bated Breath and High Chaparral.
Glidawn Stud sends two of its three lots to the sale and first up is a colt by French Derby hero Intello, half-brother to a stakes winner from a stakes-winning dam. Broken Vow is represented by a son of the Prix Robert Papin winner New Girlfriend. Grove Stud has one Part 1 yearling, an Invincible Spirit son of the Group 3 winner Marvada, while in Part 2 it has a daughter of Equiano and a son of Camelot.
The sole entry from Horse Park Stud is a standout. A son of Dutch Art, he is a full-brother to Slade Power. The 10-time winner numbered the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and Darley July Cup among his victories.
Three of the first four lots in the sale are from Irish vendors and completing the list is Kildaragh Stud. Fourth up is an Elusive Quality own-sister to UAE Oaks winner Devotee. The second from the Kavanaghs is a Havana Gold first foal of a half-sister to Sandiva, followed by a Myboycharlie half-sister to New Girlfriend. The colt in the draft is a son of Sea The Stars and a grandson of the Group 1 winner All At Sea. Last up is a More Than Ready filly out of a full-sister to classic winner Speciosa.
v.2 SALE
The v.2 Sale at Arqana will take place on Wednesday, August 17th starting at 1pm. The catalogue contains 128 lots and almost all of these are French-bred or assimilated.
Three lots last year sold for six-figure sums, the top price being €150,000 for a colt by Kendargent who has five lots in this year’s catalogue.
The sale topper in 2015 was sold by Haras d’Ommeel and their draft of six lots this time includes another son of one of France’s leading sires, out of the group-placed Velvet Revolver.
The other most popular sires on the day by numbers are Dabirsim (6), Elusive City (8), Myboycharlie (5), Penny’s Picnic (9) and Siyouni (7). The largest drafts are consigned by Haras des Capucines (9), Haras d’Etreham (8), Haras des Grandchamp (13) and Haras des Granges (10).