THE many Irish consignors involved in today’s Arqana Breeze Up Sale in Deauville are hoping that trade there will be stronger across the board than it was at the three recent breeze-up sales in Britain.

The Craven, Doncaster and Guineas breeze-up sales all registered double-digit declines in turnover, as buyers pulled back due to economic circumstances.

Improved results are expected at the Arqana sale as this auction typically attracts high-priced pinhooks which catch the attention of the industry’s biggest players.

News from the sales grounds on Friday suggests that many of the sport’s most influential end-users, or their representatives, are actively inspecting stock. But there are well-founded fears that this level of demand may not extend beyond the top of the market.

Last year’s sale was topped by Distant Storm at €1.9m, sold by Cormac Farrell and subsequently one of Europe’s leading two-year-olds for Godolphin. The Night Of Thunder colt was placed in the 2000 Guineas last weekend.

The 2025 sale also produced Dewhurst winner Gewan, sold for just €80,000 by Longways Stables.

Arqana has been a happy hunting ground for Godolphin. They bought classic winner Ruling Court here in 2024 for €2.3 million from Norman Williamson’s Oak Tree Farm.

Godolphin do not appear to have bought at the earlier breeze-up sales but there is a theory that their agents have been waiting for Deauville. Amo Racing bought a few at Doncaster but did not appear on the buyers’ lists at either of the Tattersalls sales.

Willie Browne, whose Mocklershill Stables has had some spectacular success here in the past, told The Irish Field on Friday: “We’ve been extremely busy showing horses this week but then we have a huge draft here (17 horses). You’d hope the sale would be strong. The general feeling is that the stock are very good.

“All the major players are here – Godolphin, Richard Brown, Amo, Ace Stud – they’re all here anyway, whatever that means. I wouldn’t be worried at all about the top end but will it go downwards?”

Mick Murphy on Longways Stables, concurred, and Tom Whitehead, who is selling six from Powerstown Stud, added: “We’re hopeful but we’re not confident of a good sale. It’s busy, plenty of people around, but you can’t afford to have any chink in your armour. It has been patchy so far this year.

“This sale has gone a bit polarised in recent years. Maybe it has frightened away some of the middle market people, which is not a great thing. I’d say there will be plenty of misses.”

Adam Potts of BBA Ireland commented: “From the vendors I’ve spoken to, the number of views are up on last year, which is a good sign. The vibe around is that this will be the best of the breeze-ups, so hopefully that’s the case. I’d summarise by saying a lot of people have really expensive pinhooks here so trade should be better.”

All involved in the sales joined in sending good wishes to prominent sales consignor Roger Marley of Church Farm Stables who took ill suddenly during Friday’s viewing session.