THE Arqana August Sale is always a much-anticipated affair as the who’s who of bloodstock descend upon Deauville for the first yearling sale of the European season.
Even those watching from afar always track results with keen interest, hoping to gain an insight into the health of the top of the market, and even more so this year - the sale’s 20th anniversary - with buyers’ plans even more difficult to predict as the world economy weathers the conflict in the Middle East.
Breeders and consignors with expensive yearlings to sell will be hoping for a repeat of last year, when a record price of €3,000,000 was reached and the average price hit a new high of €266,884.
Final turnover of €60,177,000 was another historic high and could largely be attributed to Godolphin’s spend of €8,050,000, which represented 13% of the aggregate.
Their regular rivals Amo Racing finished second in the buyers’ table with an outlay of €4,960,000, which would have earned them the top spot 12 months earlier, as would MV Magnier and White Birch Farm’s spend of €4,520,000. Al Shira’aa Racing came next at €2 million.
Last year’s top lot, a Night Of Thunder filly, has yet to run for Amo Racing, but Kia Joorabchian will have gained some consolation in the exploits of her half-sister Diamond Necklace - bought by MV Magnier at the previous renewal for €1,700,000.
Now unbeaten in six starts, with four Group 1 wins to her name, the daughter of St Mark’s Basilica has continued the incredible record of Ecurie des Monceaux and the late Lady O’Really’s broodmare Prudenzia, who previously produced Magic Wand and Chicquita.
Next generation
A listed winner herself, the daughter of Dansili is represented this year by a Siyouni colt - a three-parts brother to Diamond Necklace.
MV Magnier was the leading buyer in 2024, when Diamond Necklace accounted for a large portion of his €2,910,000 spend, but the second-highest priced yearling hasn’t worked out too badly, either.
The Wootton Bassett colt that cost €400,000 is now a dual Group 1 winner in Constitution River, successful on five of his six starts. Next week, his Kodiac half-sister will be offered by Haras du Cadran, who also sold French 1000 Guineas runner-up The Last Dance 24 months ago.
Coolmore are not the only ones reaping the rewards of their Arqana investments, with Godolphin and Juddmonte enjoying a fine time with Blue Bolt and Opera Ballo, while other recent graduates include Balantina, Facteur Cheval, Flora Of Bermuda, Leffard and Libertango.
Previous graduates, champion three-year-old Ace Impact and champion juvenile Little Big Bear, will have their first yearlings go under the hammer next week, as will Chaldean, Erevann, Good Guess, Mishriff, Modern Games, Mostahdaf, Onesto, Paddington and Vadeni.
Night Of Thunder, sire of last year’s top lot, has eight chances to repeat the feat this time, while other leading sires represented include Frankel (8), Kingman (10), Lope de Vega (16), Mehmas (9), New Bay (9), No Nay Never (12), Not This Time (1), Sea The Stars (8), Siyouni (14), Starspangledbanner (4), Wootton Bassett (21) and Zarak (21).
Lot 8: Sea The Moon filly is a full-sister to dual Group 1 winner Fantastic Moon
Lot 52: Siyouni colt is a full-brother to multiple pattern winner and Grade 1 performer Sacred Life, and a half-brother to Grand Prix de Paris victor Feed The Flame
Lot 73: Sea The Stars half-sister to three stakes horses, led by Group 1 performer Mr Hollywood
Lot 86: Wootton Bassett filly is a full-sister to Grade 2 winner and Group 1 runner-up Speak Of The Devil, and a half-sister to multiple group scorer Morando
Lot 94: Oasis Dream colt is a full-brother to dual Group 1 winner Native Trail
Lot 115: Filly by Chaldean (Frankel) is a sister to dual group winner Eternal Pearl (Frankel), out of a listed-winning sister to Pearls Galore
Lot 128: Siyouni brother to Chicquita, Diamond Necklace and Magic Wand, out of bluehen Prudenzia
Lot 130: Dark Angel colt out of Oaks heroine Qualify is a half-brother to two group winners, including the twice Group 1-placed Cualificar
Lot 187: Kingman colt is a full-brother to Prix de Diane heroine Sparkling Plenty and Jersey Stakes winner Noble Truth, who also finished second in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
Lot 189: Wootton Bassett colt is a full-brother to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Unquestionable
Lot 195: Sioux Nation colt out of dual group winner Tamazirte is a half-brother to three group winners, including Splash Back, who won a Group 1 in Australia since the catalogue was printed
Lot 207: Soldier Hollow colt is a full-brother to Group 1 scorer Tamfana, who sold for 2,600,000gns in December
Lot 237: Filly from the first crop of Erevann (Dubawi) is a sister to French 2000 Guineas victor Metropolitan (Zarak, by Dubawi)
Lot 260: Wootton Bassett colt out of Group 1 winner Bateel, who has already produced two group winners, including Group 1 performer Map Of Stars
Lot 271: Frankel filly is out of dual group winner and Group 1 second Bocca Baciata, making her a full-sister to this season’s group-placed juvenile Pikachu
Lot 279: Night Of Thunder colt out of dual group winner Castellar is a full-brother to a stakes horse and a half-brother to Group 2 winner Latakia
Lot 287: Kodiac half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Constitution River
Lot 306: Wootton Bassett colt out of a full-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Scandinavia, from the top-class family of Giant’s Causeway and Gleneagles
Lot 314: Justify colt is a three-parts brother to Sioux Nation and a half-brother to Middle Park Stakes third Dash Dizzy
Lot 315: No Nay Never colt is a full-brother to Albany Stakes heroine Libertango, who since finished second in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes