GIVEN the times we are living in, Arqana put together a smaller catalogue than usual for their annual Arc de Triomphe Sale held at Saint-Cloud on Saturday night. A total of 19 horses went under the hammer and 11 of these changed hands. While the aggregate halved from last year, the average and median figures of €277,273 and €260,000 respectively were impressive.

The Marcel Weiss-trained three-year-old Virginia Joy, a Group 3 winner this year and placed in the Group 1 Preis der Diana-German Oaks, was sold for €975,000, by some distance the best price on the night. Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock, Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International and Anne-Sophie Yoh-Benet were in competition for the filly, with Zerolo having the final say for the daughter of Soldier Hollow and the German St Leger winner Virginia Sun. She was sold with an entry in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes on October 18th and a Group 1 in Germany.