THE variety of horses typically on offer at the Arqana Summer Sale is best exemplified by the 2023 edition of the sale.

One of the top lots that year was a two-year-old store named Nietzsche Has. He fetched €240,000 and became one of the leading juvenile hurdlers in France in 2024, ending his career with an easy win in the Grade 2 Finale Hurdle at Chepstow last Christmas. He is now a stallion.

At the other end of the 2023 Summer Sale came a three-year-old filly named Mgheera who was still a maiden after three starts. She was sold at Deauville for €5,000 and, once dropped to sprint trips, she began a winning streak which now includes success at listed, Group 3 and Group 2 level.

Go back to 2019 and George Mullins signed for future Irish Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs (€7,000) here on behalf of point-to-point handler Harley Dunne.

We can expect plenty of Irish and British interest in the 2025 sale, which starts on Tuesday, following an afternoon of two-year-old breezes at Deauville Racecourse on Monday.

The original catalogue includes 73 flat-bred two-year-olds, 160 two and three-year-old National Hunt stores, as well as 88 mares and fillies out of training. Already another 20 wildcards have been added, mostly recent winners under both codes.

Breeze-up

Sires represented in the breeze-up section include Acclamation, Australia, City Light, Cotai Glory, Galiway, Hello Youmzain, Kodi Bear, Lawman, Muhaarar, Persian King, Raven’s Pass, Saxon Warrior, Sea The Stars, Seabhac, Starspangledbanner and Too Darn Hot, as well as the young sires Japan, Lucky Vega, Nando Parrado, Starman, Space Blues, Sergei Prokifiev, Supremacy, Ubettabelieveit and Victor Ludorum.

Watch out for Lot 12, a son of Sea The Stars out of listed scorer Bridge Royal. There is also a half-brother by Starman to multiple triple Grade 1 scorer Obviously (Lot 35).

Store horses

Tuesday’s store horse session features progeny by Doctor Dino, Chœur Du Nord, Cokoriko, Goliath Du Berlais, Kapgarde, Masked Marvel, Nirvana Du Berlais and No Risk At All.

The catalogue includes siblings to Grade 1 winners Flying Chaser, Quel Destin, Champ De Bataille, Gardons Le Sourire, Protektorat, Roll On Has and El Fabiolo, plus siblings to graded race winners Ash Tree Meadow, Busselton, Imperil, Irouficar Has and Irja Has, Olga De Kiev, A Mi Manera, French Made, Daylight Katie, Al Dancer and Mambonumberfive.

There is also a two-year-old male by Walk In The Park out of Grade 1 winner Statuaire.

Horses in training

Vendors on Wednesday include the Aga Khan Studs (16 lots), Wertheimer & Frère (11 lots) and Al Shaqab Racing (15 lots).

Lots to note include listed winner Nectaris, dual group race winner Jiulietta Ghia, the 96-rated Dynamitic, group race winners Short Final, Houquetot (rated 100) and Augustus (rated 109), Group 3 runner-up Dioptase, blacktype performer Maturlo, the 91-rated Boniface, the 89-rated Motion, and recent hurdle race winners Macao, Leve Tot, Gold Cast, Lestru, L’Ensorcelee and Golden Falls.

Mefie Toi is a two-year-old colt who has won his last two starts. Zekret, trained by André Fabre, is a son of Zarak rated 100.

Breeding section

On Thursday, the final day, the sale will offer 65 mares and 23 fillies out of training. A number of the mares catalogued are in foal to National Hunt stallions, such as Anodin, Goliath Du Berlais, It’s Gino and Nietzsche Has, while others are carrying to flat sires Goken, Galiway, Intello, Mehmas, Persian King and Showcasing.

Among the pedigrees of note in this section is Grade 2 Prix Jean Stern heroine Victoire Des Borde, offered in foal to Goliath du Berlais. The dam of King George winner Frodon is offered in foal to Nietzsche Has, and the talented Suviana is offered in foal to Mehmas.

Alanya, a two-time winner and listed placed, will be offered in foal to Persian King. Love Affair, a half-sister to Epsom Derby runner-up Lazy Griff, is an interesting late entry too.

Sale schedule

Mon 1pm: Two-year-old canters at Deauville Racecourse

Tue 10am: Flat-bred two-year-olds and stores

Wed 2pm: Horses-in-training

Thu 11am: Mares and fillies