Authorized Colt Tops Arqana Finale

A yearling son of Authorized (Ire) (lot 632) provided some late fireworks to top the third and final session of the Arqana Autumn Sale on Wednesday. The topper, consigned by Haras de la Perelle, brought €72,000 on the bid of Jean-Marie Callier acting for Bertrand Le Metayer. Out of a half-sister to top stallion Monsun (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}), the January-bred is also a half-brother to GSP Beaulieu (Ire) (Motivator {GB}).

“He is a very classy horse with all the right credentials to make a good horse over jumps,” said Jean-Marie Callier. “I have bought him on behalf of Bertrand Le Metayer and he will stay in France.”

Second dearest on the day was a yearling colt by the red-hot No Nay Never (lot 574). Snapped up by Con Marnane for €52,000, the yearling is a member of the Haras des Capucines draft. He is out of the Group 3-placed Folle Allure (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}), herself a half-sister to MGSW and G1 Gold Cup placegetter Nysaean (Ire) (Sadler's Wells)and MSW Charme Slave (Fr) (Sicyos).

For Wednesday's session of Flat-bred yearlings, 138 horses sold from 177 offered for a clearance rate of 78% and a gross of €1,130,500. Both the median and average increased compared to 2017, with the former sitting at €6,000 (+9.1%) and the latter at €8,192 (+7.1%). Cumulatively, 426 horses (76.9%) found new homes from 554 offered and an aggregate of €7,733,800. The average remained identical at €18,154 and the median was up an encouraging 12.5% to €9,000.

“The yearling market has been undoubtedly selective, what has become a general feature of many an auction this season,” said Arqana's Eric Hoyeau. “Even at the very end of a session, as we have seen today, there is good money for the horses who fit the buyers' criteria. However, these criteria tend to be as restrictive as ever and one can't shy away from the fact that trade is more complicated in the lower tiers of the market. Monday saw a very international bench for the horses in training, from every corner of Europe to America, Australia, Northern Africa and China, which I think speaks positively of the appeal of the French racing industry.”