Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale

Offered in foal to Persian King (Ire) by Haras d'Etreham, the Pivotal (GB) mare Quara (Ire) topped the third day of the December Breeding Stock Sale at Arqana when being bought by Llama O'Mahony's Whitethorn Bloodstock for €72,000. The 10-year-old Quara is out of the Listed-winning Dubawi (Ire) mare Quanzhou (Fr), a half-sister to the G1 Prix du Cadran hero Mille Et Mille (GB) (Muhtathir {GB}). Though Quara was unraced, Quanzhou is the dam of five winners, including the Listed scorers Hooking (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Le Destrier...

Leading American owner Mike Repole opened up about his long-term breeding plan after sourcing six fillies and mares for just shy of €2 million at the December Breeding Stock Sale at Arqana, headed by the Sunday sale-topper Hoshiana (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) at €220,000.  Fourth in a Listed contest on heavy ground when last seen, Hoshiana is out of Doctor Dino (Fr) mare Galtika Coat Frity (Fr) and was knocked down to bloodstock agent Alex Solis on behalf of Repole. She was sold by trainer Nicolas Perret.  Speaking from America, the...

Mauricio Delcher Sanchez sent G3 Prix de Psyche heroine Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) through the ring at Arqana, and the G1 Prix Rothschild runner-up was knocked down for €1,600,000 to Stamford Bloodstock/Meridian Bloodstock on behalf of John Stewart's Resolute Racing, as the first millionaire of the 2024 Vente d'Elevage. Sold as lot 171, the daughter of Moment Of Truth (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Memo De L'Alguer (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). Bred by Sandra Russell, the 4-year-old was a €52,000 purchase out of the...

Classic hero Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who will stand at Haras d'Etreham beginning next year, will be available for viewing at Haras du Thenney on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7, during the Arqana Vente d'Elevage from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Metropolitan won the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and was third in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was also a close second in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, and will be available for €15,000 in 2025. Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure said,...

This year's Oaks d'Italia winner Tomiko (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) has been added to Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale and will be offered by Baroda Stud as lot 170 during the opening day of the sale on Saturday, December 7. Trained by Paolo Aragoni for owner Luigi Ginobbi, Tomiko also finished third in the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio. She is one of two winners from four runners out of the unraced Lawman (Fr) mare Testimony (GB), a half-sister to the 10-time winner--including at Listed level--Saltonstall (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Her second dam...

This year's Preis der Diana runner-up Spanish Eyes (Ger) has been added to Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale and will be offered by Ecurie des Monceaux as lot 180 during the opening day of the sale on Saturday, December 7. Trained by Andreas Wohler for owner-breeders Gestut Karlshof, Spanish Eyes made a winning debut over nine furlongs at Hoppegarten in June. That remains her sole victory in five career starts, though she was beaten just a length behind Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) in the Preis der Diana, before running...

The catalogue for Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale, which begins on Saturday, December 7, is now available online. A total of 956 fillies, broodmares and foals have been catalogued across the four days of trade in Deauville. Among the more notable names set to sell are this year's G3 Prix de Cabourg winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}) (lot 178); Strawberry Lace (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 144), offered carrying a full sibling to last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Unquestionable (Fr)...

The four-day Arqana Vente d'Elevage concluded on Tuesday, with four fillies and mares making €1 million or more, and 668 horses (77%) marked as sold for a gross of €47,135,000. Overall, the average was down 8% to €70,561, however, the median rose to €20,000, an increase of 16% off of 2022's mark. The sale was topped by Group 1 winner Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) at €4.025 million from leading buyer Portofino Bloodstock. Taking just Tuesday's trade into account, 109 lots sold (79%) for a gross of...

G2 Prix du Muguet winner Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}-L'Ancresse {Ire}), by Darshaan {GB}) has been added to the Arqana December Vente d'Elevage and is set to go under the hammer during the first evening of the sale Saturday, Dec. 9 when consigned by Haras de l'Hôtellerie. A winner of the Listed Prix de Liancourt at three, the Christopher Head-trained mare finished fourth in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary and G1 Prix de Diane. In the spring of her 4-year-old campaign, she went on to take her first group win in...

Indices remained above average, as a record-breaking Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale concluded in Deauville on Tuesday. Despite more horses on offer, demand remained strong at 80% with 740 head sold of 926 offered. The gross breached the €50-million mark for the first time, totaling €56,800,500. The overall average of €76,757 was up 27%, and the median increased 15% to €17,250. Tuesday's session posted a clearance rate of 83.5%, as 127 sold from 152 for an aggregate of €714,500. The median was unchanged at €3,500, and the average improved 23%...

Christophe Clement said he always looks forward to his annual trip to Deauville for the Arqana December Sale. It's a bit like stepping back in time for the U.S.-based trainer as he wanders the grounds that were once the setting of childhood summers spent working for his father, French conditioner Miguel Clement Sr. The youngest of three, Clement is still often called 'Little Clement' while in Deauville. "That always makes me laugh," said Clement, whose own son Miguel has a handle on their stable in America while his father is...

Thunder Drum (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 210), a daughter of G1 Irish Oaks heroine Great Heavens (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), became the latest 2022 Arqana December millionaire when sold for €1.1 million to Narvick International, acting for Katsumi Yoshida. The Ecurie des Monceaux-consigned 4-year-old won the G3 Prix de Royaumont, while her granddam, G3 Musidora S. scorer Magnificient Style (Silver Hawk), produced other Group 1 winners Nathaniel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Playful Act (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).