Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale

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).

A full-sister to G3 Horris Hill S. hero Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), dual group winner Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) (lot 199) became the new topper at €3.2 million in Deauville on Sunday. Eva-Maria Bucher-Haefner's Moyglare Stud bought the Ecurie des Monceaux star, who will stay in training and be shipped Stateside to join the Christophe Clement barn. The evolution of Malavath in the ring started when Star Bloodstock spend £29,000 to pick up the chestnut out of the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale. Sent back through as a breeze-up horse,...

Ecurie des Monceaux's G2 Rockfel S. heroine Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 195) made €1.55 million to Shadai Farm in the Deauville ring on Saturday. A €350,000 Arqana September Yearling Sale alumni, Hello You was also second in the G3 Albany S. and third in the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. and G3 Nell Gwyn S. Her dam had brought €710,000 earlier in the day as lot 164, also from the Monceaux draft to BBA Ireland. A half-sister to Signs Of Blessing (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Lucrece is...

During a flurry of activity late in the day at Deauville, Group 1 winner Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (lot 188) took the lead, after bringing €2.05 million from Claiborne Farm's Bernie Sams. Sams was acting on behalf of an undisclosed client of the farm. The bay 4-year-old has victories in the G1 Prix Vermeille, G2 Prix Corrida, G3 Prix de Flore and Listed Prix La Camargo to her name. A half-sister to listed winner Toujours l'Amour (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), Sweet Lady is out of dual stakes winner...