French sale

While torrential rain had poured over Deauville in the last few days, a late summer atmosphere floated around the Arqana sales complex when the first lot made its way through the ring for the October Yearling Sale. In the wake of buoyant renewals of the Tattersalls October Book 1 and Book 2 sessions, the opening day set new records for both average and median price, at €104,882 (+15%) and €73,500 (+5%), respectively. Eighty-six percent of the 197 yearlings on offer changed hands, a 4% increase from a year ago, and...

Ecurie des Monceaux's lot 249, a filly by Night Of Thunder (Ire), was knocked down to Al Shira'aa Racing during the third session of Arqana's August Yearling Sale in Deauville. The third seven-figure yearling of the sale at €1 million, the daughter of G3 Prix de Lutece victress Paix (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) is a granddaughter of fellow Lutece winner Pacifique (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). This is the family of stakes winner Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and her Group 1-winning daughters Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). She...

Just a handful of lots into Sunday's session, a filly by Lope De Vega (Ire) (lot 240) brought a cool €1 million from Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock. The daughter of Normandel (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) is the second seven-figure lot of the 2024 Arqana August Yearling Sale. Her dam, best known for winning the G3 Park Express Stakes, is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshall {Ire}), who raced in Hong Kong as Helene Charisma. Normandel is also a half-sister to the dam of G1...

Over halfway through Friday's session of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, a son of Wootton Bassett (GB) (lot 105) was the first yearling to breach the seven-figure mark, hammering for €1.4 million to John Stewart of Resolute Bloodstock. Consigned by Haras d'Etreham, the dark bay is a full-brother to GIII Franklin-Simpson Stakes hero Guildsman (Fr). Their dam, Dardiza (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), is a half-sister to the dam of world-beater and current Etreham stallion Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).   The seven figure mark has been broken at the ⛱️#AugustSale...

An additional six wildcards have been added to the Arqana Summer Sale in Deauville on July 1-4. On the Flat, Nardaran (Fr) (Waldgeist {GB}) (lot 478) will sell after a debut third at Saint-Cloud. He is out of multiple group winner Narniyn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Another Flat-bred horse is Fang Mich (Ger) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (lot 503), who has a win and a placing from two starts. The half-sister to G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon Ger}) is joined by jumps horses Policasta (GB) (National Defense {GB})...

A juvenile colt by Justify is one of 134 Flat-bred 2-year-olds catalogued for the mixed Arqana Summer Sale on July 1-4. The mixed sale features the 2-year-old breezes on Monday, July 1 beginning at 1 p.m., while the Flat juveniles and 176 2- and 3-year-old stores will sell on Tuesday, July 2 at 10 a.m. Wednesday's session features 200 horses-in-training from 2 p.m., and the final session, on Thursday, July 4, includes 115 mares and filles, beginning at 11 a.m. Graduates of the sale have enjoyed success on the Flat...

Lot 62, a burly son of Justify and Curly Locks (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was the first horse to break the seven-figure mark at Arqana's May Breeze-Up Sale on Saturday, selling for €1 million to Alex Elliott, buying on behalf of Amo Racing. Consigned by Lynn Lodge Stud, the chestnut is out of a full-sister to dual Guineas winner and Group 1 sire Churchill (Ire), as well as G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Clemmie (Ire) and G3 Diamond S. winner Blenheim Palace (Ire). He was bred by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt in Kentucky. Mags...

Kilgame (Fr) (Jeu St Eloi {Fr}) (lot 1) topped the Arqana March Online Sale at €300,000 on the bid of Alex Elliott's Elliott Bloodstock Services and NBB Racing's Nicolas Bertran de Balanda, on Thursday. Placed over hurdles, the Gabriel Leenders-consigned dark bay is from the family of G1 Grand Prix d'Autumne winner Millenium Royal (Fr) (Mansonnien {Fr}). Haras de la Hetraie's Kantagua Du Large (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}) (lot 6) went to Guy Petit for €68,000. The listed-placed chaser is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Farceur Du Large (Fr) (Turgeon)....

A total of 83 juveniles have been entered in the Osarus La Teste Breeze-Up Sale catalogue which was released on Tuesday. Past graduates of the sale include G2 Prix de Malleret winner Rue Boissonade (Fr) (Seabhac). Set for Apr. 10 with the breezes the day prior, the sale contains 2-year-olds by 60 sires like Almanzor (Fr), Charm Spirit (Ire), Galileo Gold (GB), Galiway (GB), Havana Gold (Ire), Kodi Bear (Ire), Le Havre (Ire), Make Believe (GB), Mehmas (Ire), Profitable (Ire), Ten Sovereigns (Ire), Territories (Ire), and Zarak (Fr). There is...

Group 1 winner Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) will be offered during the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale during Dec. 3-6. A winner of the G1 Prix Vermeille, the 4-year-old landed the G2 Prix Corrida, G3 Prix de Flore, and the Listed Prix La Camargo in the Gemini Stud silks for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard earlier in her career. Graffard said, "It's been a pleasure to train this magnificent filly for the last three years. Very brave and with a great temperament, she achieved all her objectives this year...

The catalogue for the five-day Arqana October Yearling Sale, featuring 781 lots, is now online. Past graduates of the sale, held from Oct. 17-21 this year, brought home a quartet of group/graded victories this last weekend, with Jadoomi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) winning at the Group 2 level in Ireland and France, respectively. Stateside, Bran (Fr) (Muhaarar {GB}) claimed the GII Turf Sprint S. and Avenue De France (Fr) (Cityscape {GB}) landed the GII John C. Mabee S. Beginning at 11 a.m. on Monday,...

Demand for horses-in-training under both codes and breeding stock was at a premium in Deauville, as the Arqana Summer Sale wrapped its two-day stand on Friday. Towering over the proceedings was the €1.2-million purchase Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 421), who caught the eye of BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe acting on behalf of Yulong Investments. The daughter of three-time French listed-placed mare Power of The Moon (Ire) (Acclamation {GB) was bred by Haras Voltaire and consigned by trainer Philippe Decouz. Formerly an Ecurie Griezmann colourbearer, the relative of dual group...