The ARQANA breeze up held at Saint‐Cloud built up on a buoyant 2009 renewal to break into
unchartered territory. The €5.9 million turnover represents a 44% hike while the average
price reached €51,600, up 24%. The clearance rate was a highly satisfactory 77%, yet when
taking into account the 11 post‐ring private sales it is 85% of the horses on offer that found
new homes.
A remarkable feature was the number of prominent buyers who put their names on the score
sheet for the first time, including Citywest Inc., Oliver Cole, Ed Sackville (Kern Lillingston), Jamie McCalmont, Narvick International, Prime Equestrian as well as new buyers from Eastern Europe.
15 lots broke the six‐figure barrier against only six a year ago, a clear sign of the
impressive depth both in offer and demand.
• Lot 21, from Yeomanstown Stud, set a new record price for this auction when selling for
€300,000 to Fiona Shaw acting on behalf of Earle Mack (Citywest Inc.). This French‐bred
colt is a member of the first crop by the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Coronation Cup hero
Shirocco. As for his distaff side, it is loaded with precocity; his dam BASSE BESOGNE won
a Listed race at two and she is out of BAISER VOLE, who won two Gr.1 races as a juvenile.
• Lot 121, a son of Shamardal consigned by Haras du Saubouas, was knocked down for €210,000 to Chantilly Bloodstock (Gérard Larrieu) acting on behalf of an Abu Dhabibased client. This colt is the first foal out of the Listed‐placed SAMEROUS, whose halfsister SAMANDO won the Gr.2 Prix de Royallieu and Gr.3 Prix Exbury.
• Lot 19, also by Shamardal, was the subject of a private deal worth €200,000 a few minutes after being led out unsold. Richard O’Gorman signed for the Mocklershill offering, a half‐brother to two Group winners in COUPE DE CHAMPE et OBRIGADO.
• Lot 154, from Haras du Saubouas, fetched €180,000 from Winning Bloodstock’s Samuel
Blanchard. This Galileo filly is a full‐sister to MARTIAL LAW, who won at two and was
Listed‐placed at three, from the family of the multiple Group victrix TUSCAN EVENING.
• Lot 95, another member of the Mocklershill draft, went the way of Dubai‐based Prime
Equestrian for €140,000. From the first crop of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains scorer Aussie Rules, he is a half‐brother to ELUSIVE WAVE, who took the fillies’ equivalent a year ago.
• Lot 62, consigned by Bansha House Stables, was knocked down to David Redvers on a bid of €135,000. This is another first‐crop offering, this time by the Darley inmate Iffraaj,
who won the Park Stakes and Lennox Stakes Gr.2. There is speed in his maternal family too, as his dam JEZEBEL landed a Listed race at two and ran 3rd in the Gr.3 Prix de Seine et Oise over 6 furlongs.
• Lot 103, also from Bansha House Stables, was snapped up by Gérard Larrieu (Chantilly
Bloodstock) for €115,000. He is by the outstanding sire Oasis Dream, who already has 4
Gr.1 winners to his name, and hails from the family of the Champion two‐year‐old FOREST FLOWER.
Reflecting on a hectic day of trading, ARQANA Chairman Eric Hoyeau stated: “We have improved
the quality of the catalogue a great deal thanks to loyal support from our vendors, French,
English and Irish, and the market has responded beyond our expectations. Turnover and
average have almost doubled over the past two years, which has put this sale firmly on the map,
and we are delighted to have attracted new customers as a result. We are now considering
moving the breeze session to the Friday from next year in order to give purchasers even more
time for inspections.”
source: Arqana press release
