AN 80% clearance rate over the two days of the Arqana Summer Sale and a catalogue of over 620 lots resulted in a record turnover of more than €8.5 million at Deauville this week.

With 21 lots bought for a total of €448,500, Guy Petit was leading buyer at the sale, while The Channel Consignment took the top spot among the vendors, selling 13 lots for a total of €1,035,000.

Eric Hoyeau, president of Arqana, said: “We are very satisfied with the results. It is the first time that we have had such a large offering in July, but also the first time that the percentage of horses sold was close to 80% and that the turnover exceeded the eight million mark. There was demand for all types of horses, and the yards were full.”

The second session on Thursday was by far the strongest, and it was wild card entry Juan De Montalban who dominated proceedings. The Channel Consignment offered the Roberto Biondi-trained colt who finished runner-up in the Group 2 Derby Italiano this season. Trainer David O’Meara and Jason Kelly had the last word at €400,000 for the son of Lope De Vega.

“We’ve bought him for Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah, who is a longstanding client,” said O’Meara. “He’s a lovely looking horse. I think he still has a lot of room to improve and hasn’t yet shown us everything he is capable of.”

Willie Mullins

The gavel fell at €230,000 for another wild card, again from The Channel Consignment, and this was for Soldier Hollow’s three-year-old son Parmenion.

A debut winner over 11 furlongs, he sold to Pierre Boulard who was accompanied by Willie Mullins and Harold Kirk. The half-brother to Group 3 Prix de Royaumont winner Pelligrina is from the family of the recently deceased Prix Vermeille winner Pearly Shells.

Boulard said: “He’ll join Willie Mullins; we’re very happy. There’s nothing not to like about him; he’s a lovely horse that won his debut really well.”

A winner at Lyon after the catalogue was printed, the Aga Khan Studs’ Caliyoun was knocked down for €200,000 to Rupert Pritchard Gordon. The agent remarked: “We’re happy as we really wanted him! He showed on his latest start that he is very mature. We haven’t decided who will train him yet.”

BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe went to €150,000 for the Carlos Laffon-Parias trained Zileo. A three-year-old son of Galileo, this winner was fourth in the Listed Derby du Languedoc after the catalogue was published, and on just his fourth start. The Wertheimer et Frère homebred now joins Michael Halford. Donohue said: “He’ll be gelded and we’ll give him a bit of time. His new owner wishes to run in Dubai, so that’ll be his objective next year.”

Sean Clancy

Also offered from Wertheimer et Frère, the André Fabre-trained Saranac sold for €130,000 to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock and The Irish Field columnist Sean Clancy online.

The best of the four fillies and mares from the breeding section that made €100,000 on Thursday was the listed winner Saiga. Robert Nataf of Horse France had the final say at €190,000 for the daughter of Teofilo out the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Vorda. Consigned by Haras des Cruchettes for Al Shahania Stud, she was offered in foal for the first time, carrying to Le Havre.

Nataf commented: “We’ve bought her to develop the broodmare band at Castlehyde. She corresponds exactly to what we are looking for - a very good pedigree and she is in foal to Le Havre.”

Listed winner and Group 3 runner-up Thalyia sold for €120,000 to Sam Sangster. The six-year-old daughter of Motivator was offered from La Motteraye Consignment and hails from the family of the family of Treve.

Breeze-up

The first day of the sale included breeze-up two-year-olds and some stores. The first group was headed by a son of Creative Cause who was knocked down for €100,000 to Nicolas de Watrigant’s Mandore International Agency. The Mocklershill-consigned colt hails from the family of Grade 1 winner Summer Soiree.

The successful purchaser said: “He was meant to go to the breeze-up in May, but after a small setback he came here. I’ve bought him for a partnership between Middleham Park Racing, Tim Palin, a client of Simone Brogi’s, Thomas Bernereau and Pierre Pilarski, in whose colours he will run. He’ll be trained by Simone Brogi.”

There was a selective market for stores, headed by Paul Basquin’s Saubouas Bloodstock paying €110,000 for a two-year-old Zarak gelding, the first foal of the listed-placed Presenting mare Boreale Du Berlais.