AT the time of writing, 11 graduates of the Arqana August Sale have won or placed at Group 1 level in the year so far. Their prices start at just €45,000 for Horizon Dore, who has gone on to win three Group races, place in three Group 1s and earn over €690,000.

Buyers have 325 yearlings to choose from at the upcoming renewal, which begins at 2pm on Friday, August 16th. As is customary, the catalogue features leading consignors, top-class sires and enviable pedigrees, with 40% of lots boasting blacktype dams.

Group 2 Coventry Stakes victor Rashabar was bought at the sale for €120,000 and his Acclamation half-sister will be offered as Lot 52 next week, while other potential highlights include:

Lot 58: Half-brother to Group 1 winner Aclaim, along with two other Stakes horses, from the first crop of Palace Pier

Lot 91: Wootton Bassett filly out of classic heroine Channel, whose two-year-old Ultrasoul finished a promising second on debut since the catalogue was printed

Lot 109: Group 1 Preis von Europa winner Donjah’s first foal, a colt by Zarak

Lot 134: Dubawi half-brother to Group 1-winning sprinters Bucanero Fuerte and Wooded. Full-sister to this colt topped last year’s sale at €2.4million to Oliver St Lawrence

Lot 144: Dubawi full-brother to Group 1 Futurity Trophy victor Ancient Wisdom, who won the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy on his most recent start

Lot 190: Siyouni colt out of Group 3 winner and Group 1 performer Lady Frankel. Her Shamardal colt sold for €1.6million at the 2022 sale

Lot 250: Frankel out of Group 1 Preis der Diana heroine Palmas

Lot 270: Half-sister to Group 1 winners Chicquita and Magic Wand, from the first crop of St Mark’s Basilica. Six of Prudenzia’s progeny have been six-figure yearlings, while Chicquita sold for €6million after her Irish Oaks success. Tough act to follow

Ballylinch Stud, Baroda Stud, Camas Park Stud and Kildaragh Stud are among the familiar names on the list of consignors, encouraged by last year’s record-breaking renewal. 2023 saw turnover increase by 12% to €56,384,000, while the average rose similarly to €233,470 and the median grew by 21% to €170,000.

Vendors will be apprehensive though, given the challenging trade at the breeze-up and store sales earlier this year, though the blame attributed to Brexit shouldn’t be as much of a factor in Deauville.

Friday’s afternoon opener will be followed by evening sessions at 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday, with Group 1 action at the racecourse during the day.