THE 2023 edition of the Arqana Breeze Up Sale ended on Saturday with a remarkable set of figures.

Stretched to a three-day affair, it began with horses working on the turf at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse on Thursday, followed by a day of inspections. With a truly international clientele in town, demand was consistent throughout. Some 87% of the 167 two-year-olds offered were sold for an average price of €150,789m the latter figure was up 15% from 2022). A record turnover saw an unprecedented €21,110,500 change hands, and this was a massive 58%) increase on a year ago.

Illustrating the strength of the top of the market, and the quality overall of the catalogue, 10 colts and fillies made €400,000 or more during the sale, and that was well up on the four who reached these heights last year. Following the sale, Arqana President Éric Hoyeau and the company’s executive director Freddy Powell issued a joint statement, in which they said: “We are very pleased with the results, thanks to the hard work and professionalism of our vendors who have once again placed their trust in us and brought horses of such a high standard that have been extremely well prepared.

“The quality of the catalogue brought many buyers to Deauville, whom we would also like to thank for coming. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the work of our teams as well as that of France Galop and the staff at Deauville Racecourse, who largely contributed to the success of this sale by allowing us to hold the breezes on a beautiful prepared track again this year.”

Son of Siyouni leads the way

THE leading buyer at the sale for the second consecutive year, Oliver St Lawrence signed the docket for two lots this year, and the pair included the top price of the sale for €1.2 million. Consigned by Brendan Hollan’s Grove Stud, the son of Siyouni hails from the family of group winners Manuela De Vega, Pont Aven, Sainte Marine, Josr Algarhoud and many more.

“He’s a lovely colt and there is everything to like about him,” St Lawrence. “He has it all - he breezed well, is by a great stallion and has a great pedigree. He’s been bought for a Bahraini owner, and will most likely be trained in England.” The colt returned a significant profit to Holland, who purchased him privately at the Goffs Orby Sale from Mount Coote Stud for €200,000.

Earlier in the session, St Lawrence had gone to €450,000 for a daughter of Sioux Nation from The Bloodstock Connection’s consignment, another to improve noticeably on her yearling purchase price of €90,000 at Goffs.

A half-sister to listed winner and group-placed Manhattan Jungle, she hails from the family of Group 1 scorers Waikiki and Emaraaty Ana.

“She’s a magnificent filly that has scope and an exceptional temperament,” the agent said after signing the docket. “She’s been bought by Fawzi Nass and will also be trained in England.” It was later revealed that she wold join Roger Varian.

Godolphin’s Dubawi

No surprise that Anthony Stroud made his presence felt around the ring when buying five lots, and notable among them was a son of Dubawi for which he went to €800,000. Consigned by Norman and Janet Wiliamson’s Oak Tree Farm, the colt, who hails from the close family of the excellent Paix, Magic Wand, Chicquita and Philomene, was bought on behalf of Godolphin and will join the stables of Charlie Appleby.

“He’s a colt that really stands out,” said the agent. “Norman and Janet Williamson have done a great job with him. He’s a son of Dubawi from a great family.” The Co Meath-based couple bought the colt for €150,000 at Arqana last August. Stroud, again for Godolphin, also bought the only other Dubawi in the sale, a colt from Yeomanstown Stud, for €400,000.

The agent also struck for a daughter of Kodiac for €500,000. Out of a half-sister to dual group winner Centennial, she was consigned by Roderick Kavanagh’s Glending Stables who are having a memorable sales season. The filly is from the family of Group 1 winners Croco Rouge, Taipan, Ali-Royal, Sleepytime and It’s Somewhat, and had been unsold at 100,000gns from Peter Kavanagh’s Kildaragh Stud last year.

Other purchases by Stroud included a Saxon Warrior colt for €400,000 (a 34,000gns yearling) from Brown Island Stables, and Mocklershill’s Blue Point half-brother to Palace Pier for €325,000.

Coolmore secures a son of Uncle Mo

ONE of the most eagerly anticipated lots in the catalogue, a son of Uncle Mo out of the multiple group winner Summer Applause was knocked down for €600,000 in favour of Jamie McCalmont, who was bidding on behalf of Coolmore. Consigned by Powerstown Stud, the colt is from the female family of Grade 1 winner Beyond Brilliant, as well as the talented duo of Recoup The Cash and Brooklyn Strong.

“Uncle Mo is probably one of the best American stallions,” said McCalmont. “He did a very good breeze on Thursday. He’ll now go to the United States and join Todd Pletcher.”

Star turn

Another star turn consigned by Brendan Holland and Grove Stud was a filly from the first crop of Blue Point, who is off to a good start with his runners. Out of the stakes winner Shimmering Moment, this 135,000gns foal purchase sold for €500,000. The well-related filly hails from the close family of dual Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Stormy Liberal.

Bidding on behalf of Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables, Nicolas Bertran de Balanda signed the docket for the filly, hoping that he enjoys the same success gained with last year’s purchase Chez Pierre, a recent Grade 1 winner in the USA. De Balanda said: “She’s a lovely filly who has size and is very athletic. She did a very good breeze on Thursday and her sire has made a very good debut to his stallion career. She’ll go to the United States to be trained by Arnaud Delacour.”

Among the other lots who made more than €400,000 was a brother to the German 1000 Guineas winner Txope. She realised €420,000 to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock. Offered from Willie Browne’s Mocklershill, the son of Siyouni is out of the blacktype performer Power Of The Moon, and from the family of Zinziberine.

Lope De Vega

Knocked down for the same amount, a daughter of Lope De Vega out of the Group 3 scorer Cottonmouth went the way of Alex Elliott who was standing with Ralph Beckett.

Yet another consigned by Grove Stud, the filly is a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Dylan Mouth. Brendan Holland paid €160,000 for her as a yearling at Goffs from her breeder, John O’Connor of Ballylinch Stud.

O’Connor looks after the stallion career of the Arc winner Waldgeist, and one of that sire’s sons sold to Richard Ryan for Teme Valley Racing at €380,000, quite an advance on his yearling price of €80,000.