THE four-day Arqana Autumn Sale produced clearance rates which were, according to Arqana’s president Olivier Delloye and their CEO Freddy Powell, “below our expectations”.

They added: “The average price held up well, remaining above €30,000. We still saw some great bidding battles over the most attractive profiles, with five yearlings selling for €100,000 or more, and a top price of €255,000 for a son of Galiway that will stay in France.

“As for the stores, the vendors were realistic and adapted to the market, which was more guarded than we have seen in the past. A total of 83% of the horses offered were sold for an average price that dropped significantly compared to 2023. We had quite strong years in 2022 and 2023 for the horses in training section.

“We’re back to a turnover of nearly €4.8 million, on a par with 2021, with fairly strong demand for good profiles that are capable of continuing their careers in Australia, the United States or at winter meetings in the Middle East. There were also some good jumps prices. Nevertheless, we were short of very good profiles in the face of very selective demand.

“Lastly, on the breeding side, sales were in line with the yearling sales over the previous two days, with buyers being highly selective and therefore creating strong demand for the very good profiles, such as the top priced foal of the day, a son of Saint Des Saints out of a Grade 1 winner that sold for €120,000.”

Australia purchase

Monday’s session was reserved for flat and National Hunt horses-in-training, and the day was marked by several Australian, American, English and Irish purchases.

Wildcard entry Newlook, unbeaten in his last three starts for Carlos and Yann Lerner, most recently won the Listed Prix Vulcain at Deauville. Australian agent Jarred Magnabosco, Best Bloodstock, won the day at €480,000 for the three-year-old son of New Bay, a half-brother to the blacktype winner and classic-placed La Parisienne.

“I clearly wasn’t the only one bidding and he was subject to a lot of interest from a number of Australian trainers,” said Magnabosco. “He was very impressive in his recent starts and hasn’t run a lot, so he should still be able to progress further. I think he has the profile to be successful in Australia and can aim for the Caulfield Cup next year.”

Tony Martin

Another wildcard, Westminster Moon sold for €260,000 to Toby Jones. Placed in the Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis this summer, the Andreas Wöhler-trained colt most recently was runner-up in the Group 2 Premio Roma. The four-year-old son of Sea The Moon is a grandson of Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Termagant.

Jones said: “He’ll be trained by Tony Martin in Ireland with a view to running him under both codes. We liked lots of things about him; he’s very good looking and walks very well. He’s already shown a lot of potential on the racetrack and we’re very happy.”

The gavel fell at €220,000 in favour of Hubert Barbe from Horse Racing Advisory for yet another wildcard, Jet Blue. A Grade 2 AQPS winner, the Hugo Merienne-trained gelding won his seasonal comeback at five in the Grade 3 Prix Bango, and placed in an AQPS Grade 1. He also won over hurdles at Auteuil in October. The five-year-old is a son of Martaline.

Barbe commented: “He’s going to stay in France. I’ve bought him for Madame Tisdall and he’ll be trained by David Cottin, who already has horses for her. We looking at a winter season in England over fences for him.”

Runner-up in the Listed Prix Matchem this season, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained and Aga Khan Studs-owned Elbaz was knocked down for €210,000 to Mike Repole, bidding on Arqana Online.

The three-year-old son of Siyouni hails from the family of the classic winner Ervedya.

DAY two of the sale saw a small selection of two-year-old stores and the first draft of yearlings. The top price of the first session came for a son of Doctor Dino offered from Haras de l’Hotellerie. Bidding on behalf of the Papot Family, Joffret Huet spent €130,000 for a colt out of the listed jumps winner Asterisk, a daughter of No Risk At All.

Offered from Fairway Consignment, a daughter of the same stallion was knocked down for €90,000 in favour of Bertrand Le Metayer. With a fascinating pedigree, she is a half-sister to Grade 2 Grand Steeple-Chase de Compiègne winner Matfog, while her dam is a half-sister to three group winners and sires, Reefscape, Martaline and Coastal Path.

“I’ve bought her for Haras du Berlais,” said Le Metayer. “She’s a filly that ticks all the boxes - she is good looking, athletic, and well-bred. She’s just the type of filly that we are looking for.”

Trade was better on day two, though still selective. Four yearlings on the second day of yearlings, on Wednesday, made €100,000 or more.

Galiway yearling

Consigned by The Channel Consignment, a son of Galiway was hammered down for €255,000 to Yannick Fouin, bidding for Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency. Out of a half-sister to Grade 1 Prix Cambacérès winner and young sire Beaumec De Houelle, the yearling is a half-brother to the Group 1 German Derby scorer Sisfahan.

“I’ve bought him for some clients of Nicolas de Watrigant,” Fouin explained. “His family is one I know well because I part-bred him. He really stood out today. We’re very happy to be able to create a partnership, notably with Mr Jathiere.”

A little later, a daughter of Doctor Dino was knocked down for €142,000 to Paul Basquin, who is at the helm of Haras du Saubouas. Consigned by Haras des Sablonnets, the filly is a half-sister to a pair of Grade 3 winners over jumps, Messagere and Paradiso, and hails from the excellent family of Grade 1 National Hunt winners N’Avoue Jamais and Nickname.

Basquin commented: “She’s a lovely filly. She has a lot of class and walks well. We have his full-brother Novak [a two-year-old] in training, and he has shown a lot of quality. She’ll also be trained in France.”

Offspring by Doctor Dino, the leading light at Haras du Mesnil, was very much in demand over the two days of yearlings. Another standout was bought for €110,000 by Bertrand Le Metayer. Out of the blacktype-placed Authorized mare Kalmia, the yearling hails from the family of Grade 1 winning hurdler Stormy Ireland.

“He’s a super yearling that comes from a good stud,” said the agent. “He’ll stay in France and be trained by Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé.”

Nicolas Bertran de Balanda went to €105,000 for the first foal out of the aforementioned Grade 1 Mares Champion Hurdle winner Stormy Island, a daughter of Motivator. Consigned by Goldford Stud, the Blue Bresil yearling colt is from an excellent female line.

“He’s a lovely horse, with good size and out of a great racemare,” said Nicolas Bertran de Balanda. “I’ve bought him for a partnership between Frédéric Hinderzé and the MacLennan Family.”

THURSDAY’S final day of selling saw National Hunt breeding stock on offer, but trade suffered on a difficult day for all, with the weather not helping.

Grade 2 winner Garde De Burge, offered carrying her first foal by Grade 1-winning hurdler Jigme who went to stud this year, was the subject to a lot of interest from buyers. Guy Petit had the final say at €160,000 for the daughter of Kapgarde out of the listed jumps winner Tornado. Garde De Burge is one of a pair of blacktype jumps winners from their dam, and she was consigned by Haras de l’Hotellerie.

“I’ve bought her for one of my clients and she’ll stay in France,” said Petit. “She’s a graded winner, from a great family and carrying her first foal by Jigme, a very talented racehorse. We’re very happy.”

Top price in the foal section was for a son of Saint Des Saints consigned by Haras de l’Aumônerie. Écurie de Launay’s Jérôme Glandais made the winning bid of €120,000 for the foal out of multiple graded scorer Paul’s Saga, a daughter of Martaline. Her principal victory over jumps came in the Grade 1 Grand Course de Haies d’Auteuil. “He’s a lovely looking foal that walks well,” said Glandais. “His dam was a champion and he is by Saint Des Saints, an excellent stallion, so he has the perfect pedigree page. We’re very happy as we really wanted him.”