WITH a blank day of selling to allow for inspections, the Arqana v.2 Yearling Sale took place at Deauville on Tuesday. Nearly 80% of the 170 lots offered were sold for an average price of €33,504, with a turnover of €4,533,000.

All these metrics declined from last year, when the catalogue was expanded in numbers, but demand was helped by a solid demand from French trainers. Some 30 of them were listed as purchasers of the 135 lots that sold.

The median was down 10% to €27,000, but the turnover saw a 19% fall, with this year’s clearance rate dropping back from 86% a year ago.

At the end of the day’s trade, Arqana president Olivier Delloye and the company’s managing director Freddy Powell issued a joint statement in which they said: “The day ended with very satisfying results, following on from an historic year in 2023. With 80% of horses sold and an average price of €33,508, this sale was one of the best v.2 sales since its creation.

“This sale is now well established in the yearling sales calendar, and the very good turnout from French trainers is testament to this, and we would like to thank them warmly.

“Many of the yearlings sold today will remain in training in France and we wish them every success in the Arqana Series next year.”

Top lot

Well touted in advance, a daughter of Starspangledbanner offered from Fairway Consignment on behalf of Domaine de Quétieville was knocked down for €115,000 near the end of the day’s session. Bidding on behalf of Arthur Hoyeau, it was his father Eric who had the final say for the filly out of a half-sister to the classic winner Mangoustine, and she is from the family of another classic winner in Flotilla, winner of both the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas.

“She’s a lovely filly that really stood out from the others,” said Eric Hoyeau. “Arthur couldn’t be here so he put me in charge of this purchase for a partnership of owners.” The filly is also from the family of the weekend’s listed juvenile winner Englemere.

One of the day’s earliest lots was a daughter of Siyouni, and she was the only other six-figure sale on the day, realising €100,000 to the bid of Mandore International Agency’s Nicolas de Watrigant, acting on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing. Consigned by Haras des Capucines, the filly is out the listed-placed Kodiac mare Undertake, and from the family of Group 1 scorer Kinnaird, and the Group 2 juvenile winners Berkshire and Ivawood.

Potential

“We bought her sister last year, and while she hasn’t run yet she has shown a lot of potential in training,” said Nicolas de Watrigant. “We liked the fact that she seems precocious and she’s a daughter of Siyouni.” Last year Undertake’s first produce, a filly by Ulysses, sold for €40,000, and she is currently in training in the USA.

Consigned by Haras de Colleville, a daughter of Goken came closest of the rest to making a benchmark six-figure sum, but the hammer fell a little short at €90,000 in favour of Jean-Claude Rouget and Le Marais.

A half-sister to stakes-placed Ponty, a son of Goken’s sire Kendargent, she is from the family of Group 1 winners Porlezza and Pornichet.