Highlighted Breeds of El Fabiolo and Protektorat Featured as Pedigree Standouts in the Arqana Summer Sale
The Arqana Summer Sale, set to commence on Tuesday at 10am local time (9am BST) in Deauville, France, is gearing up to be a significant event in the European bloodstock calendar. Known for its diverse range of thoroughbreds and international buyer interest, this auction serves as a crucial mid-year sale, strategically timed before major July sales in Newmarket[1][3].
This year's sale will feature sessions starting at 10am, 2pm, and 11am local time on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday respectively[2]. The auction comprises a variety of horses, including breeding stock, horses-in-training, two-year-old breeze-up horses (Lots 1-73), two- and three-year-old stores (74-233), and additional wildcard entries[3].
Arqana's chief executive, Freddy Powell, expressed confidence in the catalogue, boosted by the strength of trade at the Goffs Arkle and Tattersalls Ireland Derby sales[4]. He stated, "I don't think there's a sale that's more mixed than this one anywhere in the world."
The sale offers a chance to acquire high-quality horses with strong pedigrees. Examples of the caliber of horses sold at this auction include juveniles that went on to success on the track and broodmares connected to top-level performers[3].
Notable additions to the breeding stock section include Love Affair (520), a Study Of Man half-sister to Derby runner-up and Irish Derby third Lazy Griff[5]. Among the horses-in-training, Short Final (412) and Houquetot (416), recent and last year's Prix La Rochette winner respectively, will be up for grabs[6].
The store offerings feature horses with "super strong pedigrees," including siblings to Quel Destin, Protektorat, and El Fabiolo[3]. Freddy Powell highlighted the French two-year-olds as "definitely hot stuff," mentioning young stallions such as Moises Has, Nirvana Du Berlais, and Telecaster[7].
The market for the sale seems to have improved after 2024, which was under expectations for everyone in Europe[8]. International participation is expected to increase, thanks to results like Herman Hesse's, the winner of the Ciaron Maher's Herbert Power Stakes, who was sold at the Arqana Summer Sale for €24,000 in 2020[9].
People from places like the Middle East, Qatar especially, and Australia are coming to the sale for horses-in-training[10]. Last year, 325 lots out of 488 offered sold, generating a turnover of €10,700,000 (down seven per cent year-on-year)[11]. The average price was €32,925 (down three per cent), and the median price was €16,000 (down 16 per cent)[12].
Despite the optimism, Powell emphasized the need for an appetite for horses in the market. He mentioned that the sale is not an easy market to cover completely, but there are plenty of exciting young stallions in France[7].
References: 1. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-to-feature-hundreds-of-lots-in-deauville/597260 2. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-breeze-up-horses-to-go-under-the-hammer-first/597166 3. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-catalogue-released/596821 4. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-preview/596806 5. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-catalogue-released/596821 6. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-catalogue-released/596821 7. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-preview/596806 8. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-preview/596806 9. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-preview/596806 10. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-preview/596806 11. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-preview/596806 12. https://www.racingpost.com/horse-racing/news/arqana-summer-sale-preview/596806
- The Arqana Summer Sale, a significant event in the European horse-racing calendar, will be financed and managed as a business, with sessions in Deauville, France commencing Tuesday at 10am local time (9am BST).
- Arqana's Summer Sale features a diverse range of thoroughbreds, including horses-in-training, breeding stock, two-year-old breeze-up horses, two- and three-year-old stores, and wildcard entries, attracting international buyers.
- The market for Arqana's Summer Sale, which includes high-quality horses with strong pedigrees, has shown improvement, with increased international participation from places like the Middle East, Qatar, and Australia.
