‘I think there will be a lot of business here’ – star bulls ready to drive early excitement at Arqana October Year Sale

Those hoping to see a knock-on effect spectacular bidding wars seen in Newmarket earlier this month may not have long to wait on the first day of the Arqana October Yearling Sale in Deauville, with the first ten lots boasting some real star power.

In no particular order, the opening salvo features two of the four yearlings from Siyouni and Sea The Stars’ catalog, as well as lots from Too Darn Hot, Camelot, Kameko, St. Mark’s Basilica and Sea The Moon.

There are two ways to look at such a risky start to the process; Either an early battle or two will relax everyone and bidding will flow freely, or else sellers of some expensive stocks will have to weigh their options with little evidence to know how this week’s market will play out.

Although Arqana August is a major test project for what will come next across Europe, the agents, trainers and temporary dispatchers gathered in Deauville this week know where they stand in terms of what they have spent in Doncaster, Newmarket and Ireland, and what orders they still have. need to be attended to.

Despite an incessant drizzle, there were plenty of potential buyers completing their inspections on Monday afternoon, with two of Tattersalls’ biggest hitters making the rounds.

Matt Coleman expects to fill a year’s worth of orders at Arqana’s October sale this weekCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

Alex Elliott and the Amo Racing team were pushing hard, as was one of Godolphin’s main talent scouts, Anthony Stroud, although it should be noted that he was accompanied by Jane Chapple-Hyam and long-time client Peter Harris.

His colleague at Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, Matt Coleman, expected many good deals despite the exorbitant sums that changed hands at Tattersalls.

“I don’t think any of us have seen two weeks of sales like this in a long time,” Coleman said. “I don’t think this sale will be like that, but Anthony and David Loder are here on behalf of Godolphin, while Anthony also represents other clients.”

Coleman added: “I see Anthony Ramsden from Valmont is here and Alex Elliott is here, so I’m sure Amo might be having a look. Newmarket’s great players are still here and there are actually more English coaches than usual for Arqana in October, probably because they have struggled to keep up with requests over the last two weeks.

“There are definitely more shippers and English coaches here than I’ve ever seen before. I think there will be a lot of business here and we still have some orders to fill, so we’ll do our best.”

‘We hope to have some stardust scattered here’

One of the busiest yards on Monday afternoon was La Motteraye Consignment, which is expected to send 19 lots through the ring during Tuesday’s Part 1, from a total draft of 46 yearlings.

“Obviously what happened at Tatts was incredible and you can’t expect it to happen again,” said Gwenael Monneraye, who runs La Motteraye alongside his wife Lucie Lamotte.

“We certainly hope to have some of that stardust scattered around here. I get the impression that a lot of coaches still need to fill up, and Newmarket’s key players are all here.

“I would say we had more showings than in previous years in October, especially today, so these are all good signs. Alex Elliott and the other big hitters are here and now all we can do is cross our fingers.”

Zarak’s La Motteraye colt out of Vegas Valentine is one of the early highlights on TuesdayCredit: ZUZANNA LUPA

The cover star of this year’s catalogue, Poule d’Essai’s Metropolitan hero, was secured at the end of the opening session 12 months ago by Alessandro Marconi for €78,000, just the latest example of how this sale has grown in reputation from the ugly brother of the glamorous Augusto. coming together in the ideal complement, featuring yearlings who may well have benefited from those extra ten weeks or so.

As the son of Haras de Bonneval resident Zarak, Metropolitan is a reminder of one of the more specific dynamics operating this particular week.

Monneraye said: “Among all the French sales, this is the one that depends on the performance of the French stallions, because many French breeders are represented here. In that respect things are going well, and history suggests that this bodes well for this sale .

“Zarak is obviously doing really well and Hello Youmzain is also having success. That’s definitely a help.”

‘We have a good collection of horses that have developed well’

There will be plenty of fingers crossed that the combination of horses and buyers present gets things rolling on Tuesday, which features the elite of around 200 yearlings on offer.

Arqana bloodstock director Freddy Powell said: “We are very pleased with the activity at the site since Sunday morning; buyers seem happy with the horses and sellers with the amount of footfall they have had.

“Looking at the horses from day one, we have a good collection that has developed very well and there is a lot of sire power represented.

Arqana’s Freddy Powell is hopeful the auction can ride the Tattersalls waveCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

“We have a lot of British and Irish customers here, as well as French, some from Germany and Scandinavia, as well as some Americans who arrived yesterday.”

Powell added: “I hope that the wave of good sales results in Europe over the last fortnight continues our way. There are those who may not yet have been able to shop elsewhere, as well as lots of return business from people who have fond memories of their purchases. previous ones here.

“And we have people who won races in this year’s Arqana Series and it’s always great to see the prize money being reinvested into sales.”

Arqana October Yearling Sale Data Archive

Where Arqana sales complex, Deauville

When The five-day promotion begins with Part One on Tuesday at 11am local time (10am BST), Part Two is on Wednesday and Thursday starting at 2pm local time (1pm BST) on both days and Part Three takes place on Friday and Saturday, starting at 2pm local time (1pm BST) on Friday and 11am local time (10am BST) on Saturday

Last year’s statistics Of the 672 lots offered, 577 were sold (86 percent) with a turnover of 25,559,500 euros (two percent less year-on-year), an average of 44,297 euros (1 percent more) and a median of 25,000 euros (minus four percent). penny)

Notable graduates Land Legend (offered by Ecurie des Monceaux, purchased by Avenue Bloodstock for €100,000); Metropolitan (offered by Haras de Clairefontaine, acquired by Alessandro Marconi for 78 thousand euros); Exxtra (offered by Jedburgh Stud, purchased by Carlos and Yann Lerner for 26 thousand euros); War Chimes (offered by Haras des Capucines, purchased by David Menuisier for 62 thousand euros); Jayarebe (offered by Haras d’Ombreville, purchased by Sam Sangster Bloodstock for €180,000)

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