Arqana August yearling sale posts record average

The three-day Arqana August yearling sale, held in Deauville, France, concluded Monday with records set in average price and buyback rate.

Arqana reported total revenues of about $52.7 million (39,592,500 euros), a 14 percent increase over last year’s total. The sale posted a record average of about $195,800 (146,998 euros), which was a 9 percent increase, and the median of about $119,900 (90,000) spiked 13 percent. The buyback rate also set a record for the boutique Arqana auction, ending at 19 percent. It was 25 percent at last year’s sale.

Three yearlings hit the seven-figure mark at the sale. The sale-topper, an English-bred bay daughter of the late Monsun, was purchased for about $1.6 million (1.2 million euros) by Tony Nerses, racing manager for Saleh al-Homaizi and Imad al-Sager. The filly, consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux, is out of the winning Dashing Blade mare Sasuela, who has also produced German Group 1 winner Seismos, German Group 3 winner Samba Brazil, and German classic-placed Soberania. Sasuela is a half-sister to German Derby winners Schiaparelli and Samum and German Oaks winner Salve Regina, all by Monsun. Salve Regina is the dam of 2009 Grade 2 Ballston Spa winner Salve Germania.

Two yearlings sold for 1 million euros, or about $1.33 million. Ecurie des Monceaux consigned an Invincible Spirit half-brother to 2013 Irish Oaks winner Chicquita bought by Peter Doyle on behalf of the South Africa-based Mayfair Speculators group. The Irish-bred colt’s stakes-winning dam Prudenzia, by Dansili, is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Pacifique.

Bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud purchased the other 1-million-euro yearling, a French-bred daughter of leading international sire Galileo out of the Group 3-placed Danehill Dancer mare Dance Secretary. That mare is a half-sister to Canadian champion turf male and Grade 1 winner Perfect Soul, now a successful sire in Kentucky. Haras de la Reboursiere et de Montaigu consigned the filly.

Nicolas de Watrigant’s Mandore International Agency was the auction’s leading buyer with 15 purchases totaling about $3.9 million (2.95 million euros). Ecurie des Monceaux led all consignors with about $11.6 million in receipts (8.727 euros) from 27 yearlings sold.

The Arqana yearling auction was followed by a single-session “V.2” auction Tuesday on the sales grounds, showcasing more precocious yearlings.

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