The Arqana December Sale closed in Deauville on Tuesday having reached new heights.
The final turnover of €41,556,000 exceeded the €40 million mark for the first time while the average of €60,314, which was up 33% from 2020, was also a record. Of the 907 horses through the ring, 689 changed hands for a clearance rate of 76%.
Saturday’s electric opening session featured five million euro lots led by the Prix de l’Opera heroine Rougir, who sold for €3 million out of the Sumbe consignment to Oceanic Bloodstock on behalf of MV Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm. Similarly, the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches runner-up Speak Of The Devil was sold out of Sumbe draft to Oceanic on behalf of White Birch, in her case for €1.95 million. As a result, Sumbe topped the consignors’ table with a turnover of €5,352,000 ahead of Haras des Capucines, whose total of €3,373,000 was bolstered by the sale of the Group 1-placed Purplepay for €2 million to NBB Racing.
Prix Jean Romanet heroine Grand Glory was another seven-figure lot, commanding €2.5 million out of the Haras de Castillon draft by Anne Sophie Yoh of YOHEA, while Wildfeder, a winning Galileo sister to Waldgeist, realised €2.05 million out of the Ecurie des Monceaux consignment to Crispin de Moubray, acting on behalf of Gestut Ammerland.
As the purchaser of seven lots for €4,950,000, Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock wound up as leading buyer.
“After a turbulent 2020, 2021 has been marked by tremendous resilience at all levels and concluded with an outstanding Vente d’Elevage that exceeded all our expectations,” said Arqana Chairman Eric Hoyeau and Executive Director Freddy Powell. “With five millionaire fillies in the first session and a turnover in excess of €40 million for the first time, the sale continued its upward trajectory and has now taken on a whole new dimension.
“All the ingredients were present and this resulted in very good prices in the ring. Four of the five fillies sold for a seven-figure price were acquired as yearlings at Deauville in August or October, and some owners did not hesitate to reinvest during the sale, such as with Tickle Me Green [sold for €800,000 to Gandharvi/Cadran/Melanie] and Sun Bear [sold for €620,000 to Langlais Bloodstock].
“The quality of the catalogue attracted many buyers from the United States, Japan, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Spain, Italy, Turkey and all over France. We would like to thank our vendors who entrusted us with the best of their breeding and racing stock as well as all our teams who worked tirelessly to make this sale a success. We wish everyone a very happy holiday season and look forward to seeing you in February.”
Rougir: one of five million euro lots during an electric session of the Arqana December Sale on Saturday. Photo – Arqana
