The frenetic pace of the breeding stock sale season finally came to a halt on Tuesday, as, after four days of selling during Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale, the last horse passed through the ring at Deauville.
Overall, the aggregate grew by 58.5% to €42,007,700, up from €25,253,500 during the first year of the Covid pandemic and the first time the sale breached the €40-million mark. There were 689 lots sold from 907 offered (76%), and 13 horses made at least €500,000, compared to six in 2020. The average of €60,314 rose 33% from 2020, and the median decreased slightly to €15,000 (-6.3%).
Saturday's quintet of seven-figure mares were led by G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), who was sold for €3,000,000 to the sale's leading buyers Peter Brant's White Birch Farm and MV Magnier. She was followed closely by the €2.5-million G1 Prix Jean Romanet victrix Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), while Gestut Ammerland bought out their partners when going to €2,050,000 for Wildfeder (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-sister to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist (GB).
New consignor Sumbe stood firmly on top of the leading vendors' table with six sold for an aggregate of €5,352,000. Haras de Capucines was next with 22 sold for €3,373,000, while Haras de Castillon's draft brought €3,155,500 for 18 lots.
Wednesday's session sported a higher clearance rate of 80.5% for 128 of 159 offered for a total of €586,000. Both the average at €4,578 and the median of €3,500 were down when compared to the corresponding session last year, by 28.6% and 22.2%, respectively.
Four mares made €20,000 or more led by lot 977, the winning Hurrym (Fr) (Hurricane Run {Ire}). A half-sister to the black-type winner Landym (Fr) (Lando {Ger}), the La Riviere-consigned bay brought €28,000 from George Mullins and is in foal to Rio de la Plata.
Nicola Fitzgerald snapped up Anna's Star (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}) for €26,000 from Haras du Petit Tellier. Lot 987, a daughter of the G3 Deutscher Stutenpreis heroine Anno Luce (GB) (Old Vic {GB}), herself out of the German champion Anna Paola (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}), is carrying to The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), whose first-crop runners this season include the listed winner Mylady (Ger).
Arqana Chairman Eric Hoyeau and Executive Director Freddy Powell said, “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. 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 and Sun Bear. 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.”
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