Arqana Breeze-Up Sale: What’s Interesting for Americans?

The whole point of the breeze-ups is that the functionality of a pedigree is on display. Nowadays, in fact, breeze times are treated as though rendering more or less redundant all the painstaking surmise of the yearling sales. Pinhookers, having seen so many offbeat sires achieve knockout sales, can prioritize “run”—knowing that lot of prospectors won't even bother looking at the catalogue until the lots have shown their wares.

But it's for precisely that reason that European breeze-up consignors have increasingly been able to repair a dismal separation between the gene pools either side of the Atlantic. It doesn't matter if European buyers haven't even heard of a stallion, so long as they can piggyback the expertise of these exceptional judges who sieve the American market for a horse with the right mechanics.

Of course, it does no harm if the page has some green streaks, whether in Europe or on turf in the U.S. But maybe the spectacular impact of Justify, following that made by his own sire, may help a few people remember how the European breed was once energized by Northern Dancer and his sons.

Even if that is only an incipient awakening, then the sheer volume of American stock in the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale—48 individual entries from 34 different American-based sires–will guarantee plenty of competition even among those who will be coming to Deauville (May 9 breeze show, May 11 auction) in the hope of repatriating Kentucky horses broken in by European horsemen.

That was the case six years ago when Norman Williamson of Oak Tree Farm sold a War Front colt, a $175,000 RNA at Keeneland the previous September, to Justin Casse for €250,000. Taken back to his native land, he became GI Preakness winner War Of Will—and now brings thing full circle with a member of his first crop featuring as Hip 177.

Little wonder, then, if the Arqana management is so eager to encourage American participation in this most cosmopolitan of catalogues. As Arqana's Executive Director Freddy Powell notes, this relatively boutique sale has drawn no fewer than seven members of Justify's third crop—compared with eight in the imminent OBS Sale that encompasses four times as many lots.

There are seven sons and daughters of Justify catalogued at Arqana | Sarah Andrew photo

“I wouldn't say we deliberately target American sires,” says Powell, “but I would say that our vendors who are used to buying in America quite like the Deauville track. We go left-handed, it's a flat track, and I think it's something that naturally makes sense for an American horse. We're a little bit later in the year, but the chance is there is going to be better ground. I think more than anything, it just makes sense. As we know, pinhookers like things that make sense.”

Last year's repatriated graduates already include West Point Thoroughbreds' Stretch Ride (Street Sense), third in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club last fall.

But while some pretty flashy pages will inevitably be struck out the moment the time sheets come through, from their catalogue pages alone, here is an early look at 12 offerings that will have obvious resonance for American visitors.

Lot 7, c, Uncle Mo—Tocco d'Amore (Ire), MC Thoroughbreds

MC Thoroughbreds offers Europeans a familiar page through a colt bought for just $30,000 at Keeneland. That's a startling sum on paper for a son of Uncle Mo out of Tocco d'Amore (Raven's Pass), who had cost Moyglare Stud €2 million as a yearling and won her only two starts including a 12f Listed race at Naas. She represents a famous Kilcarn Stud family as half-sister to five-time Group winner Echo Of Light (GB) (Dubai Millennium {GB}) out of champion Salsabil (GB)'s Group 2-placed sister Spirit Of Tara (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

 

Lot 13, c, Maclean's Music—Unreachable, Powerstown Stud

Powerstown Stud's draft has an especially strong Bluegrass tint and features a very bold KeeSep pinhook in a $310,000 Maclean's Music half-brother [13] to Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid), a dual Group 1 winner in Japan. It all makes sense, though, when you look at his dam, a once-raced daughter of Giant's Causeway out of Harpia (Danzig), a graded stakes-winning sister to Danehill himself. He's a May foal but bred to be anything.

 

Lot 14, c, Justify—Unrivaled Princess, Leamore Horses

That colt is followed into the ring by another with an aristocratic page: the first Justify on parade, presented by Leamore Horses after being recruited by Chad Schumer for $105,000 at Fasig-Tipton last October. He's out of an unraced sister to triple Grade I-winning millionaire Unique Bella (Tapit), their dam of course being GI Ladies' Classic winner Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song). This family continues to thrive, with the latter's half-sister having produced a leading sophomore last year in Raise Cain (Violence). The mare's first foal, a filly by Medaglia d'Oro, was retained by breeders Whisper Hill Farm and recently broke her maiden by 9 ½ lengths.

 

Lot 40, c, McKinzie—Belle's Finale, Malcolm Bastard

A real standout on paper is the McKinzie half-brother to none other than Up to the Mark (Not This Time) offered by Malcolm Bastard. This fellow contributed $200,000 to his sire's impressive debut at the yearling sales when exported from Fasig-Tipton last October.

 

Lot 55, c, Not This Time—Cloudy Dancer (GB), Gaybrook Lodge

Not This Time—now looking the principal heir to Giant's Causeway—has a suitably versatile prospect in a colt out of an unraced Invincible Spirit (Ire) half-sister to Royal Ascot winner/Classic runner-up Gale Force Ten (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from Gaybrook Lodge. This colt was alertly exported for $62,000 at Keeneland, in that he represents a coveted family in Europe: the next dam is a Listed winner out of a half-sister to fillies that respectively ran first and second in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. before subsequently delivering Group 1 winners and/or producers.

 

Lot 61, c, Tiz The Law—Cozze Up Lady, Powerstown Stud

There will be much curiosity about the breeze of Hip 61, a colt from the debut crop of Tiz The Law who appears well found by Powerstown Stud at Fasig last fall for $60,000. That's because his half-sister Kimari (Munnings) has made headlines on both sides of the ocean: she won a Keeneland maiden on debut by 15 lengths, and was then thwarted only in a photo for the G2 Queen Mary S. She again finished second at Royal Ascot the following year, this time at Group 1 level, before returning home to win the GI Madison S. back on dirt. On retirement she was bought by Coolmore for $2.7 million, and her half-brother by Constitution made $1.3 million as a yearling, so any sign of athletic ability in this colt will make him hot property.

 

Lot 62, Justify—Curlylocks (Ire), Lynn Lodge Stud

But there probably isn't a page in the catalogue to surpass the next into the ring: a February 2 colt by Justify out of a lightly-raced sister to Churchill (Ire) and Clemmie (Ire). The latter was the first Group 1 winner by Galileo (Ire) over six furlongs, tapping into the speed of her stakes-winning dam Meow (Ire) (Storm Cat) and granddam Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}), a special conduit of indigenous British speed. If he can run at all, this lad will prove a characteristically inspired Mags O'Toole punt at Keeneland for $135,000.

 

Lot 63, c, Omaha Beach—Dad's Princess, Oak Tree Farm

Her colleague Norman Williamson of Oak Tree Farm presents another fascinating Keeneland import immediately afterwards. This Omaha Beach colt has already landed one knockout pinhook, Williamson having given $150,000 for him nine months after he made just $6,000 as a short yearling in the same ring.

 

Lot 64, f, Justify—Damson (Ire), Kilminfoyle House Stud

The Americans are obviously intended to stick around, as next into the ring is another that could cause a transatlantic tug-of-war: a January filly by Justify out of elite runner and producer Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}), subject of a $155,000 docket at Keeneland and presented here by Kilminfoyle House Stud.  Damson, who beat colts in the G1 Phoenix S. at two, produced another flying juvenile in Requinto (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) but there's also Aga Khan depth to the further family.

 

Lot 136, c, Quality Road—Love Child, Longways Stables

Longways Stables went to $150,000 at Keeneland for a Quality Road colt. The mare's first foal by the same sire is a winner, but the key here is that she's out of a lightly raced sister to none other than Serena's Song (Rahy), who has demonstrated due genetic prowess in delivering not only a multiple graded stakes winner on turf in Doubles Partner (Rock Hard Ten), but also the fertile producer Princess Serena (Unbridled's Song), dam of three Group 1 and/or Group 2 winners and second dam of two others.

 

Lot 147, c, Bernardini—Morilles (GB), Gaybrook Lodge

Gaybrook Lodge offers a colt from the final crop of Bernardini pinhooked for $62,000 at Fasig October. He's out of a Montjeu (Ire) half-sister to graded stakes winner Indy Groove (A.P. Indy), their own dam a sibling to GI Super Derby winner Home At Last (Quadratic).

 

Lot 177, c, War Of Will—Promenade Review, C. F. Bloodstock

War Of Will, poster boy for this sale, should definitely interest European breeders with the genes he's now recycling at Claiborne. But meanwhile C.F. Bloodstock has brought over a colt from his first crop, unearthed at Fasig last October for $50,000. He's the second foal of a lightly raced half-sister to Promenade Girl (Carson City), winner of the GII Molly Pitcher and dam of triple Grade I winner Cavorting (Bernardini)—herself meanwhile celebrated as mother of Clariere (Curlin).

But Powell said he felt that there was much more on offer for Americans than American blood.

Of the 207 catalogued, he said, “There are 65 fillies in total, some very well-bred ones by typical European sires that could do well in the U.S. A Frankel (GB) filly (lot 60), two fillies by Kameko (164 and 178), a young, multiple graded-stakes winning son of Kitten's Joy; and fillies by Lope De Vega, No Nay Never, and similar stallions who could appeal to American trainers or owners or people who want to add a bit of European blood to their broodmare band.”

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Solid Results As Curtain Falls On 2023 Arqana Vente d’Elevage

The four-day Arqana Vente d'Elevage concluded on Tuesday, with four fillies and mares making €1 million or more, and 668 horses (77%) marked as sold for a gross of €47,135,000.

Overall, the average was down 8% to €70,561, however, the median rose to €20,000, an increase of 16% off of 2022's mark. The sale was topped by Group 1 winner Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) at €4.025 million from leading buyer Portofino Bloodstock.

Taking just Tuesday's trade into account, 109 lots sold (79%) for a gross of €581,500. The day's average was down 5% to €5,335, while the median increased by 14% to €4,000.

Tuesday's top lot was lot 919, the Kingman (GB) mare Crispina (GB). From the family of stallions Cityscape (GB) and Bated Breath (GB), the Haras d'Annebault-consigned 6-year-old was sold in foal to G1 Deutsches Derby hero Laccario (Ger) and brought €52,000 from SARL Trotting Bloodstock.

A named filly foal, Laskaria (Fr) (Laccario {Ger}), was the day's dearest foal, changing hands for €25,000 from the draft of Haras d'Annebault. Richard Venn Bloodstock bought the April foal on behalf of Paola Beacco Bd.

La Motteraye Consignment was the leading vendor, offering 39 mares, fillies and foals for a gross of €4,971,000, including Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) for €1.2 million.

Arqana President Eric Hoyeau and Executive Director Freddy Powell said, “In a record-breaking year, the 2023 edition of the Vente d'Élevage has concluded with very good results. With four fillies and mares making over €1 million, including  an historic top price of over €4 million, turnover from the  December sale exceeded €45 million for the second time.  Driven by buyers from all over Europe, as well as from the United States, Australia, Japan, India, Turkey and France,  demand remained buoyant. The middle market segment also remained strong, with a high level of activity both  internationally and domestically. We would like to take this  opportunity to thank all our vendors, as well as the buyers who once again turned out in force. We would also like to thank all our teams, in the yards, the stud farms and in the offices, for their involvement during this great marathon that is the Vente d'Elevage. As this marks the end of the sales year, we wish everyone a very happy holiday season.”

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Emotional Scenes At Arqana As Without Words Lifts Longways Stables’ Spirits

There were emotional scenes in the early parts of the Saturday session at Arqana when Without Words (Mendelssohn), who Mick Murphy and Sarah O'Connell of Longways Stables failed to sell at the breeze-up here in May, was knocked down to Justin Casse on behalf of Joseph O'Brien for €450,000. 

Without Words carried O'Connell's colours to victory on her second start for trainer Francois Rohaut at Toulouse. There was a kaleidoscope of significance to the win and subsequent sale with Murphy revealing afterwards that his wife had recently been diagnosed with cancer and is due to undergo chemotherapy next week. 

He said, “We've had a good year but there have been ups and downs. Sarah is sick at the moment. She was diagnosed with cancer and starts her chemotherapy on Tuesday. She will be okay but she has a tough few months ahead of her.”

https://twitter.com/sazoconnell/status/1733460040399360359

It has been another successful year for Longways Stables on the track, highlighted by the Listed-winning and Group 2-placed graduate Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and Saturday's result in the ring clearly meant a great deal.

Murphy continued, “We breezed her here in May. We liked her a lot and felt we weren't getting what we deserved so we bought her back at €175,000. 

“I bought her in America for $85,000 and thought that she was always going to be worth that because of her pedigree alone. We liked her, took a chance to race her, and Francous did a great job with her. He thinks she is a stakes filly. Sarah didn't want to sell her.”

Without Words is a half-sister Combatant (Scat Daddy), a Grade I winner for John Sadler, and Long Lashes (Rock Hard Ten), a Group 3 winner for Saeed Bin Suroor. She was consigned by La Motteraye on behalf of O'Connell and Murphy.

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“No Panic Yet” – Arqana Boss Optimistic About Ending The Year On A High

Arqana boss Freddy Powell says he is optimistic the sales company can end the year on a high as leading vendors Gwen Monneraye of la Motteraye and Charles Brière of the Fairway Consignment reported strong footfall on the eve of the breeding stock sale. 

The sales figures for the breeding stock sales in Britain and Ireland took a dip on the whole this year and Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said 'certain sectors are facing into a headwind' when acknowledging the struggles facing operators in the middle to lower tiers after the December Sale on Thursday. 

However, while Powell agrees that Arqana is not immune to the struggles facing the bloodstock industry as a whole, he outlined French premiums, Brexit, and the strength of the euro as some of the reasons why he expects the middle to lower tiers to hold up over the next few days. 

He said, “We are yet to have a bad sale this year. Touch wood, it continues. It has been a bit of a strange year for the bloodstock industry in general. We are lucky that, when the market is getting patchy in other places, we have a system in France which helps to keep things together a little bit better. Premiums, for example, are a big help. With things like that, the demand stays strong as people like to race horses in France because of the prize-money and the premiums on offer.

“But, it hasn't all been rosey in the garden either. Some of the markets have been more difficult than others at some levels and what we have to realise is that, if we manage to hold up the prices in the ring, the breeders still end up paying more and more each year because the cost of breeding horses has gone up.” 

Powell added some reasoning into why Arqana has been resilient in the face of the market correction in the bloodstock industry, “Brexit has also changed the dynamic for some buyers. They manage to keep their costs a little bit lower by shopping in Europe. Historically, we have been less dependent on one, two or three buyers as well. The variety of the buyers has been a big asset for us and obviously Deauville has its attractions! We love welcoming people here. It is not too hard to persuade them. Buying in euros is quite a good selling point to people from, say, Australia, America and Japan. Also, the French horses have been doing really well in recent years. This year we had Paddington and Ace Impact and people can recognise that.

“We followed the sales in Ireland and England and noticed that the market is not what it was last year. But, maybe the market was too good last year? The results at Tattersalls were pretty good if you were comparing them to two years or even four years ago. You have to take note of all that but there's no panic just yet.”

Brière, who will offer 46 lots under his Fairway banner at Arqana over the next few days, also made the point that buyers in France are less driven by fashion, meaning the polarisation that has swept the market in Britain and Ireland, is less of a problem in France.

He said, “The sales have been strong in France all year so hopefully it continues. August was great, as was V2 and October, and some of the National Hunt sales have been very good, too. I don't really know why but, for sure, the market has not been so patchy in France. Obviously, it has come down a little bit, but it has been a good year. 

“People are usually really relaxed at this sale. The catalogue is very good this year and there are a lot of people around. The only area I would fear for is the lower end foals. The thing about Ireland is there are a lot of young people willing to try pinhooking the cheaper foals. You don't really have that here so the cheaper foals could struggle but, other than that, it should be a really good sale.”

Brière added, “If you have a Blue Point foal, you will be okay! Another thing in France, you don't get as much polarisation than in other countries. You don't necessarily need to be by the fashionable sire to get paid. It's getting a little bit like that but not as much as in other countries. That's a good thing, otherwise everyone focuses on the same horses.”

The la Motteraye barns have also been busy with Monneraye reporting a strong international feel to the inspections on Thursday and Friday. 

“It has been busy,” he said. “It is very international, which is important. I was at Goffs and Tattersalls and I was able to buy at both places. The previous two years, I was not able to do that. I don't know if that is a good thing or not with a view towards this sale but, Arqana has been so strong all year round, hopefully it will continue that way. I see a lot of faces here that I didn't see at Goffs and Newmarket so hopefully it is good news.”

It's not just the French consignors looking forward to the breeding stock sale in France. Patrick Diamond, sales executive at the Castlebridge Consignment, just touched down at Arqana on Friday morning to oversee a draft headlined by listed winner Hidden Dimples (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

He said, “It's a great place to end the year and we like coming here with a select draft. We sold good numbers between England and Ireland and, ultimately, it's about offering quality horses at every level. We had a strong mares catalogue at Tattersalls last week with eight mares in the Sceptre Sessions and that went very well.”

Diamond added, “The middle to lower end of the market was tougher, and the figures were pretty clear, and it felt that way as well. The footfall for those horses was less than what it would have been compared to other years and it's definitely becoming more polarised. We have a nice draft here at Arqana and are looking forward to ending the year on a high.”

Powell put forward the Group 1 winners Pearls Galore and Channel as some of the highlights before crediting the Arqana staff for assembling a typically-strong catalogue for the sale. 

He concluded, “The team has worked really hard on pulling the catalogue together and they have done a great job. I have been looking at horses for the past two days and every good page matches up. That's quite nice to be able to say, not only have we got nice pages, but we also have nice-looking horses. 

“We are selling Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in foal to Frankel (GB), Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB), the Wertheimers have a really good bunch and there are some nice race fillies as well. There are people coming from all around the world to look at them and it's really exciting.”

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