NEWS
Welcome rebound for Arqana on day two
Posted: Saturday, August 14, 2010 11:11 PM
by Mike Curry
Although total sales were down again on Saturday at the Arqana Deauville August yearling sale, average price rose slightly and median was steady compared with last year’s corresponding session.
The positive economic indicators were welcome news considering a tough economic climate and slumping worldwide sales results.
“We are very pleased to see that the market has picked up on the second day. Friday’s select session may have scared buyers a little and many of them chose to wait and see, while today they felt bolder and more confident,” Arqana President Eric Hoyeau said.
“The average and median have held up really well, which is very satisfactory, and there was a lot of competition for the nicest yearlings. Generally speaking, there was a lot more atmosphere today, which confirms the trend we were talking about after yesterday’s session: it is the very upper tier of the market that is suffering. We will give the format of the sale a thorough thought after the four days are over.”
Arqana reported 64 horses as sold from 91 offered, plus four private sales, for total receipts of $10,333,913 (8,074,000 euros) at Saturday’s second session. Average price rose 1% to $157,068 (122,719 euros) and median was unchanged at $127,990 (100,000 euros), compared with day two last year. Arqana does not include private sales when computing average price and median.
Through two sessions, total receipts are down 32.9% at $25,161,555 (19,659,000 euros), but the buy-back rate of 29.5% indicates there are plenty of buyers looking for quality yearlings.
One of the quality offerings went to Sir Robert Ogden, who secured a filly from the first crop of champion Teofilo for $511,960 (400,000 euros) from the consignment of breeder Ecurie des Monceaux. The session-topping filly is a half sister to two stakes winners, including 2004 Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1) (French Derby) winner Blue Canari. She is out of the winning Trempolino mare Delicieuse Lady, by Trempolino.
Teofilo, by leading sire Galileo (Ire), has 113 yearlings in his first crop. The 2006 European champion two-year-old male stood the 2010 season at Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, for about $25,600 (20,000 euros).
John Ferguson, adviser to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, purchased the top-priced colt of the session when he went to $460,764 (360,000 euros) for a chestnut colt by French classic winner Shamardal. Offered by Haras des Granges, the colt is a half brother to stakes winner Shamalgan, third in this year’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Fr-G1) (French Two Thousand Guineas).
The Shamardal colt is out of the winning Unfuwain mare Genevale, a half sister to Grade 2 winners and sires Jaunatxo and Iron Deputy.
For hip-by-hip results, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
