An unmissable event for the European breeding industry, the ARQANA Vente d’Élevage began this morning with the first day entirely devoted to the first part of the catalogue.
The quality of the catalogue was demonstrated by the fact that all the indicators reached exceptional levels. At this stage, the turnover of Part I is €45,882,000, already exceeding the 4-day turnover of the record edition of 2021. Of the 238 mares, fillies and foals that passed through the ring, 79% were sold (+6 points compared to 2021) for an average price of €244,045, a 17% increase.
In total, 23 mares and fillies were sold for €500,000 or more compared to 13 last year and 7 of them made €1 million or more (compared to 5 in 2021).
Following the first day, Eric Hoyeau, President of ARQANA and Freddy Powell, Executive Director, commented, "We would like to sincerely thank all our vendors for entrusting us with a collection of exceptional mares, fillies and foals which allowed us to gather a remarkable panel of buyers from the United States, Australia, Europe, Japan etc. We would also like to thank all our buyers for this record-breaking session and wish them every success."
The excellent MALAVATH makes an historic top price of €3,2 million
The ring was buzzing when it came to the turn of Group winner and Group 1 placed MALAVATH (lot 199) to go under the hammer from Écurie des Monceaux. Bought at the ARQANA Breeze-Up by David Redvers and Ghislain Bozo (Meridian International) last year, the Francis-Henri Graffard trained filly took the Critérium de Maisons-Laffite (Gr.2) before finishing runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Gr.1) at Del Mar last year.
This season, she took the Prix Imprudence (Gr.3) and finished runner-up in the Qatar Prix de La Foret (Gr.1). She most recently finished with in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (Gr.1). Fiona Craig (Moyglare Stud) signed the docket at €3.2 million for the daughter of Mehmas, out of a sister to Group winner CEISTACH, the dam of STEIP AMACH, a dual Group winner and placed in the Prix Jean Romanet and Prix Rothschild (Gr.1s).
The filly will now go to the United States to be trained by Christophe Clément. “She’s a beautiful filly, and physically she has everything to be a good broodmare. She should bring speed, which we are looking for. She likes the US and has everything to win a G1 over there. That’s the aim."
€2,050,000 for Prix Vermeille (Gr.1) heroine SWEET LADY
Also trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Prix Vermeille (Gr.1) winner SWEET LADY (lot 188) was sold for €2,050,000. The daughter of Lope De Vega started her three-year-old campaign by winning the Prix La Camargo (L.) before taking the Prix de Flore (Gr.3). In the spring, she followed up in the Prix Corrida (Gr.2) before taking the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr.1).
Bernie Sams (Claiborne Farm) had a long bidding war to secure the mare out of Listed scorer HIGH HEEL SNEAKERS. The blue-blooded filly hails from the family of American maternal family of MISS CARMIE, a bloodline that has produced CHRIS EVERT, CHIEF’S CROWN, ETOILE MONTANTE, SIGHTSEEK, SPECIAL DUTY, TATES CREEK, WINNING COLORS, CONFESSIONEL, EXCELLENT ART and DEEP SKY.
“I’ve been looking for mares with good performances and good pedigrees, said Bernie Sams. “She’s a beautiful filly and these opportunities don’t come around very often. She’ll go to England where my client already has some of their mares at stud.”
