First Day of Arqana Breeding Stock Sale Smashes Records

Media Release - Sunday December 4

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

Malavath

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).

Advertisement

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

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.”

BURGARITA knocked down for €1,700,000
 
A little earlier in the day, Anthony Stroud came up against Alexandra Saint-Martin (ASM Bloodstock) for the very talented BURGARITA (lot 177) from Baroda Stud. The former had the final say at €1.7 million for the Andre Fabre trained filly, that is a dual Listed winner and was placed in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr.1).
 
A daughter of Sea The Stars, she is out of ANGELITA, a sister to the excellent ANGARA that hails from the family of ARCANGUES, AGATHE, AQUARELISTE and ARTISTE ROYAL.
 
“She’s a lovely filly,” said the agent, who purchased her for Godolphin. "She is by Sea The Stars from a superb family. “She’s the one we wanted to buy, and she ran very well in the Prix de Diane. We’re very happy. She’ll be covered by Dubawi.’
 
Group winner HELLO YOU for Shadai Farm at 1.55 million
 
The story of HELLO YOU (195) began at Deauville, when she was offered by Haras du Mezeray at the Select Yearling Sale. Bought by Robson Aguiar for €350,000, she returned once again to Deauville this evening, this time consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux.
 
The winner of the Rockfel Stakes (Gr.2) at Newmarket and placed at Group level on several occasions, the Amo Racing owned filly trained by David Loughnane was subject to a lot of interest from buyers. The Shadai Farm team went to €1.155 million to secure the daughter of Invincible Spirit from the close family of Group 1 winner SIGNS OF BLESSING.
 
Bred by Serge Boucheron, she hails from the family of NAZOO, the dam of G1 winners NADIA and SOPHIE P.
 
Representing Shadai, Takuya Fujita said, “My first impression when I saw her here at Deauville was the right one. Her race record is excellent and she’s a magnificent filly. We don’t know yet if she’ll stay in training or go to stud, we’re still undecided.”
 
Wild Card TIMES SQUARE goes to Australia for 1.25 million
 
Added to the sale as a Wild Card, Prix de Saint-Cyr (L.) winner TIMES SQUARE (lot 180) was eagerly awaited in the ring. Also placed in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr.1) and the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Gr.1), the daughter of Zarak was knocked down for €1.25 million.
 
Hubie de Burgh and James Harron had the final say for the filly. “We had some big opponents and we wanted to do everything to get her, said Hubie de Burgh. She’ll go to Australia, where she will stay in training. She’s a beautiful filly, and dual Group 1 placed. Zarak has proved himself in Europe and her half-sister is also Group placed. She has everything to be a good broodmare afterwards.”
 
The sale continues.
 
Arqana Release
 
Advertisment
More Reading...
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Quantity and quality in Rich Hill Stud’s Online Breeding Stock Sale draft
Rich Hill Stud is a prominent player in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, offering more than 10 percent of the 87-lot catalogue.
Daylight Debut 2YO Winner for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot (GB) is coming back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and he added a 12th Aussie 2YO winner for this season to his tally at Ballarat on Tuesday with an impressive debut winner in the Myracehorse colours.
Carrazzo Melbourne Sport of Kings Tax Talk
It gives Baumgartners great pleasure to announce that Paul Carrazzo’s “Sport of Kings” horse tax talk returns to Inglis Melbourne on Wednesday 13 August.
NZB Counts Down to 100th National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026, set to take place at NZB’s Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January, will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand.   
Invincible Filly Wins on Debut
There were some nicely bred three year-old fillies looking to shed maiden status at Canterbury on Wednesday in the opening race and it was $850,000 I Am Invincible filly Infusion that got the job done at the first time of asking.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 9
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 8
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
FBT Exempt Vehicles and The Private Use Trap
Dealing with the complex Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) is one of the many financial challenges that regional breeding and racing operations must face. Any relief from this tax is very welcome!
Day 1 Tattersalls July - Humam Top Seller 190,000 guineas
The opening day of the Tattersalls July Sale saw solid trade headed by the Kingsclere Training Stables consigned HUMAM at 190,000 guineas, one of six lots to realise over 100,000 guineas. A typically international buying bench saw purchasers from France, Libya, Qatar and the UAE as well as Great Britain and Ireland represented in the day’s top ten lots.