The Arqana breeding stock sale in Deauville posted powerful results through its first two days of trading Dec. 8-9, with cumulative figures already exceeding 2011 overall numbers.
Cumulative total receipts for 349 horses sold midway through the four-day sale, including 27 private sales, stood at €18,190,000 ($23,473,542), up 4.2% from last year’s final figure of €17,455,000. Cumulative average price of €49,686 ($64,118) is up 67.2% compared with the overall average at the 2011 sale, and cumulative median price is up 90.9% to €21,000 ($27,102).
Michael Youngs, representing Three Chimneys Farm, agent for Goncalo Borges Torrealba, secured the overall highest price thus far, going to €1,175,000 ($1,516,295) on opening day for French classic-placed Wild Wind, who was offered in foal to Galileo.
In an energetic bidding duel with Thierry Delegue, representing a Qatari client, Youngs prevailed to acquire the 4-year-old Danehill Dancer filly who was offered in the Haras des Capucines consignment. Out of the unraced Sadler's Wells mare Woman Secret, the German-bred filly is from the family of English, French, and U.S. champion Miesque, a Racing Hall of Famer. Her grandam is a full sister to elite sire Kingmambo. A listed stakes winner in Ireland for Coolmore and associates, Wild Wind finished third to Golden Lilac in the 2011 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, Fr-I) among eight stakes placings on her record.
The Torrealba family, which operates T N T Stud in Brazil and was among the top buyers at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, recently became a partner in the Clay family’s Three Chimneys in Midway, Ky.
Spin, a 4-year-old Galileo filly, is the sale's second-highest price at €850,000 ($1,096,895) to Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency. She was offered in foal to Fastnet Rock in Anna and Etienne Drion’s Coulonces Consignment. Placed at the group III level in Ireland, Spin is a three-quarter sister to three listed stakes winners and a half sister to group III winner Hearthstead Maison from the family of group I winners Plumania, Falco, and Groom Dancer.
Haras des Capucines also consigned Elletelle, who sold in foal to Galileo for the third highest price so far at €825,000 ($1,064,633) to Adrian Nicoll of BBA Ireland. Winner of the 2007 Queen Mary Stakes (Eng-II) at Royal Ascot, the 7-year-old Elnadim filly was produced by the winning Niniski mare Flamanda.
The sale continues Dec. 10 beginning at 11 a.m. local time.
For hip-by-hip results, visit www.arqana.com.