Arqana’s Deauville breeding stock sale ended its four-day run Dec. 7 in France with increases from 2009 of 23.5% in gross revenue to €16,314,000 ($21,743,000 in U.S. funds) and 10.6% in average price to €28,722 ($38,347). The median price declined 14.3% to €12,000 ($15,993).
The clearance rate was 71.8%, with 567 of the 790 horses offered finding new homes. Last year, when the sale was three days long, 75.4% (508) of the 674 horses offered were sold.
In addition, 31 horses were sold privately this year for a gross of €806,500 ($1,074,890), raising the auction’s overall gross to €17,120,500 ($22,817,900), which was up 24.8% from 2009’s total that included private sales.
“A turnover of €17 million is a positive surprise, as it is almost a return to the figures of 2006, which were achieved in a radically different environment – the market was euphoric,” said Arqana president Eric Hoyeau. “Let’s not forget that before 2005, this sale did not gross more than €7 million per year. This shows that the Deauville breeding stock market has kept growing despite the uncertain environment.
“We are also pleased to see that trade remained strong enough during the last two days, while one could have feared difficulties to absorb a larger catalog,” Hoyeau continued. “The change in format, from three days to four, also carried a risk that some buyers could leave at the end of the third session, yet the NH (National Hunt) profiles cataloged on Tuesday (Dec. 7) helped attract a fresh clientele.
“We are very satisfied to reap the fruits of the important international promotion we have carried out. Japan and Australia were particularly active this year, the first participation of Indian buyers was very promising, Turkish breeders again invested significantly, and on the whole we saw a great diversity of international buyers on all market segments.”
A weanling colt named Action Ball (by Network) was the top seller during the Deauville auction’s final session, bringing €70,000 ($93,295). Produced from the unraced Lute Antique mare Hugie, he is a full brother to two stakes winners over jumps (Quecy de Chadzeau and Rubi Ball).
British owners Louise Kemble and Patrick Atkinson purchased Action Ball. Haras de Saint Voir consigned the colt to dissolve a partnership.