(Edited Arqana press release)
The second day of Arqana’s Deauville yearling sale in France Aug. 14 was more solid than the sluggish first session, with the average price increasing 1% from a year ago to €122,719 ($157,209 in U.S. funds) and a stable median price of €100,000 ($128,105).
The smaller number of yearlings offered during the second session (91 as opposed to 105 in 2009) contributed to a 15% decline in the gross to €7,854,000 ($10,061,400). But 12 horses fetched €200,000 ($256,210) or more, the same number as a year ago.
A filly from the first crop of Darley stallion Teofilo brought second day’s top price of €400,000 ($512,420). Sir Robert Ogden purchased her from Haras des Monceaux. The yearling is out of Delicieuse Lady.
“We are very pleased to see that the market has picked up on the second day,” said Arqana president Eric Hoyeau. “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. 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 thorough thought after the four days are over.”
