Edited Arqana press release
The Arqana December breeding stock sale ended its three-day run in Deauville, France Dec. 8 with significant downturns in its key business figures. When compared to the results from a year ago, when the auction was four days in length, the median price suffered the biggest loss, falling 40.0%. The gross revenue dropped 31.5%, and the average price declined 21.8%.
The 464 horses sold (from 656 offered) grossed 12,077,500 euros (approximately $15,367,653) and averaged 26,029 euros ($33,120). The median was 10,000 euros ($12,724). In 2007, the 530 horses sold grossed 17,636,000 euros. The average was 33,275 euros, and the median was 14,000 euros.
This year, 15 horses were sold privately, grossing 284,000 euros ($361,367). Last year, 35 horses were sold privately for 925,000 euros.
The top-priced horse sold during the auction’s final session was Royale Athenia, a stakes winner over jumps in France. Offered by Haras d’Etreham, she was purchased for 300,000 euros ($381,726) by trainer Robert Collet. Produced from the 26-year-old Crystal Palace mare Cystalza, Royale Athenia (by Garde Royale) is a full sister to stakes winner Royal Rosa and a half-sister to four other added-money winners.
Royale Athenia is in foal to Poliglote.
The results for the last session were 142 horses sold (from 221 offered), a gross of 1,505,500 euros ($1,915,628), an average of 10,602 euros ($13,490), and a median of 6,000 euros ($7,635) .