Europe's yearling sale season makes its traditional return Aug. 15 in the picturesque surroundings of Deauville on the Normandy coast of France. Arqana has catalogued 515 lots for its August yearling sale, which runs through Aug. 18.
Last year's sale saw a strong trade, particularly from buyers from across continental Europe and Russia, who hepled produce an aggregate of 37,448,000 euros for the 382 head sold and an average price of 98,031 euros. The median price was 60,000 euros; the top price for an individual horse was 1.4 million euro; and 110 lots brought six-figure amounts.
Galileo, now arguably Europe's premier stallion, has 18 offspring catalogued, among them lot 28 - a half-brother to group I winner Reve D'Oscar.
Lot 25, Next High -- a High Chaparral half-brother to group I winners Next Desert and Next Gina -- is one of the best-bred colts on show, a comment that also applies to lot 40, a Cape Cross half-brother to dual group I winner Saddex, consigned by the Niarchos family's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
There are some eye-catching filly pedigrees including those of lot 35, a Rock Of Gibraltar half-sister to Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner Red Rocks consigned by Ballylinch Stud; lot 37, a Sadler's Wells half-sister to Prix Maurice de Gheest (Fr-I) winner King Charlemagne; lot 71 a Gone Westgranddaughter of Alidiva offered by Watership Down Stud, and lot 73, an Empire Maker filly out of multiple grade I winner You.
Taylor Made Farm is acting as a vendor, offering lot 17 -- a Distorted Humor filly out of a half-sister to Epsom Oaks winner Light Shift -- through Haras des Capucines.
Marc de Chambure's Haras d'Etreham has the biggest consignment with 66 yearlings catalogued, while Coolmore rookie Footstepsinthesand is the best-represented freshman sire with 13 lots on offer.
Arqana has set up a dedicated English language website, www.thesalesparadise.com, to cover all aspects of the August sale.