The fourth and last day of Arqana’s Breeding Stock Sale in Deauville, France, on Dec. 11, saw gross sales reach 17,595,000 euros ($25,814,680), marginally up on the 17,452,000 euros ($25,604,876) in 2006.
A lot more mares and fillies were offered this year - 825 as against 601 in 2006, with 530 selling (491 in 2006). The percentage of horses sold dropped sharply, down to 64% from nearly 82% last year.
The average fell nearly 7% to 33,198 euros ($48,707), down from 35,544 euros ($52,149) in 2006.
The top price of the sale was for Jambu, a half sister to grade I scorer Aube Indienne from the family of Flying Spur and Encosta de Lago, consigned by the Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard, and bought for 750,000 euros ($1,100,370) by Bertrand Le Métayer on behalf of Australian stud owner Roger Langley.
One positive was the fact that 18 lots were sold for 200 000 euros ($293,430) or more as against 10 last year.
Eric Hoyeau, the Arqana president, said: "The Deauville Breeding Stock sale has confirmed its status as one of the world’s leading sales with this year’s edition matching the exceptional aggregate recorded in 2006. Last year the sale made spectacular advances across the board, but thanks to a strong catalogue and the presence of buyers from all over the world this year’s edition reached the same level.
"The many different buyers present came from all over Europe, the United States, South America, South Africa, North Africa, the Middle East and Australia and New Zealand. Buyers from Australia were particularly active with their purchases accounting for about 10% of the turnover," Hoyeau said. "On the other hand the increase in the number of horses offered clearly stretched the market to its limit and next year it is likely that we will revert to a three-day format."