The Arqana December yearling sale in Deauville, France, enjoyed a victory of sorts when it suffered moderate losses in gross revenue and average price instead of experiencing the huge setbacks that have plagued many other recent auctions. The gross was down 12.3% from a year ago, and the average fell 10.7%. However, the median price dropped 33.3% Dec. 9.
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 Aga Khan Studs sold the four most expensive horses – including Alpine Rose, who brought 550,000 euros -- during the second session of the Arqana December breeding stock sale in France Dec. 7.
Alix Road, a 5-year-old daughter of Linamix, brought the top price of 310,000 euros to top the opening session of the Arqana December breeding stock sale in France. Xaviar Bozo's Intercontinental Bloodstock purchased her from Hara des Capucines Dec. 6.
Tony Lacy of Four Star Sales is the new North American representative for Arqana, a Thoroughbred auction firm that is based in France.
The market was upbeat at Arqana's autumn sale of horses in training at Saint-Cloud in France Nov. 17. The average price for the one-day auction (down from two in 2007) of 20,688 euros was almost the same as last year's 20,959-euro average. The 93 horses sold grossed 1,924,000 euros, which was down 6.3% from last year's total of 2,054,000 euros for 98 horses.
Arqana's select sale of horses in training in France Oct. 4 generated an impressive average price of 154,000 euros ($212,967), which was a 25.8% increase over the 2007 figure of 122,429 euros.
The Arqana yearling sale at Deauville, France, ended up in all areas after the fourth and final day Aug. 18, with the aggregate nearly reaching 40 million euros.
While business was conducted on a lower scale during the third day of the Arqana yearling sale at Deauville in France Aug. 17, the final results maintained the upward momentum seen on the first two days.
Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud was a powerful force on the second day of the Arqana yearling sale in Deauville, France, Aug. 16, buying the top two lots.
A couple of buyers new to the European bloodstock scene helped Arqana's August yearling sale begin on a bright note in Deauville, France, Aug. 15.
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 cataloged 515 lots for its August yearling sale, which runs through Aug. 18.
A daughter of Hawk Wing topped the third session of Arqana's Deauville Sale in France, the country's principal yearling sale, the evening of Aug. 19.
The first major yearling sale in Europe begins Aug. 17 in the coastal French village of Deauville, where 512 horses have been entered. The first two days of the four-day sale are select sessions.
A sale record was set at Arqana's December sale at Deauville during the opening session Dec. 2, when the mare Mandalara (Lahib - Madiriya by Diesis) was sold for 1.7 million euros (about $2,255,169) to Japanese agent Nobutaka Tada.
