After experimenting with moving part of its early-season yearling offering to September in 2022, Arqana’s decision to revive its popular v2 sale on the back of the August Sale was rewarded with lively bidding during the Aug. 22 session in Deauville.
The original concept of the v2 was to identify potentially speedy and precocious horses and, while such stock still commands plenty of attention, there is also the chance to buy yearlings by a variety of stallions who might not get much of a look-in during the starry, sire-driven frenzy of the main sale.
While the catalog boasted more yearlings than any of its eight predecessors, Arqana will be delighted with record turnover of €5,560,000 (USD$6,033,212, €1= USD$1.09) at a clearance rate of 84%, while the median price of €30,000 was the third-highest in the sale’s history.
Leading the way from early in the day was Haras de la Louviere’s Kodiac colt, Lot 328, who went to Arthur Hoyeau for €200,000.
Out of the Moss Vale mare Rainbow Vale , the colt is a half brother to the consistent sprinter Prince Lancelot , while the speedy pair of Al Jazi and Soffia are among a number of stakes winners under second dam Rainbows For All.
“He’s been bought for a partnership put together to acquire colts,” said Hoyeau. “He’ll stay here initially and we’ll decide later whether he’s to be trained in France or Britain.
“He was one of my favorite colts in the sale and it’s been hard going over the first three days, so I’m delighted to get him. You have to pay for the nice horses and I think I had Jean-Claude [Rouget] against me, so I knew I’d have to keep going.”
‘We Absolutely Had to Have Her’—Galiway All the Way
The market shared its favors around a number of different stallions, but Galiway enjoyed a fine day, with three of the top 11 lots being by the Haras de Colleville resident.
Leading the way was a granddaughter of top-class racemare Tamazirte, who was runner-up to Elusive Wave in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1) and filled the same spot behind Stacelita in the Prix de Diane (G1) a month later.
This filly’s dam, Bright Pearl, was retired after a single run but her first two foals won five races between them, while she also boasts dual group winner Chachnak as a half brother.
Consigned by Haras de Grandcamp on behalf of Bernard Ducasse and SCEA des Pres Verts, the filly, Lot 405, was secured by Nicolas de Watrigant for €180,000.
The Mandore Agency principal said: “She’s a magnificent Galiway filly out of a Pivotal dam, and I think there’s plenty of him in this filly. She was the one we really fell for across the whole sale and she really stood out, with a very strong walk. We absolutely had to have her, and so fought very hard to get her.
“She’s for Alain Jathiere, who really loved her and was pushing me to go the extra mile. She’ll be trained by Christopher Head.”
Pierre Boulard has ensured that a couple of smart Galiways have made their way to trainer Willie Mullins in recent years, notably Vauban and Gala Marceau.
