The second half of Arqana October’s part two Oct. 19 saw trade settle down at a notch below Wednesday’s prices, though a clearance rate remained buoyant throughout the session, proof of some level of satisfaction for vendors.
Leading the way was a striking son of Toronado (Lot 434) consigned by the Garcon family’s Haras de la Hotellerie on behalf of breeder Raymond Luce, and finally secured by trainer Joel Boisnard at €130,000 (US$137,238, €1=US$1.05).
Bidding from the restaurant, Boisnard signed for his new purchase before turning his concentration on the screen relaying events across the road at Deauville racecourse.
“It’s done,” he said as First Drem held on by a short neck to land the all-weather handicap, though it’s possible his mind was also drifting back to Prix de Diane day in 2007, when Boisnard formed part of a full podium for the provinces behind a Frankie Dettori-inspired West Wind for Alex Pantall, and the Francois Rohaut-trained Mrs Lindsay.
Boisnard’s finest result in a Classic came courtesy of the Ashkalani filly Diyakalanie, none other than the dam of the lot he had just battle so hard to acquire. Not that it was purely sentiment that drove the Senonnes man’s determination to have the last word.
“He’s out of the best mare I have ever trained, though I always hope there will be another one that comes along,” said Boisnard, a very fine operator in both codes and one with evidence close at hand that the colt might prove adept over jumps as well as on the Flat.
“He’s out of a very good Flat mare I but I also think I have a son of hers who could turn out to be a great horse at Auteuil,” said Boisnard, alluding to Diyashal, a 3-year-old by Shalaa that has already clocked up a win over hurdles at French jump racing’s HQ, backed up with a winning chase debut at Compiegne earlier this week.
Returning to the Toronado colt, Boisnard added: “I love his model and he vetted very well so all the lights are green, though you can never guarantee anything. It’s his physique that really won me over.”
By the end of business the clearance rate had risen from a respectable 80% halfway through the session to finish just shy of 90%—only 18 of the 176 failed to find a buyer—evidence that trainers in France and further afield were extremely active across the day.
Taking the two days of part two together, the average price compared to 2021—the last time the sale was configured this way—fell 12% to €30,447, while the median also declined from €28,000 to €23,000.
