Arqana managed to avoid disaster in the face of the growing international
financial crisis at the end of the October Yearling Sale on Wednesday with a set
of figures not far off a previous year of major gains. With a clearance rate of
71 percent and far-from-dramatic falls in average and median — the former
figure of €23,412 was down by 19 percent and
the latter of €18,000 represented a downturn
of 10 percent — the Sales Company’s President Eric Hoyeau was in upbeat mood.
“In such a difficult international context, we can only be satisfied with the
results and particularly with the diversity in the buyers’ list, which is a very
positive sign,” he said. “The French yearling market, measured as the cumulative
turnover of the August and October sales, remains stable in comparison to 2007,
a remarkable performance that only France can claim to have achieved. On behalf
of all at Arqana, I would like to thank the numerous investors who supported
this sale. Many of them got good value for their money and we wish them the best
of success with their purchases, which could well include the next Natagora.”
During the final session, Baron Thierry van Zuylen van Nievelt’s dispersal
took center stage and the day’s Lot No. 9 was offered by Neustrian Associates on
behalf of that renowned owner-breeder. By Anabaa, the filly in question is a
half to the Baron’s top performer Voix du Nord (Valanour [Ire]), who captured
the 2003 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1) before returning the following year to
add the Prix Lupin (Fr-G1) to his tally. The filly’s dam is a half to the
talented duo of Snow Cap (Bering [GB]) and Varxi (Kaldoun), who both carried the
same red-and-white silks and, not surprisingly, it was the trio’s trainer David
Smaga who won the day with a bid of €155,000.
Of the colts, it was Haras de Mandore’s son of Loup Solitaire consigned as
Hip 391 who topped the charts when selling to Bertrand le Metayer Bloodstock for
€65,000. Out of the smart stakes performer
Brisby (Courtroom), he is a full brother to listed scorer Riche Americaine (Fr)
and half to the promising dual conditions winner Tynedale (Muhtathir [GB]).
Full results may be viewed on www.arqana.com.