Arqana staged its single-session February Mixed Sale on Tuesday, which returned an average, median and aggregate well up on last year's figures. From a slightly smaller catalogue, 199 horses were sold for €2,069,900, compared to 237 sold for €1,691,400 last year. The average was up 45.8% at €10,402, while the median climbed 11% to €5,000. The buyback rate was the only figure to take a hit; it climbed to 24.3% from 19% last year.
Coulonces Consignment sent out the two highest-priced flat-bred offerings of the day. The 8-year-old mare Desert Red (Ire) (Green Desert) lot 163, the dam of the Listed St Hugh's S. winner Whatdoiwantthatfor (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) offered in foal to Zoffany (Ire), fetched €81,000 from NACL Associates. The most expensive short yearling of the sale was the €70,000 Olympic Glory (Ire) half-sister to Group 3-winning sprinter Home of the Brave (Ire), who is by another son of Choisir (Aus) in Starspangledbanner (Aus). The Olympic Glory filly, lot 292, was picked up by Agence Fips.
There was a considerable drop in price down the next highest price on the leaderboard: lot 190, the 4-year-old Italian stakes-winning filly Catalina Bay (Ire) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}), was bought by Federico Barberini for €47,000.
The most expensive flat-performed horse-in-training was Prestige Vendome (Fr) (Orpen), who was picked up by Guy Pariente for €40,000. Lot 169, offered by the Nicolas Clement stable, was a stakes winner at two and second in the 2014 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at three, and is a half-brother to Style Vendome (Fr) (Anabaa), who won that Classic for the same stable the year before.
The only two lots to surpass the six-figure mark on the day were National Hunt offerings, the geldings Roi Mage (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}) and Gianicolo AA (Fr) (Balko {Fr}) that were consigned by trainer Francois Nicolle for owner/breeder Luc Gabeur to dissolve partnerships. Gabeur bought out his partners and signed for both horses under the name Sofiga for €210,000 and €150,000, respectively.
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