The curtain will fall on the European flat sales season over the next four days as Arqana plays host to their December Breeding Stock Sale. After a marathon three weeks with Goffs and Tattersalls running back to back, most horsemen will be looking forward to some downtime before the New Year. However, the stock produced from this auction in the past makes this seasonal finale in Deauville a must attend for breeders and traders alike. The dams of both Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) were graduates of Arqana in December, albeit for the contrasting amounts of €16,000 and €525,000, respectively, which itself proves why it is a sale that appeals to such a wide spectrum of buyers.
Selling, which comprises of broodmares, fillies in and out of training, foals, six stallions and two stallion shares, commences today at 11am local time with Part I of the sale being the focus. This select one day session is then followed by Part II over the next three days. Potential box office lots on Saturday include Parvaneh (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 178), a 3-year-old filly who won two group races in Germany this year in addition to being group placed as a juvenile; Camprock (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) (lot 158), winner of the G3 Prix Penelope and a narrow second in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary and a daughter of G3 Prix Corrida winner Camporese (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) from the family of the exceptional producer Hasili; and Steip Amach (Ire) (Vocalised) (lot 168), a dual Group 3 winner in Ireland for her breeder Jim Bolger before finishing third in the G1 Prix Rothschild and G1 Prix Jean Romanet.
Among the foals catalogued, the Seitz family's Brookdale Farm offer a pair of fillies that include lot 80, a February born filly by Dansili (GB) (Danehill), the first produce out of the mare Reimpose (First Defence) who the farm purchased out of the Juddmonte draft at Tattersalls in 2014 for 270,000gns. Her pedigree is replete with stakes winners including MGISWs Flute (Seattle Slew) and Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Lot 143 from Haras des Capucines is another foal likely to generate interest. She is by Sea The Stars (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) out of the stakes winning Peinture Rose (Storm Cat) who is a half-sister to the brilliant Peintre Celebre (Nureyev).
Of the broodmares catalogued, Elayouna (Fr) (Dr Fong) (lot 111) certainly qualifies as a standout, being a half-sister to triple Group 1 and Classic winner Ervedya (Fr) and offered in foal to Siyouni (Fr). Also carrying their first foals by Siyouni are Sweet Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (lot 115), a listed-placed daughter of G1 Prix Vermeille winner Sweet Stream (Ity) (Shantou); and Upbeat Mood (Mizzen Mast) (lot 141), a listed-placed half-sister to G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Antonoe (First Defence).
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