By Kelsey Riley
The European sales circuit moves to France this weekend for its annual curtain closer, Arqana's four-day December Breeding Stock Sale, and the company's Deauville sales ground was buzzing Friday under sunny skies on a picture-perfect December day. The international crowd that has come to be expected at these big events was continuing to filter in Friday, with representatives from all parts of Europe, the U.S., Japan and Australia inspecting the 993 lots on offer.
Arqana Managing Director Olivier Delloye was upbeat about the weather and the crowd, both human and equine.
“It's a very sunny day and I've never seen such a lovely day to inspect mares and fillies and foals at the December Breeding Stock Sale,” he said. “I think that pleases everyone. The right people are here; it's been busy all morning so we'll see how it goes [Saturday].”
Coulonces Consignment sends out a top-class draft of 32, including L'Amour De Ma Vie (Dansili {GB}) (lot 162)–the only mare in foal to Galileo (Ire) to be offered at public auction in Europe this year–and that operation's Etienne Drion noted they had been busy with inspections.
“We got here Wednesday afternoon to give the horses time to settle in,” he explained. “[Thursday] was good, it picked up a bit in the evening and then [Friday] it's been going non-stop. There's a good crowd, lots of foreign people and all the people you'd want to see here.”
Nicolas de Chambure, whose 22-strong draft at Haras d'Etreham includes the Galileo (Ire) mare Embellishment (Ire) in foal to Kingman (GB) (lot 177), said he was pleased to see the recent attacks in Paris hadn't seemed to deter many visitors.
“There's a nice group of international people, some Americans, Japanese and of course people from Europe,” he said. “I was a little afraid with everything that's happening in France that we might be lacking a few of the foreigners but everyone seems to be here. The fact that the Euro is a little weak compared to some other currencies may help as well.”
The Seitz family of Brookdale Farm in Kentucky enjoyed a homerun result as a consignor at last week's Tattersalls sale when Saltanat (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), a mare they bought for €20,000 at Arqana last year, made 170,000gns from Rabbah Bloodstock. Saltanat's half-sister Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) gave the page the ultimate update when winning the G1 Investec Oaks in June, and the 5-year-old mare sold in foal to Sidney's Candy. Brothers Joe and Freddy Seitz are back in Deauville in search of another Saltanat, and Joe Seitz said, “This sale is similar to what it was last year. We bought Qualify's half-sister out of this sale last year. My brother Freddy picked her out, so this sale's been good to us.”
Reflecting on the Northern Hemisphere breeding stock market as it nears it conclusion, Seitz added, “It seems like the market has polarized. People are gravitating towards the safe horses and they might spend a little more on the safe horses than they would in the past. Some horses that are questionable might sell for less than they would in the past.”
Tuesday's session grew by seven Friday when it was announced seven stallions belonging to ex-National Studs would be auctioned at the beginning of the day. They are Network (Ger), Crossharbour (GB), Khalkevi (Ire), Lauro (Ger), Policy Maker (Ire), Racinger (Fr) and Spanish Moon.
The Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale kicks off Saturday at 11 a.m. local time and continues through Tuesday. Visit www.arqana.com for the catalogue.
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