Written by TDN Europe & Renee Geelen
Saturday evening's Arqana Arc Sale is always a boutique affair, and this year there were four seven-figure lots to sell among the 40 offered with the gross passing the €10 million (AU$16 million) mark for the first time.
Twenty-five of the 40 lots sold for a gross of €10,380,000 (up 5.8 per cent).
The median rose by 14.3 per cent to €280,000 (AU$450,000), up from €245,000 (AU$394,000) in 2023.
The average gained 35.4 per cent to €415,200 (AU$668,000), up from €306,594 (AU$492,000) in 2023.
The clearance rate was 62.5 per cent, compared to 2023 when 32 of the 42 horses sold (76 per cent).
Arqana's president Olivier Delloye and executive director Freddy Powell said, “We would like to thank our vendors for the exceptional horses that they have entrusted us with this evening, as well as our buyers who have once again turned out in force. Some of them have been coming for decades. Their trust in us enables this sale to establish itself a little more as an unrivalled international event each year.”
Lion Rock purchase Arqana Arc Sale-topper
Saturday's G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein hero Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) went the way of Lion Rock Bloodstock for €1.5 million (AU$2.4 million) at Saint-Cloud to top the sale. Consigned by Christopher Head, the bay son of Raushan (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) (Lot 41) and half-brother to G3 Hoppings S. second Rasima (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) is a homebred for Nurlan Bizakov's operation.
Lot 41 - Ramadan (Fr) | Image courtesy of Arqana
Besides collecting the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein earlier in the day, Ramadan has also accrued victories in the G3 Prix Daphnis, G3 Prix de Fontainebleau and Listed Prix Omnium II throughout the year.
His dam is a full sister to G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Chinese White (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) with the duo out of G3 Blandford S. winner Chiang Mai (Sadler's Wells {USA}), herself a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane victress Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), who is the dam of influential stallions Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB).
German Derby winner sells for €1.4 million
Highflyer Bloodstock signed the ticket at €1.4 million (AU$2.25 million) for G1 Deutsches Derby hero Palladium (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}) (Lot 34). Part of the OH Consignment, the 3-year-old son of stakes winner and G1 Premio Lydia Tesio second Path Wind (Fr) (Anabaa) is a half-brother to Panjari (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a stakes winner in both France and Germany.
Lot 34 - Palladium (Ger) | Image courtesy of Arqana
Bred by Gestut Fahrhof, Palladium originally made €80,000 (AU$128,000) as a BBAG September yearling on the bid of Liberty Racing.
That entity, run by Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, won the 2023 edition of the German Derby with Sea The Moon (Ger)'s Fantastic Moon (Ger). Fantastic Moon runs in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, while Palladium is booked into the G2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club in Milan next weekend.
Zarir heads to Australia after Cox spends €1.3 million
Aga Khan Studs' Zarir (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will head to Australia. Offered by his breeder, Lot 38 caught the eye of Vin Cox on behalf of Paulins Racing to the tune of €1.3 million (AU$2.09million).
Lot 38 - Zarir (Ire) | Image courtesy of Arqana
From the same female family as Arc heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar), the 4-year-old gelding has been placed in the G1 Prix Ganay, G3 La Coupe and G2 Prix Foy this season. He holds an entry in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy in mid-November, but his participation is doubtful with Australia firmly to the fore for his new connections.
“He'll go to Australia,” said Cox. “He looks to have the potential to be a good stayer. We're delighted to have been able to get a horse of his quality and bred by the Aga Khan Studs, and we can't wait to see him run Down Under.”
“He (Zarir) looks to have the potential to be a good stayer. We're delighted to have been able to get a horse of his quality and bred by the Aga Khan Studs, and we can't wait to see him run Down Under.” - Vin Cox
Trafalgar Square the other seven figure lot
Trafalgar Square (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) duly attracted plenty of attention and hammered at €1.15 million (AU$1.85million) to Libyan owner Omar Ismil Sh Ghrghar as the fourth seven-figure horse of the night.
The 3-year-old gelding, a listed winner in April, also sports a trio of group placings on his record prior to a win in the valuable Arqana Series des 3 Ans on August 15.
Lot 54 - Trafalgar Square (Fr) | Image courtesy of Arqana
The Ecurie X-bred was 2l adrift of Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) when second in the G2 Prix Chaudenay on Saturday. An €80,000 (AU$128,000) Arqana August yearling when purchased by Yellow Agency, he is a half-brother to the stakes-winning G1 Prix Marcel Boussac second and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third Times Square (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}).
Neasham and OTI purchase progressive Chartwell
Trainer Annabel Neasham teamed up with OTI to purchase 3-year-old colt Chartwell (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) at the Arqana Arc Sale for €260,000 (AU$418,000).
Lot 49 - Chartwell (Fr) | Image courtesy of Arqana
Winner of three of his nine starts, he was last seen in the G3 Prix Gerald de Geoffre where he ran second to Columbus (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the 3000-metre event at ParisLongchamp on September 1.
“This colt is an imposing type with great size and scope, and most of the Churchill progeny continue to keep improving with age so we feel the best is all ahead with this exciting young stayer. He is the type of horse we plan to target for distance races such as the Sydney and Brisbane Cups and hopefully can mature into a Cups horse for the Spring this time next year,” said Neasham.
“He (Chartwell) is the type of horse we plan to target for distance races such as the Sydney and Brisbane Cups and hopefully can mature into a Cups horse for the Spring this time next year.” - Annabel Neasham
