Two lots in close succession during day 2 of the Arqana Summer Sale achieved the same sale-topping price tag of €380,000. Lot 318 ZUBAYR, form the ever-popular draft of the Aga Khan Studs, was the subject of a protracted bidding war involving Willie Mullins’ agent Harold Kirk, Highflyer Bloodstock and Paul Nicholls, who jumped into the fray at €330,000 bidding via agent Tom Malone. The three-year-old son of Authorized was placed on both his starts to date for Alain de Royer-Dupré. “He is a very nice type who goes on soft ground and has a lot of potential,” said Malone. “It s a lot of money and we didn’t expect to have to pay that much but the fact is that everyone wanted him.” Nicholls notably trains fellow Aga Khan-bred ZARKANDAR, who has won 9 Graded races over jumps, most recently the 2014 Grand Prix d’Automne at Auteuil.

Minutes later, Wild Card entry HIGH DYNAMITE (lot 380) commanded the exact same price when selling to Gai Waterhouse via Johnny McKeever, who was bidding over the phone. The three-year-old was trained by Antoine de Watrigant to take second in both the Gr.3 Prix Noailles over and Listed Prix Maurice Caillault.

Lot 315, ASANGY, another Wild Card addition to the catalogue, attracted interest from a range of buyers but it was Toby Jones who prevailed at €225,000. Trained by Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti, the three-year-old son of Gentlewave won his last three outings including a pair of handicaps at Maisons-Laffitte and Longchamp over 2400m. “Physically he is a very nice horse, and he also showed a great attitude in his races,” the young agent commented. “He will go jumping in Ireland for an existing client of mine. We will geld him first and take our time with him. He was pretty much at the top end of our budget and I think it is a reflection of the market: the good horses make good money.”

Harold Kirk, bidding alongside Willie Mullins and Pierre Boulard, signed for a pair of six-figure lots headed by TOWNSHEND (lot 301), a four-year-old entire who cost €170,000. The son of Lord Of England trained by Joel Boisnard won impressively at Auteuil since the catalogued was printed, on only his second start over hurdles. “It was his win at Auteuil that made the difference and convinced us to buy him,” said Boulard. “He showed a big heart that day, I loved his attitude and the way he finished. He’s not a big horse and will probably stay over hurdles but he looks a very exciting type.”
The same team had signed earlier at €140,000 for lot 275 BURGAS, a four-year-old AQPS offered from the yard of Philippe Peltier and placed on all his three outings to date, both over hurdles and fences. The team was returning to the well from which they bought DOUVAN, still unbeaten in 4 starts for Willie Mullins including the Gr.1 Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham and Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. “We've been lucky buying from Philippe Peltier so we were very keen on this horse”, stated Kirk. “He is a big backward four-year-old who looks like he could make a nice three-mile chaser. We'll send him to the field for six weeks then start him off over hurdles but his future is over fences.”

During the second and final day of the Summer Sale, 114 of the 161 horses on offer changed hands (70%), a clearance rate down from the previous year where it has reached an excellent 83.24%. The average price progressed 11% to reach €28,097, while the turnover settled at €3,176,500 (-15%). Overall, the two-day sale grossed €5,486,000 for an average price of €25,917 with 211 horses sold from 332 offered (64%).

As proceedings drew to a close, Eric Hoyeau, President of ARQANA, commented, “Today we saw two horses sell for €380,000, a record price at this sale. One of them will go jumping and the other is bound for Australia, which perfectly illustrates the variety of clients interested in the right profiles. Overall, the horses who met the buyers’ expectations sold for good prices, and the turnover in the horses in training category was the third highest in the history of this sale. Horses in training sales depend very much on opportunities to put horses on the market, which is why figures can vary significantly fro one year to the next. Regarding the stores, the market proved selective but there was some solid trade for the good individuals.”