A vintage renewal of the Arc Sale, held on the eve of Europe’s richest raceday, Longchamp’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe fixture, returned a record aggregate of €7,774,000, up 20% from 2014, which was already a record figure. The clearance rate of 76% was also a record, with 32 of the 42 horses in training on offer changing hands. The average price was €242,938, down 9%.

Belgian-born Jean-François Gribomont, breeder and co-owner of Arc-runner PRINCE GIBRALTAR (lot 43) forked out €1,350,000 to buy out his partners, Hervé Morin’s Ecurie La Vallée Martigny and Eric Pokrovsky’s Ecurie du Loup who held 50% of the five-year-old. The son of Rock Of Gibraltar won the Gr.1 Grosser Preis von Baden in impressive fashion last time out, his second Group 1 title as he also secured the Gr.1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud as a juvenile. Hervé Bunel of Agence FIPS signed the docket and commented, “This horse is the apple of Mr. Gribomont’s eye, his favourite horse ever. He bred him and has always been his biggest fan. I hope he will continue to make him proud tomorrow.” Gribomont added that Prince Gibraltar would stand at stud in France.

The second lot of the evening to break the seven-figure barrier was the three-year-old filly WEKEELA (lot 43), who was at the centre of a bidding duel between Andreas Putsch of Haras de Saint-Pair and Oceanic Bloodstock’s Michel Zerolo. It was the latter who prevailed at €1.1 million for the Prix de l’Opéra entry, already the winner of the Gr.3 Prix Chloé and second in the Gr.1 Prix Saint-Alary this season. “I have bought her on behalf of Martin Schwartz”, stated Zerolo, “She will join his usual trainer Chad Brown in America. It was the upper limit of his budget but he was really in love with this filly.” Schwartz has already enjoyed some tremendous successes with his purchases at the Arc Sale, headed by Classic heroine ELUSIVE WAVE, whom he purchased for €660,000 as a Group-winning juvenile.

Gérard Larrieu of Chantilly Bloodstock Agency was the under-bidder on the sale-topper acting on behalf of Qatari clients, but he did have the final word at €600,000 on lot 40, Wild Card entry LA BERMA. The filly, who was runner-up at Group 2 and Group 3 level this season, will also contest a Group 1 tomorrow, the Prix de la Forêt this time, and she too will remain in the same colours after majority owner Jean-Louis Bouchard bought out his partners’ half-share.

SPIRITJIM (lot 50), the second Arc-runner to go through the ring, was knocked down for €570,000 to Ting Kong Cheng’s Sun Bloodstock, bidding over the phone via Freddy Powell. The son of Galileo and half-brother to Classic winner SILVER FROST was first past the post in last year’s Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and showed a return to his best level of form on his latest outing, running second to POSTPONED in the Arc Trial Gr.2 Prix Foy.

Qatari investors proved very active throughout the evening. Wertheimer et Frère’s lightly-raced three-year-old EXTREMIS (lot 18), a cosy Listed winner last time out, was bought by Gérard Larrieu of Chantilly Bloodstock Agency for €500,000 on behalf of Qatari clients. Leading Qatari owner Mohammed Al Ansari also signed for three horses led by €500,000 purchase LITTLE NIGHTINGALE (lot 24), who is a declared runner in tomorrow’s Gr.1 Prix de l’Opéra. The owner, who was accompanied by his trainer Ahmed Kobeissi, has tasted success in the Qatari Derby with the former Coolmore-owned BEETHOVEN, indicated that this race would be the filly’s aim after her race in the Prix de l’Opéra. The Wildenstein Stables homebred Little Nightingale only has five races under her belt so far, including a victory in the Gr.3 Prix Cléopâtre and third place in the Gr.1 Prix de Diane this year.

Eric Hoyeau, President of ARQANA, commented on the day’s strong strade: “This sale is unique in many ways. It is encapsulated in Europe’s richest and most prestigious weekend of racing and offers owners from around the world a chance to buy a live chance in a Group 1 race held only hours after the sale. We are thrilled to have seen so many different buyers from Europe, America, Dubai, Qatar, Asia as well as the National Hunt fraternity take an interest, including several new faces. We wish the very best of luck to all tomorrow’s runners.”