Arqana Arabian Racehorse Sale
Saint Cloud, France Oct ‘08 :
By Paul Simmons

It was always going to be hard for Arqana to top last years sale with incomparable Amer son Dahess realising over a million euros. This years sale including some beautifully bred racing Arabians by World class sires Dormane, Al Sakbe, Amer, Akbar, Kesberoy, Tidjani, Prince D’Orient and new sires Munjiz and Darweesh. However, this was not to be a high turnover sale for Arqana, with so much talk of the recession and the credit crunch it was obvious that spending on premium Arabian race horses was a low priority for the racing community.

Many decent horses were led out unsold including the smart full sister to multiple Group 1 winner No Risk Al Maury (winner of back to back Group 1 Dubai Stakes and Champion Arab Race Horse in UK ’08), Nacree Al Maury (Kesberoy x Nectarine Al Maury) had only run twice and was 3rd at Agen in May as well as holding a Breeders Cup entry, but she was led out unsold for 45,000 euros. Wednah (Brusally Orzelost x Esparnida) a prolific broodmare who’s best runner to date is multiple Group 1 winner Eau Royal who won the Group 1 Dubai Stakes and the Qatar Derby, she was led out unsold for the paltry sum of 8,000 euros and was in foal to up and coming sire Darweesh (by Amer).

Top lot was the uber smart performer 3 yr old colt Adjinn D’Aroco (Tidjani x Asbaa D’Aroco), who had won the Prix Noriz as well as being placed in the Prix Tidjani and the Prix Cheri Bibi and held an entry in the Breeders Cup. He was sold for 140,000 euros and was secured by Chantilly Bloodstock Agency. The all powerful Umm Qarn Farms offered Al Fatih ( Amer x Noorah) a former winner of the Juvenile Breeders Cup at Longchamp and 3rd in the Qatar International Derby, he also won the Al Shahania Farm Cup in Doha this year but his form tailed off in Europe this summer, he was sold for 110,000 euros to FBA.

The impeccably bred yearling filly Nyriad (Dormane x Naiada Al Maury) went for 80,000 euros to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faleh Al Thani, she is full sister to Group 1 Kahayala Classic winner Nez D’Or, Group 1 Hatta Stakes heroine Noreen and Group 1 HH Heir Apparent victor Nisaee as well as Qatar winner and up and coming UK sire Concord (who will have his first UK runners in ’09). Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani also went to 22,000 euros to secure Brasilya (Darike x Boreale) a 3 yr old filly who had been placed on both her starts in the Prix Nevada and Prix Fernand Flottes, her dam was useful on her day and won the President of UAE Challenge Derby and was 4th in Group 1 Hatta Stakes back in 2000.

Paul Nataf was a prolific buyer during the sale going to 21,000 to secure 3 yr old colt Vadarevo (Tidjani x Cassels Celeste), a full brother to UK winner Osaira who was also 3rd in the Group 1 Hatta Stakes in’07 and useful UAE performer Ryan Giggs (aka Casani); his form this season had been solid coming 2nd in both the Prix Djelfor and the Prix Djourman before 5th in the Prix Tidjani. The dam line is the American Sprint family that has produced such superstars as Samsheik and Genuine Monarch. Nataf also went to 25,000 euros to secure the smart 3 yr old filly Chinese Dream (Dormane x China Orientale) who was 3rd in the G3 Prix Tidjani; and also Zirya (Dormane x Diraia) a 3yr filly half sister to good performers Zormania, Kaarine and Tarek, who he purchased for 23,000 euros.

Whilst Chantilly Bloodstock bought several beautifully bred individuals including : yearling colt Prince Hamin (Prince D’Orient x Djoulia Du Falgas) for 50,000 euros a half brother to top Group 1 performer Kandar Du Falgas who won the G1 Abu Dhabi Juvenile Championship and the G1 Derby in the UK and the French Derby and Breeders Cup in France; two year old colt Aktar Lotois (Akbar x Larissa Lotoise) for 35,000 euros – this colt is from the powerful dam line that has produced such prolific Group 1 performers as Tidjam Lotois, Kerbel Lotois, Djai Lotois and Kenzo Du Loup; they secured a two year old filly Timoon (Tidjani x Margaux’s Moon) for 20,000 euros, who’s grand dam was the phenomenal Russian bred Group 1 UK performer Duma who won the Russian Oaks and 20 victories in the UK inc. Mares Championship, Sprint Championship, International Oaks and the Group 1 Dubai Stakes as well as a victory in France; as a broodmare her progeny have included Group 1 Kahayala Classic winner Bopp Moon.

Group 1 Kahayala Classic winner Kaolino (owned by Shadwell and recently exported to the USA to stand at Trackside Farm) full sister Sestamina (Dormane x Cart De Carrere) was sold for 50,000 euros. Whilst UK performers siblings were also offered including: Next Sakbe (Al Sakbe x Nepenthes Al Maury) a half brother to multiple UK winner The Way To Go, he was sold for 10,000 euros; Thirdwan (Kerbella x First Alizee) a half sister to UK winner Firstwan and placed Secondwan was sold for 8,000 euros; Kagday (Prince D’Orient x Amiga) was sold for 13,000 euros – her half brother Lamiga (Al Sakbe x Amiga) was sold at Ascot Sale this August for £3,200 for comparison. The only Amer progeny offered was the yearling colt Eaunyx (Amer x Wednah) who realised only 20,000 and is a half brother top class Group 1 performer Eau Royal who won in UK Group 2 Emirates Arabian Stakes, Group 1 Dubai Stakes and the Group 1 UAE Derby.

Statistics:
77 lots were offered and 41 were sold (53 % sales compared to 67 % last year). The total turnover was 1,282,000 euros compared to 3,259,000 from last year (which included over a million euros for Dahess). To view pedigrees go to www.arqana.com