Held in the very heart of the prestigious Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend, that also saw the running of the final leg of the ARQANA Series, the 2024 Arc Sale registered historic results on Saturday evening.
Of the 40 lots offered, 25 changed hands for a record average of €415,200, up 35% from the 2022 edition.
For the first time, the turnover for the sale passed €10 million, ending at €10,380,000 with four lots making over €1 million.
- RAMADAN knocked down for €1,5 million
Bids rocketed for this afternoon’s Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Gr.2) winner RAMADAN (lot 41), that had been eagerly awaited in the ring following his win at ParisLongchamp. It was Vin Cox that signed the docket at €1,5 million for the Christopher Headtrained colt that had already taken the Prix Daphnis and Prix de Fontainebleau (Grs.3) this season. The son of Le Havre is a half-brother to the black-type RASIMA and hails from the family of Group 1 winners RAFHA, INVINCIBLE SPIRIT, KODIAC and MISHRIFF.
- €1,4 million for the German Derby scorer PALLADIUM
Another eagerly awaited in the ring, the Henk Grewe-trained PALLADIUM (lot 34) was subject to a lot of interest from buyers with the gavel finally fell at €1,4 milllion in favour of Highflyer Bloodstock for the Gr1 Deutsches Derby winner. The three-year old son of Gleneagles out of the black-type PATH WIND is a half-brother to Listed winner PANJARI and hails from the family of WILD SIDE, WILD COCO and WIN FOR US. ZARIR heads to Australia A little earlier in the evening, Vin Cox had also signed the docket at €1,3 million for the talented ZARIR (lot 38) from his trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. Runnerup in the Prix Ganay (Gr.1), the Aga Khan Studs’ homebred most recently finished runner-up in the Gr2 Prix Foy. The four-year-old son of Frankel out of Group winner ZARSHANA hails from the excellent family of ZARKAVA, ZARAK and ZARIGANA. “He’ll go to Australia,” said Vin 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.”
- Black-type TRAFALGAR SQUARE makes €1,15 million
Runner-up in the Gr2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay a few hours earlier before going under the hammer, bidding for TRAFALGAR SQUARE (lot 54) reached €1,15 million in favour of the Libyan owner Ismil Sh Ghrghar, represented by Miladi Moez. Group placed on three occasions this season, the Gousserie Racing and Écurie Pilarski owned colt also took the Prix de l’Avre (L.). The three-year-old son of Kendargent is a half-brother to Listed winner and Group 1 placed TIMES SQUARE. Following the sale, ARQANA’S President Olivier Delloye and Executive Director Freddy Powell commented, “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.”
