The final, abbreviated session of the 2018 Arqana October Yearling Sale posted consistent results headlined by a 83% clearance rate.
The highest price of €37,000 was paid by BBA Ireland for a colt from the first crop of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Outstrip, offered by Haras de Beauvoir.
The overall average price for the four days of trading was €40,345, just 3.6% lower than last year’s record-breaking figure and the clearance rate was a satisfactory 79%.
A slightly trimmed catalogue resulted in cumulated turnover of €18,236,000, 11% down from 2017 yet still the third-best aggregate in the sale’s history.
Eric Hoyeau commented on the sale:
“From a slightly smaller catalogue, this year’s October Yearling Sale posted a set of results very close to the record levels reached over the past two years. The €360,000 paid for a Siyouni filly by leading US owner George Bolton, who was visiting Deauville for the first time, was the second highest price in the sale’s history. A number of other yearlings which combined a commercial pedigree and physical achieved good prices, whether they were bought by fresh investors such as Sheikh Obaid and John Foote or regular buyers who have been lucky with their purchases – Antoine Griezmann, Shadwell, the Hong Kong Jockey Club are typical examples, alongside a host of European agents and trainers who have consistently found value for money in this ring.
However, one cannot ignore the contrast between the top and bottom end of the market, a situation that has been observed at several other auctions over the past few months. The buyers’ criteria have become as strict as ever, which caused a number of horses to fall through the cracks. We shall take the necessary time and hindsight to review the results and consult with all stakeholders in order to identify what adjustments need to be made in terms of quantity, sales format etc. As far as demand is concerned, we are continuously working to bolster our workforce and strategy in a bid to keep boosting the attractiveness of our sales.”
