Taking place the day before the French Guineas and following on from RULING COURT’s success in the 2,000 Guineas, the ARQANA Breeze Up Sale was held today in Deauville following the canters on Thursday at Deauville La Touques Racecourse and a day of inspections on Friday.
The sale confirmed its place as the leading sale in Europe of its kind with the 2025 edition establishing new records. For the first time, four lots made €1 million or more in the ring. Underlining the strength of the market, 87% of the lots offered changed hands for an average of more than €200,000, establishing a European record, and a median of €120,000, up 22% and 20% respectively.
The final turnover registered was a record amount of €27,444,500, up 27% from the record 2024 edition. The sale was marked by international purchases and a great diversity of buyers, from the United States, the Gulf, Australia and all over Europe, including Ireland, England and France, as well as Spain, Germany and Eastern Europe.
Godolphin Purchase 1.9million top lot
Very active around the ring, Anthony Stroud bought six lots at the sale, including the top price of €1,9 million, on behalf of Godolphin. Consigned by C. F. Bloodstock, the colt is a son of Night Of Thunder (lot 40) out of the black type mare DATE WITH DESTINY. A half-brother to Group winner BEAUTIFUL MORNING, he hails from the family of talented performers OMBRE LEGERE, GERMINAL, BEST NAME and FEBRUARY SUN.
“He’s a superb colt,” said the agent. “He breezed very well on Thursday. Night Of Thunder is a very good stallion, with whom we won a Classic last weekend.” A little earlier in the day and also on behalf of Godolphin, he signed the docket at €1 million for a son of the young sire Maxfield (lot 5) out of the Stakes winner AMERICAN VICTORY. The well-bred colt is a half-brother to the black types VICTORY RALLY and CHARMED VICTORY and hails from the talented WHO DID IT AND RUN, GIANT RUN, WHO’S IN TOWN and WET MY BEAK.
Coolmore strikes for a 1million son of Siyouni
Eagerly awaited in the ring, a son of Siyouni (lot 164) was knocked down for €1 million in favour of Coolmore. Consigned by Mocklershill, the colt is a half-brother to the black-type NABOO BABY and hails from the family of the Sussex Stakes (Gr.1) scorer MOHAATHER, as well as the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr.1) winner ACCIDENTAL AGENT.
“He’s a lovely colt that did a great breeze,” said M.V. Magnier. “He’s by Siyouni – the sire of St Mark’s Basilica – an exceptional stallion. We hope this colt can achieve great things as well.
1million for a daughter of Sioux Nation
Bought for €48,000 last year at the v.2 Yearling Sale by Peter and Ross Doyle, a filly by Sioux Nation (lot 25) consigned by Glending Stables was offered through the ring today in Deauville with bidding reaching €1 million in favour of Anthony Stroud (Stroud Coleman Bloodstock).
The well-bred filly is a half-sister to the black-type winner BAKHCHISARAY and hails from the family of Group winners CLASSIC FLOWER and BESHAAYIR. A little later, he signed the docket at €900,000 for a son of Blue Point (lot 68) consigned by Yeomanstown Stud. A half-brother to the black-types KING OF STARS and TWO STARS, the colt is out of a half-sister to the Group winner DEVONSHIRE and hails from the family of Group 1 scorers WINTER POWER and the talented FAIRY CROSS and RIVER TRAFFIC.
€820,000 for a son of Wootton Bassett
Among the last lots to go under the hammer was a son of Wootton Bassett (lot 193) that was sold for €820,000 to Sackville Donald. The well-bred colt is the second foal out of Australian Group winner ZARGOS and hails from the family of Group 1 winners RIZEENA and ZABEEL PRINCE, as well as Group scorers DOUBLES PARTNER, PUISSANCE DE LUNE, QUEEN POWER, SUMMER ROMANCE and FIELD OF GOLD.
