A little something for everyone as Summer Sale swings into Deauville

Deep pockets are required for shopping trips in Deauville, with the seaside town's picture postcard streets lined with high-end boutiques and window displays brimming with designer labels.

However, this week Deauville also hosts the Arqana Summer Sale, a veritable one-stop shop for thoroughbred professionals, with something for just about every purpose and price range set to come under the hammer during the two-day auction.

View full Summer Sale catalogue and previous sales details

The cover stars of this year’s 472-lot catalogue offer a vivid reminder of the diversity on offer, with Gigginstown House Stud's Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Dortmund Park joined by David O'Meara's high-class Flat performer Lord Glitters. Both were sourced from last year's edition of the mixed auction.

O'Meara has enjoyed notable success with another past graduate of this event, with dual Grade 1 winner - and now Elwick Stud stallion - Mondialiste having been sourced out of the 2014 edition of the Summer Sale. If any of the lots from this week's auction find their way into his North Yorkshire yard it could well pay to take note.

The sale begins with a last hurrah for the European breeze-up season. Prospective buyers huddled in the shade of the grandstand at Deauville-La Touques racecourse during the breeze on Monday afternoon, as two-year-olds by stallions such as Kodiac (Lots 48 and 55), Iffraaj (39) and Pivotal (38) were put through their paces on the sun-baked all-weather track.

Meanwhile, just a brief stroll down a tree-lined street back at the sales ground, members of the National Hunt fraternity combed through 140 of France's best-bred two- and three-year-old stores.

The likes of Al Boum Photo, Anibale Fly, Diamond Cauchois and Don Poli were offered at recent renewals of the Summer Sale, so after a record-breaking round of store sales in Britain and Ireland, and not to mention an army of National Hunt heavy hitters in town, it seems entirely likely big prices will abound here too.

The sires with stores on offer range from proven talents such as Saint Des Saints and Martaline to young upstarts like Cokoriko and Masked Marvel.

Kicking off Wednesday's session is a selection of fillies and broodmares, with a potential highlight coming in the shape of Gonzeville (273). The six-year-old daughter of Le Havre's page has been subject to a significant enhancement of late, with her half-sister, the David Simcock-trained Teppal, landing the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches on her reappearance.

With You, who finished a narrow second to Laurens in the Prix Saint-Alary, also appears close up in the pedigree, giving Gonzeville's black type-filled page a distinctly current feel.

The mare is consigned by Haras de Montfort & Preaux, and is offered in foal to the stud's new recruit Recorder. There are also mares in foal to the likes of Almanzor, Dariyan, Shalaa and Wings Of Eagles due to come under the hammer.

The sale closes with around 180 lots of horses in training, a section of the sale that boasts a fine roll of honour. Not only have high-calibre Flat talents such as the aforementioned Lord Glitters and Mondialiste been found here, but prominent jumping names such as Zubayr, Dynaste and Ma Filleule have also changed hands at the Summer Sale down the years.

Major operations such as the Aga Khan and the Wertheimer brothers, as well as powerhouse stables like Jean-Claude Rouget, Francois Rohaut and Fabrice Chappet will all offer significant drafts, ensuring there will be an abundance of upside for those who know where to look.

With such a broad range of bloodstock on offer, the gems may take a bit of finding, but given the Summer Sale's track record, those who put the hard yards in look sure to be duly rewarded.

Selling begins at 11am local time on Tuesday and Wednesday (10am GMT).

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