Arqana team up with leading studs for Argentinian sale

Arqana has joined forces with leading breeders Haras Abolengo and Haras Vacacion to organise a yearling sale in Argentina on March 21.

Some 91 lots will go through the ring at San Isidro racecourse in Buenos Aires including 11 siblings to Group 1 winners, with 56 offspring by the country's four leading sires Roman Ruler, Equal Stripes, Hurricane Cat and Orpen.

Among those to be produced in the past by Haras Abolengo are top-class continental performer-turned leading US sire Candy Ride, Grade 1-winning dirt mare Vale Dori and South African champion Empress Club. Its stallions include leading domestic performer Equal Stripes and the 2011 Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach.

Haras Vacacion has an equally glittering roll of honour headed by Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Paseana, with the likes of Haras Embrujo also sending yearlings to the sale.

"The main objective here is to get some international buyers to know Argentinian racing and breeding better," said Vacacion's Pablo Zavaleta.

"We have quality stock from families who proved themselves internationally and the expertise of Arqana on the international market will certainly help us to get this event known globally."

Julio Menditeguy from Haras Abolengo added that he "cannot remember a stronger catalogue in this country".

Arqana's executive director Freddy Powell is excited about the prospect of boosting the continent's breeding profile.

"I have been coming in Argentina for years now and I couldn’t be more impressed by the quality of the breeding and horsemanship in this country," he said.

"The racing world is facing many new challenges including the emergence of new countries, sanitary barriers in other places, more global quest for top quality stock, and the South American continent might be the answer to a lot of these new requirements."

Arqana February Sale reports:

Grassick makes her mark as vibrant February Sale draws to a close

Big-name dispersals and a record price boost February Sale opener