'It's been a rocky journey but we're very happy to have the sale happening'

For the second year running, restrictive Covid-19 protocols have forced the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale to up sticks from Deauville and relocate to Doncaster.

Nonetheless, even a switch from Normandy to South Yorkshire could not prevent last year's renewal posting some market-leading results, with aggregate, average and median figures unsurpassed elsewhere in Europe.

Moreover, Kerri Radcliffe's £650,000 acquisition of a War Front filly on behalf of Larry Best not only topped the sale but the list of two-year-old prices on this side of the Atlantic too.

All known evidence, not least a catalogue brimming with well-credentialed youngsters and a buoyant first half to this year's breeze-up season, points to this year's renewal being every bit as strong as in 2020 - if not more so.

The War Front filly out of Beauty Parlor sells to Kerri Radcliffe for £650,000 in 2020Credit: Claudia Claydon

"It's been a rocky journey but we're very happy to have the sale happening with a decent-sized catalogue, especially compared to last year when we lost nearly half the horses along the way," said Arqana's executive director Freddy Powell.

"The breeze show went well and the ground held up very well thanks to the racecourse staff and Goffs UK's team; it's heartwarming to see others so willing to help. It's very satisfying to have compiled such a strong catalogue and there are some beautiful specimens here. The buyers seem very happy with the quality, and usually if they're happy, I'm happy as well!"

Among the standouts on paper are the likes of Miss Yoda's Kingman half-brother (Lot 49), who hails from the same Grove Stud draft as an eye-catching colt by No Nay Never (48); Gaybrook Lodge Stud offers another by the son of Scat Daddy, a colt out of Flying Childers third Sound Of Guns (99) and a Medaglia D'Oro colt out of a Grade 1-placed Sky Mesa mare (64); while The Bloodstock Connection consigns a Lope De Vega colt from the family of Hawk Wing (161). Following withdrawals around 130 juveniles are expected to go through the ring.

View full Arqana Breeze-Up Sale catalogue

Others who captured buyers' attention during the pre-sale breeze were the likes of Derryconnor Stud's son of More Than Ready (12); Brown Island Stables' Night Of Thunder colt (57); Malcolm Bastard's Medaglia D'Oro colt (90); Hyde Park Stud's Dabirsim filly (119); and Knockanglass Stables' Distorted Humor colt (125).

Powell went on to explain that Covid-19 restrictions had not only brought about a change in location but so heavily impeded inspections that the Arqana team had been forced into some fairly major improvisation.

"Obviously this year we couldn't travel to Ireland so we haven't seen these horses in the flesh before," he said. "We've done the selection remotely by watching all the videos of the horses as yearlings at the sale, and then were sent videos by vendors so we could compare and assess their progression.

Freddy Powell (second right): 'I think we have every right to be very hopeful'Credit: Patrick McCann

"It's been a very interesting experience. I don't want to make it a habit as I like going to Ireland in January, but, looking at the horses here, I'm not at all disappointed with the results."

Although the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale has long since been talked up as the headline act among this year's two-year-old circuit, Powell said his outlook remained one of hope rather than confidence.

"Obviously expectations will be high, and I'm always worrying about high expectations," said Powell. "But we all know a good-looking horse will always get you out of jail. We're not confident because you can't be at this stage, especially with what is happening in the economy and the wider world, but I think we have every right to be very hopeful."

Arqana Breeze-Up Sale factfile

Where Goffs UK sales complex, Doncaster
When Selling starts on Friday at 11am
Last year's stats* From 77 lots offered (down 47 per cent year-on-year), 64 sold (83 per cent) for turnover of £9,004,700 (down 34 per cent), an average of £140,700 (up 17 per cent) and a median of £76,000 (up 11 per cent)
Notable graduates Channel (offered by Mayfield Stables, bought by Bertrand le Metayer for €70,000); Duhail (Star Bloodstock, Al Shaqab for €300,000); Ete Indien (Powerstown Stud, Patrick Biancone for €240,000); War Of Will (Oak Tree Farm, Justin Casse for €250,000)

*Sale held in Doncaster

More sales news:

Five lots who could cause a stir at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale

Why the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale looks on course to buck key market trends

Firm foundations or falling flat? How the breeze-up season is shaping up so far (£)