Weekend runners add anticipation to Saturday's Arc Sale

While Longchamp is the focus of world racing this weekend, the bloodstock lens is trained a little further to the west at Saint-Cloud, where Arqana's Arc Sale takes place on Saturday evening.

The boutique event of established horses in training offers just under 40 lots, with particular interest likely to be on a handful of individuals who have engagements at the meeting.

Among them are Saiydabad, the Aga Khan's French Derby fourth and recent Group 3 winner, and the Wertheimer family's similarly profiled Adhamo, who are both declared for Saturday's Prix Dollar. Penja, a progressive and Group-winning Camelot filly, heads for Sunday's Prix de l'Opera. Lady Day, meanwhile, who is not in action, is a stakes-winning three-parts sister to dual Arc heroine Treve.

"The Arc sale is always about trying to find the right balance between expectations and trying to find some buyers of the horses, but it's a fun sale, we're working with some really good horses and there's been a lot of interest from around the world," said Arqana's executive director Freddy Powell.

View Arc Sale catalogue here

Powell can point to some recent success stories, adding: "We even had a winner next day a few years ago when Lily's Candle won the Marcel Boussac [after making €390,000]. That was quite exciting. It's a sale that's producing good horses, because they're already good when you get them in the ring.

"Then we were obviously delighted to see [€400,000 graduate] Coeursamba win the Poule d'Essai [des Pouliches] this year; she was purchased for quite a good price by some Qatari interests and then got sold to Japanese interests after the French Guineas. A lot of people made a lot of money from her!"

Only 11 individuals were sold 12 months ago, although the average of €277,273 and median of €260,000 were more than up to scratch with previous renewals. Powell is delighted to have more people, and more horses, coming to what is a sociable affair.

"Having the Arc at full capacity is going to be a big help," he said. "A lot of foreign people are coming over, who have not been for two years, just like all the French people will be running back to Cheltenham next year. They've been deprived for all these months.

"At some time in the past we even went up to 70 lots, it's kind of a normal size this year. Last year, obviously because of the uncertainty, we had a smaller catalogue.

"The more people coming to the Arc, the more interest we have in the Arc Sale. It's a good catalogue, we've got entries from Germany, we've got some sprinters, we've got some stayers, middle-distance, milers. With all those races in the Middle East, the turf programme in the US, there should be plenty of action."

The sale begins at 5.30pm BST on Saturday.

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