Curtain comes down on October Sale with big climb in turnover

Arqana ended the week nearly €1.5 million ahead of total turnover at the 2016 renewal of the October Sale, with president Eric Hoyeau hailing this year's edition a success by every measure.

The four-day auction concluded with 490 of the 606 offered lots changing hands for a clearance rate of 81 per cent. The sale generated turnover of €20,526,500 - up seven per cent from 12 months earlier, an average of €41,890 - almost identical to the previous year's figure, and a median of €27,000 - down from €30,000.

"We really tried to work on the demands made of us by the breeders in terms of both the expanded catalogue and also in offering more definite identity to the different days," said Hoyeau.

"The results mean that first and foremost we must congratulate the good work of those breeders in filling the extra lots. Our main duty is always to have the best possible clearance rate and they fulfilled their part of the bargain.

"It is also worth pointing out that by segmenting the catalogue more clearly we have attracted a real diversity of buyers: from the Godolphins and Coolmores on day one, through the pinhookers in part two to the variety of provincial trainers who have been active [on Friday] in what is, in reality, a third part of the sale."

View full results

An impressive 82 of the 97 lots offered on Friday were sold on what is traditionally the most low-key session of the four-day sale, with a colt by Cacique consigned by Haras de Meautry topping the session at €42,000.

Tom Whitehead gave the winning bid and the colt - who is out of a half-sister to sire of the moment Dabirsim - will return to his Powerstown Stud to be prepared for the the breeze-ups.

"The pedigree is very good and I like the sire," said Whitehead. "He'll probably come here to breeze in May."

Jean-Claude Rouget ended the week as the top buyer, with his 16 acquisitions just nudging over €1m mark.

While the master of Pau was down the road at Clairefontaine racecourse his former assistant Simone Broggi - now an established trainer in his own right - bid on Rouget's behalf to secure a colt by Never On Sunday from Haras de Grandcamp for €40,000.

And a day after their stallion Pedro The Great accounted for one of the top lots on offer, Haras de la Haie Neuve enjoyed another good result when consigning a filly by another of their own sires, Hurricane Cat. Senonnes-based trainer Joel Boisnard struck the winning bid at €41,000.

Friday's session concluded with an aggregate of €1,052,000 - up 29 per cent year-on-year, a static average of €12,830, and a median of €10,000 - down from €12,000 during the corresponding day in 2016.

If you enjoyed this story you should read...

Flying freshman Dabirsim given hefty fee increase for 2018

Record-breaking Dabirsim filly helps October Sale soar to new heights

New intake of French stallion talent is a true tour de force