James Thomas on an eventful few days in Normandy for the Arqana August Sale

I'm bitten by the bug in Normandy but end up low on charge | Racing Post

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Deauville is around 280 miles from my home in the bloodstock heartlands of, ahem, Hackney. That means it’s approximately a five-hour 40-minute drive. Or, as I learned en route to Arqana, just long enough to read Where’s Spot? roughly 300 times. 

The August Yearling Sale catalogue is the traditional reading material for this journey, but I had my 18-month-old son, Blake, in tow and he didn’t have much interest in pedigree updates or pinhooking prices. He’ll soon learn. 

The Arqana sales complex in Deauville, a fair way from Hackney

Coolmore net sale-topping €2.2m colt by Siyouni

Arqana Deauville, 17/08/2023, photo: Zuzanna Lupa

Arqana Deauville, 19/08/2023, photo: Zuzanna Lupa

‘You can never imagine they will make a sum like that’ - Bucanero Fuerte’s sibling brings €2.4 million at Arqana

Red-letter day for Havana Grey as Vandeek gets Whitsbury Manor sire sensation off the mark at top level

Arqana Deauville, 18/08/2023, photo: Zuzanna Lupa

'It’s great when all the main players turn up' - Sheikh Mohammed present as Godolphin land €1.25 million Dubawi colt

I'm bitten by the bug in Normandy but end up low on charge

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I'm bitten by the bug in Normandy but end up low on charge

James Thomas on an eventful few days in Normandy for the Arqana August Sale

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