Garde De Burge, In Foal To Jigme, Tops Arqana

[Wandering Eyes]

Grade 2 heroine Garde De Burge (Fr) (Fr) (lot 752), in foal to Jigme (Ire), topped Thursday's Arqana Autumn National Hunt and Breeding Stock Sale when selling to Guy Petit for €160,000.

Out of listed winner Tornada (Fr) (Ballingarry {Ire}) herself a half-sister to listed winner and Group 1-placed Martator (Fr) (Martaline {GB}), the mare was carrying her first foal. She was consigned by Haras de l'Hotellerie.

“I've bought her for one of my clients and she'll stay in France,” said the agent. “She's a group winner, from a great family and carrying her first foal by Jigme, a very talented racehorse. We're very happy.”

A total of 129 horses sold from 190 offered (68%) for a gross of €2,636,500 (-23%) on Thursday. The average was €20,438 (-18%) and the median was €10,000 (-23%).

“The 2024 Autumn Sale has now concluded for another year after taking place in rather unusual weather conditions,” the sales company said in a statement. “The sale is the major National Hunt event at the end of the year, with different sectors of horses on offer.

As far as the National Hunt-bred yearlings are concerned, we were fortunate to have a great selection as well as our regular buyers who once again made the trip to Deauville. Demand was nevertheless very selective, with the percentage of horses sold at 63%, which was below our expectations. The average price held up well, remaining above €30,000. We still saw some great bidding battles over the most attractive profiles, with five yearlings selling for €100,000 or more and a top price of €255,000 for a son of Galiway (GB) that will stay in France.

“As for the stores, the vendors were realistic and adapted to the market, which was more guarded than we have seen in the past. A total of 83% of the horses offered were sold for an average price that dropped significantly compared to 2023.

“We had quite strong years in 2022 and 2023 for the horses-in-training section. We're back to a turnover of nearly €4.8 million, on a par with 2021, with fairly strong demand for good profiles that are capable of continuing their careers in Australia, the United States or at winter meetings in the Middle East, such as Newlook (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), sold for €480,000 to an Australian syndicate, and Elbaz (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), that made over €200,000 to the United States. There were also some good jumps prices, including [AQPS] Jet Blue (Fr) (Martaline {GB}), which sold for €220,000. Nevertheless, we were short of these very good profiles in the face of very selective demand.

“Lastly, on the breeding side, the day's sales were in line with the yearling sales over the last two days, with buyers being highly selective and therefore creating strong demand for the very good profiles, such as the top priced foal of the day, a son of Saint Des Saints out of a Group 1 winner that sold for €120,000. For the mares, the percentage sold remained relatively high, approaching 75%, with some good prices for young mares that were good racemares themselves and/or with good coverings, like our top price, a winner of the Prix Bournosienne in foal to Jigme that sold for €160,000.

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