Business off at Arqana Breeding Stock Sale

Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale concluded Monday in Deauville with a

distinct lack of any fireworks among the flat-orientated offerings. Providing

the central focus was the filly Sakza (Sakhee), from the draft of His

Highness the Aga Khan, who sold for €57,000. Consigned as Hip No. 544 and out of the

unraced Zafonic mare Miss Sazanica, the stakes-placed three-year-old is a

granddaughter of the 1995 Prix Jacques le Marois winner (Fr-G1) Miss Satamixa (Fr)

(Linamix) and was knocked down to Ghislain Bozo's Meridian International.

What promised to

be a highlight in the dispersal of Baron Thierry de Nyevelt's bloodstock through

Haras de Varaville proved a disappointment and the prized lot, the 13-year-old

Dame Edith (Top Ville), was led out unsold at €80,000. Out of Girl of

France (GB) (Legend of France), who has produced two stakes winners, Dame Edith

is the dam of the dual Group 1 winner Voix du Nord (Valanour [Ire]).

Dame Edith was bought

back by trainer David Smaga on behalf of her owner-breeder, who had earlier sold

Hip 493, the four-year-old Highest Height (Highest Honor [Fr]) for €35,000.

It was Alain Decrion who snapped up the stakes-placed three-quarter sister to

stakes winner Grandes Illusions (Kendor), in foal to Lando (Ger).

The

highest price paid on the day was for the Group 1-winning hurdler Royal Athenia

(Garde Royale), who went to trainer Robert Collet for €300,000.

Consigned by Haras d'Etreham, the seven-year-old mare is carrying her first

foal, by Poliglote (GB). She sold as Hip 675.

At the end of the three days, Arqana were feeling the pinch, with the average falling by 22 percent to €26,029

and the median dropping by 29 percent to €10,000.

The selling of yearlings commences on Tuesday. For more information, visit arqana.com.