With some exceptional graduates from recent renewals still fresh in the memory, expectations will be high in Normandy come May when the Arqana Breeze Up Sale takes place in Deauville. Twelve months ago, four different 2-year-olds made six-figure sums at a record-breaking affair, including the sale-topping Distant Storm, who was bought by Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin for €1.9 million. The Night of Thunder colt out of George Washington's only daughter, Date With Destiny, won the Tattersalls Stakes (G3) and was third behind Gewan, an €80,000 purchase by the same sire on the same day, in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1). Ruling Court, last year's Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner, was the 2024 top price of €2.3 million by Stroud and Godolphin.
Among the 204 entries collected are:
- Greenhills Farm's New Bay colt (Lot 19), who is a half brother to 2023 Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) winner Zagrey. The March 17-born gray colt was bought at Arqana last August for €145,000.
- A Siyouni colt from CF Bloodstock (55) who is out of a winning Exceed And Excel half sister to multiple group 1 winner and Hong Kong legend Romantic Warrior. He is a great-grandson of 2008 E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) winner Folk Opera.
- Malcolm Bastard's Frankel colt (96), who is a half brother to 2016 Vintage Stakes (G2) winner War Decree and full brother of Skims, a grade 2 winner at Aqueduct Racetrack. The April-born colt went unsold for 250,000 guineas at Tattersalls last October.
- CF Bloodstock's St Mark's Basilica half brother to 2019 Epsom Derby (G1) winner Anthony Van Dyck (174). His top-class Australian dam Believe'N'Succeed has also produced 2014 Ellerslie Railway Stakes (G1) winner Bounding.
There are five progeny of Night of Thunder in the catalog, including colts and fillies. Also listed are a range of the most in-demand American sires, including a Kentucky-bred filly by Flightline out of stakes winner Miss Mosaic, herself a half sister to triple grade 1 scorer Miss Temple City (60) and another daughter of Flightline from the family of Marvellous, Gleneagles, and Giant's Causeway (69).
Almost all of Europe's leading sires are included with representatives, from Dark Angel, Dubawi, and Havana Grey to Kingman , Lope de Vega , Mehmas, New Bay, No Nay Never, Sea The Stars, Starman, Too Darn Hot, Wootton Bassett, and Zarak.
Other notable sires with progeny engaged are Baaeed, Blackbeard, Epicenter , Golden Pal , Jack Christopher , Jackie's Warrior , Mandaloun , Minzaal, Perfect Power, Persian Force, Stradivarius, Thunder Moon, Cyberknife , and Speaker's Corner .
The 204 colts and fillies offered at the sale will be eligible for the 2026 Arqana Series, a program of five races open to 2- and 3-year-olds offered at the Deauville sales, with overall prize money of a minimum of €1.2 million.
The breeze aspect of the sale takes place at Deauville from midday May 7, while the sale itself will be held May 9 at 11 a.m. local time.
The catalog can be viewed here.
