2 July 2020, UK ~Relocated to Doncaster in order to facilitate traveling for buyers in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 ARQANA Breeze Up sale was held in partnership with Goffs UK, immediately after the Yorkshire company’s own sale. Such an unprecedented situation required adaptation from all participants, and their resilience was rewarded with an extremely satisfactory set of figures.

A large number of horses had been withdrawn from the initial catalogue, which was published in late March, and as a result only 73 juveniles went through the ring as opposed to 145 in 2019. Quality made up for quantity however, as showed by the average price of £140,698 (€156,265), up almost 20% from last year’s figure, while the aggregate fell just short of 10M€ (€9,905,170 / £9,004,700).

83% of the horses on offer changed hands, a record for this sale, while 17 lots sold for €200,000 or more, one more than a year ago.

€715K War Front filly is Larry Best’s first European purchase

Brendan Holland’s War Front filly (lot 224) turned many heads during Sunday’s breeze up session and the two days of inspection stamped her position as one of the talking horses of the catalogue. The second foal out of Grade 3 winner BEAUTY PARLOR, herself out of MOON QUEEN and tracing back to INFAMY, the bay impressed onlookers with her even temper and loose walk.

It was agent Kerri Radcliffe who offered the winning bid of €715,000 (£650,000) and said: “I am pleased to say that I have bought her for Larry Best’s OXO Equine, which I believe is his first European purchase. She will head to Saratoga but I am not sure who will train. I met Larry at the sales in America and he kept telling me « ring me when you see something exceptional », so I rang him on Sunday night. This filly breezed very well and she has been an absolute queen since, she’s been so professional throughout the shows. I am delighted for the vendors, who have done an amazing job keeping the horses so long in such uncertainty. “