As yearling sales in Australia slow down, breeze up sales in Ireland, the UK, and France take hold. As has been our custom at OTI over the past decade, Terry Henderson attended the Arqana Breeze Up Sale in Deauville.
Following successful purchases in previous years, we were delighted to acquire two youngsters who will wear our colours in Europe before hopefully heading to Australia.
The family of the Wootton Bassett filly purchased is well known to OTI. The granddam, Chenchikova (herself a half-sister to High Chaparral), was the mother of black-type performers for OTI in Casterton and Fastnet Cyclone, as well as two other stakes winners. She will be trained by champion jockey-turned-trainer, Gerald Mosse.
Harry Eustace, the trainer of OTI’s Docklands, will take charge of the New Bay colt out of the Pivotal mare, Smash. This quality colt looks a stunning athlete. He should appear at the races in August/September as a precursor to his 3yo year at, hopefully, stakes level.
The Arqana Sale continues to produce Group 1 performers year after year. Unsurprisingly, this year’s results saw averages up by 22%, the median up by 20% and clearance rates up from 74% to 84%, compared to 2024.