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Late changes The Arqana Select Sale moves forward to September 9-11 in response to the British government’s quarantine rulings for travellers from France. We chat to three European auction house directors regarding their upcoming yearling sales
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T HAS BEEN THE YEAR OF bloodstock disruption. Despite plans for the yearling sales dates seemingly sorted by the end of the spring and an across-Europe plan to co-ordinate this autumn’s sale schedules, through August change was in the air again. This was due to UK government quarantine rulings for travellers from France and Irish government restrictions amid fears of increased numbers of COVID-19 cases. In response, the Arqana Select Sale has moved forward from its original rearranged date of September 26-28 to September 9-11. As we went to press, also under possible discussion was the location of the Goffs Orby Sale, which could be staged in Britain at the organisation’s Goffs UK Doncaster ground instead of Naas in Ireland. Further, the Tattersalls Ireland September Sale was also being touted as a candidate to emigrate to the UK, with the possibility of moving to Park Paddocks in Newmarket. One thing that this disruptive period has shown us is that this industry can adapt, work
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“We are all competitors on a day-to-day basis, and want to see success for our countries... but we are competitors, not enemies together and is prepared to look at all options to ensure that it can carry on trading, rolling forward and maintaining cash flows. Freddy Powell, Arqana’s executive director says: “We are all competitors on a day-to-
day basis, and want to see success for horses produced in our own countries, but we are competitors, not enemies.” In the spring, Arqana’s Select Sale made its first move, from its usual August date to late September. This was under the advice of the local officials, who were aware that holding a horse sale in Deauville on a bank holiday slot was going to add numbers of people to the town it would rather not have in the current circumstances. The date of September 24 was chosen for logistical international bloodstock industry reasons, particularly important for a sale that has in recent years focused on developing its global appeal. “We talked with the other sale companies in Europe and thought that, if international people can journey, travelling only once to Europe for yearling sales would make much sense,” says Powell. “We felt that the international buyers could finish with the first week of Keeneland, they could travel then to Arqana, onto Goffs, Arc weekend, Book 1 and Book 2 in one go rather
