ENGLISH TEXTS
creation of the ARQANA Series – a sequence of races for two- and three-yearolds reserved exclusively for ARQANA graduates and staged in August at Deauville ahead of the yearling sale, and again over the weekend of the Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe – were among the founding innovations made possible by the merger of the agencies. So too was the use of two sales complexes, with ARQANA effectively headquartered in Deauville, where its registered office is located, and maintaining a second base at Saint-Cloud, formerly home to Goffs France, which had successfully staged its“ Arc” Sale there – now taken over by the new structure. In short: a pooling of resources and expertise.
History is a perpetual renewal In twenty years of existence, ARQANA has consistently reached new heights, most recently last summer with a record price of € 3 million at the August Yearling Sale for a son of Night Of Thunder from the outstanding Prudenzia family of Ecurie des Monceaux. The flagship sale, with its global reach, generated a similarly exceptional aggregate of more than € 60 million. In the same vein, at the close of the 2024 season, the December Breeding Stock Sale produced a record individual price for a mare of € 5 million, when the reigning Prix de Diane Longines( Gr. 1) heroine Sparkling Plenty entered the ring. Two years earlier, again in December, turnover had soared to € 56.7 million, shattering previous records. Nor should ARQANA’ s success on the racecourse around the globe be overlooked. Focusing solely on recent news, in the final quarter of 2025 alone, Group 1 victories were recorded by Balantina( Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf), Gewan( Dewhurst Stakes), Diamond Necklace( Prix Marcel Boussac), Maranoa Charlie( Prix de la Forêt) and Silawi( Canadian International Stakes). Following the retirement of Éric Hoyeau – who continues to serve as an observer and adviser – Olivier Delloye, formerly with ARQANA before moving on to lead France Galop, has now taken charge of the renowned Deauville-based agency. For new ventures and further developments. History, after all, is a perpetual renewal.
BY SERGE OKEY
GEORGES RIMAUD
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“ ARQANA PLAYS A STIMULATING ROLE”
Chairman of ARQANA Holding, the former director of the Aga Khan Studs in France is ideally placed to assess the impact of the twenty-year-old company on French breeding and the internationalisation of sales.
GALORAMA.
What has been the impact of ARQANA sales on French breeding over the past 20 years?
Georges Rimaud. ARQANA has undoubtedly provided French breeders with access to a market that has become international. If we look at the figures, excluding the Covid years, it is a marketing platform that was desirable. It was the wish of His Highness Aga Khan when he decided to take part in the creation of this new company in 2006— namely, to maintain and stimulate commercial stability across all segments: mares, foals, yearlings …
G. Is that impact easy to measure?
G. R. As in racing, there are good stories and less good ones. But the results continue to improve, which is certainly one of the indicators of vendor and buyer satisfaction, and consequently of ARQANA’ s success. Since the 1990s, breeders have modernised their way of working, become more professional, and ARQANA has played a stimulating role from the outset. I believe we can speak of success. ARQANA is also a witness to an improvement and diversification of buyers and to a beneficial internationalisation.“ We invested the necessary resources”
G. One of ARQANA’ s great strengths has been its ability to recruit numerous foreign clients …
G. R. We invested the necessary resources. We were the
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