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Aggregate, average and median show small declines from the 2019 figures.

Part 1 of the 2021 Arqana August Yearling Sale saw 118 of the 157 yearlings offered sold to produce a clearance rate of 75 per cent. At the 2019 renewal, 112 of the 143 lots offered sold, with the clearance rate finishing at 78 per cent. 

The aggregate of €30,342,000 was down seven per cent from €32,655,000 two years ago, while the average fell five per cent from €291,563 to €275,136. The median fell 15.9 per cent from €220,000 in 2019 to €185,000 this year.  

"Following a year when the format was changed in 2020, the first part of the August Sale is back to levels close to those we experienced before Covid," said Arqana's president Eric Hoyeau.  

"Yesterday's start was tentative, but today's results were solid. The sale was conducted in a professional environment and we can already thank all the players in the sector who joined together with us to move in the same direction. Our vendors did a very good job. 

"The buyers trusted us and were there, despite the travel constraints that remain for some of them. We now look forward to the second part of the sale and then v.2 on Tuesday."

Darley's Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) finished Part 1 as the leading sire by average with six lots selling for €5,160,000 at an average of €860,000. 

Of the shuttlers, the first crop of Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact) was well received with three yearlings making €595,000 at an average of €198,333. The most expensive of these was a colt out of three-time Listed winner Artistic Jewel (Excellent Art) who was bought by Oliver St Lawrence for €370,000. 

Meanwhile, two yearlings from the first Northern Hemisphere-bred crop of Zoustar (Northern Meteor) sold for a total of €210,000 at an average of €105,000. 

Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj), who is shuttling to Coolmore Australia for the first time this year, had seven yearlings sell for €1,470,000 at an average of €210,000.  

Monceaux leads the vendors table with 28 yearlings having sold for €8,507,000 at an average of €303,821, while Oliver St Lawrence was the leading buyer in Part 1 having bought five lots for €3,335,000, just ahead of Godolphin who has signed for six lots for a total spend of €3,220,000.