Sioux Nation Filly Leads Arqana Yearling Sale Session

Rabbah Bloodstock's spending spree at the Arqana October Yearling Sale continued Oct. 21 when it landed the day's top lot, a Sioux Nation filly, for €190,000 (US$213,315, €1=US$1.12). The operation was the busiest buyer Oct. 20, securing nine yearlings for €1,456,000, and the second session's top lot was among another five added to its portfolio on the second day of the sale, taking its total receipts to €1,805,000. Offered by Haras du Hoguenet, the top seller comes from a well-established family developed by Yvon Baudouin. The filly sparked a bidding duel between Jaber Abdullah and Neil Helliwell before Rabbah Bloodstock emerged victorious. She is the first foal out of Les Vertus, winner of the listed Prix Jacques de Bremond in 2020 and third that year in both the Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte (G3) and Prix Quincey (G3) for owner Gilles Le Baron and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. Anthony Baudouin, Yvon's son, said: "My father arranged for Loshad, the filly's second dam, to be bought by some very loyal clients of the stud, Alain Gaudu and Jean-Pierre Stable. She produced Les Vertus, as well as Rive Neuve, a black-type performer and the dam of Revolutionnaire, who gave us a lot of pleasure when trained by Francis. "I'm delighted Rabbah have bought the yearling. They were clients of the stud for a long time, and I bred Hello Youmzain for them. I'm also delighted for my partners, Alain, Jean-Pierre, Olivier Devaux, and Gilles Le Baron. "The mare has a foal by Penny's Picnic. We did not cover her this year, but she'll be covered again in 2027." Sioux Nation has enjoyed a notably successful year, led by Sun Goddess (IRE), rated Europe's best 2-year-old filly. His yearlings have also proved popular at Arqana, with all eight to have gone through the ring selling for an average of €136,875, a strong return on the €27,500 fee at which they were conceived. Wednesday's aggregate fell by 14% to €4,214,500 (US$4,731,661) from €4,907,000 generated during the corresponding session in 2025. The average declined by 30% to €38,315 (US$43,017) compared with €54,520 last year, while the median dropped by 24% from €41,000 (US$46,031) to €31,000. Across the two days, however, the clearance rate showed a notable improvement on 2025, with 264 of the 328 lots offered finding buyers, representing a clearance rate of 80%, compared with 74% achieved last year, when 239 of 324 lots changed hands. Over the two days of trade, the aggregate was €18,328,500 (US$20,577,590), a 3% decline on the €18,785,500 recorded at the same point last year, despite 25 more lots being sold. The average price for the two sessions stood at €69,425 (US$77,944), down 12% from €78,600, while the median slipped by 17% from €60,000 to €50,000 (US$56,136).