It was still 31 degrees in the shade outside and a little warmer in the arena for the opening of the 36th Fences auction and the €44,000 hammer price paid for the eagerly awaited N°1 CARLITO DES HAUTS MONCEAUX Z.
And it was still warm in the hall at around 11.30pm when the impressive RATIO ES was sold for €80,000 to Groupe France Élevage, after a bidding battle encouraged by an enthusiastic audience, and then for the jumping recital offered by TABASCO, the son of TOBAGO sold for €60,000 to French investors.
The two female foals with their impressive origins and model found buyers in Switzerland and Morocco for €44,000 and €36,000 respectively. Belgium, Ireland, Mexico and the United States were also active, with exports accounting for more than a third of the turnover.
While the most spectacular jumpers fetched very satisfactory prices, the less impressive ones were often the subject of matches between the seller and a single buyer, which explains the higher number of buy-ins (8) than in 2023.
These observations will have to be put into perspective halfway through the auction, after the 2nd session which takes place this evening from 7.30pm.