Paris: The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is set to kick off Thursday at ParisLongchamp Racecourse, running until Sunday. The event will commence with the Arqana Purebred Arabian Sale at the Arqana Sales Pavilion, Saint-Cloud Racecourse, featuring an elite lineup of purebred Arabians.
According to Qatar News Agency, the sale will see owners, trainers, and breeders from around the globe attending as a remarkable collection of horses goes under the hammer. This year’s sale catalog lists 97 heads, including 36 two-year-olds, 2 yearlings, 31 race-trained horses, and 28 breeding stock. Among the horses on offer, 13 belong to Al Shaqab Racing, including 7 racehorses and 6 breeding mares.
Last year’s auction attracted high-profile international attendance, with 106 horses offered, 76 sold, and total sales reaching EUR3,580,000. Racing action will resume Friday, featuring multiple races, including two Group 1 contests for three-year-old Purebred Arabians, split between colts and fillies.
On Saturday, nine races will be staged at ParisLongchamp, including three Group 1 races and three Group 2 races, showcasing the Arabian bloodlines. The grand finale on Sunday will feature nine races, including seven Group 1 events, headlined by the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with total prize money of EUR5 million, and the Qatar Global Arabian Horse Cup, a Group 1 event for purebred Arabians, with total prizes of EUR1 million.