Arqana to Handle Fares Dispersal

Lebanese owner-breeder Issam Fares, who saw his colors carried to victory at the highest level by Miss Alleged, Highest Honor, Lady Winner and also bred the likes of Da Hoss, Reve d'Oscar, and Curlin , has decided to disperse his equine stock. All of his racing and breeding interests will be offered at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale and 2019 February Mixed Sale.

A major player at the Deauville Sales in the 1980s and '90s, where his trainer Pascal Bary notably bought Highest Honor, Fares subsequently developed his own breeding empire in the United States, Great Britain, and France, where he bought Haras de Manneville in 1982. Fares conducted a dispersal of his U.S. stock at Fares Farm at the 2013 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, where 78 horses were sold for $7,313,000, at an average of $93,756, and a median of $56,000. The dispersal's top seller was the Empire Maker  daughter Supreme, who was purchased by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings for $800,000.

Haras de Manneville's four flagship mares, stakes winners Zghorta Dance, Baino Hope, and Wedge Trust, as well as Baino Hope's sister Roman Ridge, will all be offered Dec. 8 at the upcoming Breeding Stock Sale as late entries, or "Wild Cards."

The rest of the Breeding Stock, made up of 14 foals (short yearlings by the time of the sale), mares with suitable last service dates, fillies out of training, and racing stock—all in training with Jean-Claude Rouget—will be offered Feb. 12-13 at the February Mixed Sale.

The short yearlings are by sires such as Camelot, Le Havre, Siyouni, Wootton Bassett, Dabirsim, Intello, while the mares are in foal to sires such as Anodin, Charm Spirit, Dabirsim, Intello, and Zarak.

"Racing and breeding has given me immense satisfaction, notably the Breeders' Cup victories of Miss Alleged and Da Hoss, the two Horse of the Year titles won by my homebred Curlin, as well as the many trophies collected by Highest Honor," said Issam Fares. "It is difficult to turn a page that has been so important for me, but I hope that the families that I had so much pleasure with will continue to prosper for other breeders." 

Arqana's president Eric Hoyeau said: "It is an honor for Arqana to have been chosen to disperse Mr. Fares's bloodstock interests. His colors and breeding have made their marks throughout the world. From the Breeding Stock Sale, breeders will have the possibility of buying young black-type mares out of maternal lines that produced horses such as Miss Alleged, Act One, and Take Risks. This dispersal is a rare opportunity, and its impact will no doubt honor the breeding operation developed with passion by Issam Fares over several decades."