The Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale will offer more than 900 lots from December 3 to 6.

Still very much a domestic sale a few years ago, this sale is now firmly on the map due to the regular improvement in the quality on offer as well as the results achieved with sale ring purchases.

This year, mares bought at Deauville have included Danedrop, the dam of record breaking Arc heroine Danedream.

Danedrop was snapped up for €17,000 in 2008 when her future star was only a foal at foot.

Among the other Group winners in 2011 produced by mares bought at the Deauville breeding stock sale are the admirable Champion Stakes hero Cirrus Des Aigles, champion stayer Jukebox Jury, recent Criterium International winner French Fifteen, top class filly Testosterone, G2 winner Shamalgan and Scandinavian Triple Crown winner Without FearI.

The 2011 catalogue comprises 908 lots over the four days and features mares with outstanding pedigrees from the Aga Khan Studs and the Wertheimer brothers.

The Aga Khan Studs' draft comprises 46 fillies and mares from their most successful families, while Wertheimer et Frère is offering 20.

The following lots stand out:

• SIYOUMA, a winning filly by Medicean, who is a half-sister to the champion

• DANDESHA, another winning daughter of Dansili, who is a half-sister to the Prix du Jockey Club hero DARSI

• VAKIYLA, by Galileo out of Vadaza, hence a half-sister to the Group winners VADAWINA and VADAPOLINA;

• MINTLIPS, a half-sister, by Awesome Again, to the Classic scorer FALCO;

• INSOUMISE, a Galileo half-sister to the G1 winner PLUMANIA

• ENSEMBLE, a winning filly by Iron Mask out of Only Seule, who has produced OCCUPANDISTE and ONLY GREEN

• ARTISTIQUE, by Linamix, the dam of G1 winner MONTMARTRE, carrying to

The catalogue includes the following stakes and pattern winning fillies and mares:-

• NEVER FORGET won the G2 Prix de Malleret from the family of GOLANI, CARLA and SVEDOV.

• EVADING TEMPETE took the G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1000 Guineas) and the Prix Ronde de Nuit at Deauville. From the family of classic winners INDIAN HAVEN and COUNT DUBOIS.

• AKARLINA as won two G3 races including the Prix André Baboin this season.

• MAMBIA landed the G3 Prix du Calvados as a juvenile last year. Close relative of Group winners INCANTO DREAM and ATLANDO.

• SPLIT TROIS won the G3 Prix Eclipse. By Dubawi out of a successful German family.

• LIXIROVA Group winner at two of the G3 Prix Miesque. From the family of LUTH DE SARON, ROI NORMAND, COQUERELLE etc.

• FAUSTINA recently took the Prix de Saint-Cyr by Antonius Pius from the Wertheimer family of CORRAZONA and SLOW PACE.

Considering the success of German bloodlines in Europe this season, fillies with a German background are likely to be in high demand.

They include SHINING GLORY, a Listed winning mare out of a half-sister to SHIROCCO.

Winning or placed fillies with outstanding pedigrees include:

• SPONTANEOUS is a winning sister to the multiple G1 hero YOUMZAIN and a half sister to the top miler CREACHADOIR

• EXTREME GREEN is a winning filly by Motivator out of Ventura, making her a half-sister to MOONLIGHT CLOUD

• LAURELEI is an Oratorio half sister to the five-time G1 winner and new recruit to the stallion ranks CAPE BLANCO

• GUIANA is a winning daughter by Tiger Hill out of the G1 scorer GUADALUPE and a close relative to GETAWAY

• SCARLET AND GOLD is a winning half-sister to LE HAVRE, by Peintre Celebre

• REPRESENTERA is a winner by DANEDREAM's sire Lomitas and out of the G3 winner JOYEUSE ENTREE, making her a half-sister to the classic winner TIN HORSE

• OUR SEA is an unraced daughter of Kingmambo and MARE NOSTRUM

• SO GOOD is a daughter of Galileo out of the G1 heroine LUAS LINE (Danehill)

• QUEEN OF CARTHAGE is the first foal, by Cape Cross, out of the G1 Prix de l'Opéra winner SATWA QUEEN

The catalogue contains numerous young mares in foal to the most prolific sires, including ACCLAMATION, CAPE CROSS, DALAKHANI, DANEHILL DANCER, DUBAWI, ELUSIVE CITY, EXCEED AND EXCEL, FASTNET ROCK, FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND, HIGH CHAPARAL, INVINCIBLE SPIRIT, KING'S BEST, LAWMAN, MONSUN, PEINTRE CELEBRE, ROCK OF GIBRALTAR, WHIPPER and ZAMINDAR.

The Deauville breeding stock sale will also offer the opportunity to acquire the first mares in foal to AIR CHIEF MARSHAL, ALEXANDROS, ARCANO, CIMA DE TRIOMPHE, DUNKERQUE, EQUIANO, EVASIVE, GRAND COUTURIER, LOPE DE VEGA, MAKFI, PACO BOY, RIP VAN WINKLE, SHOWCASING, SILVER FROST, SIYOUNI, STARSPANGLEDBANNER, VISION D'ETAT, YOUMZAIN, or ZEBEDEE.

229 foals will make the trip to Deauville, the vast majority of which can be qualified for the French owners' premiums as long as they stay in France until June 1 2012.

Future Group winners can be found as illustrated by recent Melbourne Cup hero DUNADEN, who cost a mere €1500 in 2006.