Osarus

Osarus is a French bloodstock auctioneer whose signature event is the September yearling sale at La Teste racecourse in the south-west, held there for eighteen years and now run in partnership with Arqana. A recent edition catalogued 238 lots over two days, of which 98% qualified for French owners' premiums.

What you can buy

• Yearlings, the bulk of the catalogue.
• Breeze-up two-year-olds.
• Horses in training and breeding stock in smaller numbers.

How the bidding works

Sales are held at the racecourse over consecutive days, with the catalogue published online weeks ahead and sessions starting at fixed times by lot number. The catalogue lists the sires represented, which is how buyers decide whether a given edition is worth the trip.

What to check before you bid

The owners' premium qualification is the single most valuable line in a French catalogue if you intend to race in France, and it does not travel with the horse to another jurisdiction. Sales at a racecourse mean the horses are on site for a short window — viewing and vetting happen in those days, not on demand. Check which lots fall in each session: a two-day sale starting at different hours is easy to misread, and lots do not wait.