'It Shows How Much French Breeders Have Been Investing': Powell Relishing Return of the August Sale

DEAUVILLE, France–Over the next three evenings, around 280 youngsters considered to be the cream of the French yearling crop will pass through the sale ring in Deauville, where this time last year the collective bidding stopped just north of €50 million to bring record returns at Arqana.

The term 'record-breaking trade' has appeared countless times in this and other publications, and frequent rejigging of sales formats allows that to be claimed perhaps more often than it genuinely should be, but the 2022 August Sale really was quite the blockbuster by all measures.

A tightened catalogue helped, because as the numbers were trimmed and 40 fewer horses were offered, the clearance rate improved to its highest mark of 82.5%. Furthermore, the average exceeded the €200,000 mark for the first time to settle at €209,972, and the median shot up to €140,000 from a previous high of €125,000. All things considered, it was indeed pretty good.

Several graduates from that sale have already impressed on the track, and Ramatuelle (Justify) could yet add a Group 1 title to her impressive season when challenging for the Sumbe Prix Morny on Sunday. Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) chipped in with a Listed win at Salisbury on Wednesday for Godolphin, boosting the appeal of his three-parts-brother by Night Of Thunder (Ire), who sells on Saturday. They have been backed up by the Class of '21, which includes Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), and the colt who has folk in a froth in France and beyond, Ace Impact (Fr) (Cracksman {GB}).

The fact that it has been a strong year on the track for French-trained runners matters immensely. Of course not all horses bought at this sale will remain in France. Last year's top lot, the brother to Arc winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) bought for €2.1 million, is currently in pre-training in Japan. Named Shin Emperor (Fr), he will soon head to the Ritto training centre to continue his tutelage under the eye of Yoshito Yahagi, who is back in France to peruse the best of this year's sale.

But French racing prides itself on its lucrative owners' and breeders' premiums, not to mention the allure of its picturesque training environment in Chantilly and beyond. The horses have to perform here to encourage owners to want to have them in training in France, and this year they have stepped up to the mark with gusto, headed by the likes of Blue Rose Cen (Ire), Jannah Rose (Ire), Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Fr) and Mqse De Sevigne (Fr), as well as the aforementioned Prix du Jockey Club winner Ace Impact. The fact that he already has a stallion deal in place could prove to be something of a double-edged sword: on the one hand, it is fantastic that he will be staying in France to stand at the Chehboub family's Haras de Beaumont, but on the other, the current dearth of exciting stallion prospects in the country may well hasten his retirement at the end of this season. We'll see.

Reflecting on this banner year on the track for the home runners, Arqana's executive director Freddy Powell said on Thursday, “The timing is pretty good, and thanks to Mr [Charlie] Appleby yesterday as well, who won the Listed race, because we have some from the family here in the sale.”

He continued, “It just shows how much French breeders have been investing in good mares and nominations. There's a great diversity of stallions and pedigrees, so we are blessed really.”

As has become tradition, Arqana laid on a plane from America, bringing in around 50 potential transatlantic buyers.

“There are plenty of international people here already and still more coming,” Powell said, and added of last year's leading buyer, Yoshito Yahagi, “We are always happy to see his hat.”

The trainer of this year's Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa (Jpn) and the Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Marche Loraine (Jpn) is noted as much for his love of foreign travel as he is for his snazzy headwear, and a colourful Panama was indeed being sported in Deauville on Thursday as the temperature started to soar and the sales ground became ever busier. 

Powell added, “It's nice to feel that most people have been around once already and they are all talking quite positively about the stock. It's important not to get too excited about things but the signs are all good and it looks like it's all falling into place.”