“On va marcher, s’il vous plaît…..”
“Quelle est la réserve…?” Deauville. Arqana sales ring. Puddles on sodden sand. Wet weather gear. A gentler feel to the place than Tattersalls or Goffs back home…
“Monsieur Boulanger, ça va…??”
Hustle and bustle, and hither and thither across the sales grounds. But in a laid back French way. Straw in the occasional tail. Cigarettes hanging from the lips of those charged with guiding young horses to the gate of the sales ring. And cleaning up after them with orange headed spades. I sense that if those in the same role at Tatts or Goffs had rolled up fags hanging from their bottom lips, the air would be filled with the expletives of the big bosses…
Following a few yearlings through. And reserves met and soared away from before we can so much as flicker a half bid. Patience…
Not long after eleven and the clink of champagne glasses the backdrop to the auctioneer’s cries…
A couple of yearlings that we loved. But plenty of the big boys are in town, and when they assume their bidding positions, best to keep the head down and walk away…
Patience…
Brings reward. Lot 99. A flashy chestnut son of Galiway. Out of a Sea The Stars mare. A few of the “Breeze Up” boys and girls on him, but hope that he might not be precocious enough for them. And so it proved. €14,000. Write that again – €14,000……!!!
Surprise. That surprise that is touched by “what have we missed ??” Clean vetting. Gorgeous horse. Could do with a good feed or three and the most important commodity of all, time. Delighted and thrilled that he’s now on our team. Love Galiway as a stallion. Love that we have one of his progeny…
https://www.arqana.com/lots/october_yearling_sale/415/11270
He is “For Sale”. Obviously. As is Lot 142, an easy moving son of Little Big Bear. He felt great value too, albeit at €70,000. A swagger and a forward going walk that screamed, “I know what my job is, and let’s get on with getting it done…”
https://www.arqana.com/lots/vente_de_yearlings_d-octobre_/415/112752
Both horses have the “Owners Premiums in France” attached. Which means that they qualify for 60% premiums on top of prize money won this side of the Channel. Which means that, whilst Epsom and Ascot and Glorious are on their agendas, so are Deauville, Chantilly, St Cloud, Fontainebleau, Clairefontaine et al…
#HaveHorseWillTravel. As ever…
Roll up, roll up. “Venez faire la fete”…….!!
