Deauville Comes to Doncaster for Combined Breeze-Up

Deauville comes to Doncaster July 1 as Goffs UK hosts its French counterpart Arqana for a breeze-up sale double-header like no other.

The two companies would usually be competitors, but in the interests of serving the industry during exceptionally challenging times, adversaries have become allies in a laudable show of cooperation.

The joint sale had initially been penciled in to take place in Ireland, but after industry wide discussions the event returned to Doncaster with the aim of simplifying logistics for vendors and purchasers alike.

Explaining how the innovative partnership between Goffs UK and Arqana came about, Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby said:

"When we were discussing our breeze-up sale relatively early in the COVID-19 crisis we started talking about holding the sale in Ireland, because the overwhelming majority of our horses come from Irish vendors.

"I was chatting to Tim Kent and Nick Nugent and said that Arqana are going to have the same problem. I know Eric Hoyeau (Arqana president) particularly well, so I rang him and said that if we can help with the Arqana breeze-up just let us know. He said, 'Funny you should say that, as Freddy Powell (executive director) and I have just been talking about how we might not be able to hold it in France.'

"That conversation is where it all started. Pretty quickly we realized it was the right thing to do—it's all a question of working for the greater good."

The outcome of that initial conversation now means that, following withdrawals, over 180 2-year-olds—102 in the Goffs UK catalog and 82 from the Arqana section—will now come under the hammer in Doncaster, with the sale kicking off with the Goffs UK lots at 10 a.m.

The Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale has produced six Royal Ascot winners since 2010, and though this year's meeting has already been and gone, the details of this year's lots suggest the roll of honor will be growing in the not too distant future.

Among the eyecatchers are: the Muhaarar half sister to last year's top lot, the group 3-winning Al Raya (consigned by Longways Stables, Lot 64); the American Pharoah  colt out of dual listed winner Gitchee Goomie (Star Bloodstock, 69); the well-related Night of Thunder filly out of Golittlebadgirl (Knockanglass Stables, 71); the sharp-looking Twilight Son colt from the family of Rosdhu Queen (Ardglass Stables, 152) and the Kodiac half brother to grade 1 winner Slumber (Grove Stud, 154).

Arqana's breeze-up sale has also been on a steep upward curve in recent seasons, with the auction having sold 10 group/grade 1-winning graduates in the last 10 years, including Prix de Diane Longines (G1) heroine Channel and Preakness Stakes (G1) scorer War of Will. That number could rise to 11 when Ocean Atlantique, last year's €1.1 million (US$1,235,850) sales topper, contests the Prix du Jockey Club (G1) July 5.

This year's entries include: the Shalaa colt out of Independent Newspaper Princess Margaret Stakes (G1) winner African Skies (Bansha House Stables, 206); the War Front  filly out of grade 3 winner Beauty Parlour (Grove Stud, 224); the Kingman filly out of the group 3 scorer Calyxa (Yeomanstown Stud, 228); and the Invincible Spirit half sister to Fighting Irish (Mayfield Stables, 316).

There are also two notably well-bred sorts in the Le Havre colt out of Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) heroine Jet Setting (Mocklershill, 265) and the three-parts sister to QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Kameko (Church Farm and Horse Park Stud, 346), who could provide a gargantuan update when he lines up in the Investec Derby (G1) July 4.

Beeby expanded on the work that has gone on behind the scenes to get this year's breeze-up sales circuit going, not just at Goffs, but across the sector. He said: "Although we haven't joined up with them, we have been coordinating dates and protocols with Tattersalls, too.

"It's a relatively small industry we're working in, and we need to help each other as much as we can. We have a lot in common with Arqana, including that our biggest shareholder is the same person, the Aga Khan.

"We've been prepared to be flexible, and there's no greater demonstration of that than being prepared to move the sale to Ireland—we got a lot of help from Naas racecourse, HRI, and ITM. And then when it became evident that it would be better to have the sales back in England, we got a lot of support from Doncaster racecourse and the BHA. It's gone smoothly against a challenging background."

Results from last week's Tattersalls Craven Sale suggest the bloodstock industry may have further challenges ahead but, while maintaining a pragmatic outlook, Beeby noted there were clear positives to take from events at Park Paddocks.

"It's important we get some liquidity back into the market," he said when asked about trade on Wednesday. "I suspect it will be very selective, breeze-up sales can be like that given so much hinges on how a horse breezes.

"I don't think the trends will be markedly different and I was encouraged by the sale at Tattersalls, I thought they did a great job and the clearance rate was positive. Year-on-year statistics are not quite as relevant as they might be in a normal year as we're in the middle of a major global crisis.

"What we want to do is see some trade. Given the number of people looking at horses and the interest we've had, we hope that will happen, and hopefully we can build from there."

With travel restrictions still in effect, international buyers may be thin on the ground in Doncaster, but Beeby reported that interest in the Goffs online facility has been significant.

"There's no substitute for the physical inspection, but we're hoping our online platform will be active," he said. "We've had a lot of interest, and we've supplied as much information about lots as possible, so we hope that it will allow those unable to attend to participate."

Beeby will, of course, be present himself and is looking forward to ending an enforced hiatus away from the rostrum. He said: "I started auctioneering in 1985 and this is the longest I've gone without actually auctioning a horse since.

"We exist to sell and the vendors and pinhookers here are the same. It's been very tough on them, but I think it's a credit to the vendors how positive they've remained. Credit must also go to the purchasers who have turned up and are prepared to keep trying to generate business."

When asked if he had experienced anything like the challenges the COVID-19 crisis had presented, Beeby's answer was unequivocal. He said: "No, nothing like this in my 38 years working for DBS or Goffs.

"The nearest thing was the year of foot and mouth, there were challenges about moving horses between countries then, but that was a teddy bear's picnic compared to this year. At the time that was a big deal, but by comparison it didn't present the same challenges and impact this situation has had—and may yet have.

"The overwhelming feeling now is that we're grateful for everyone working together, it's been a great example of an industry working as one. And that's all facets; vendors, purchasers, sales companies, the authorities, the racecourses and local Doncaster council.

"It's wonderful to be back here. There's a great sense of relief, a little bit of pride, and a fair amount of hope as well."

Wednesday's sale will be conducted in pound sterling, with a 5% agents levy to be deducted from the sales proceeds of each lot sold and paid to the purchasing agent.