'If I Am Still In Business, It's Because Of The Horses – I Owe Them So Much'

Local breeze-up handler Philip Prevost-Baratte and Arqana President Olivier Delloye share their thoughts ahead of the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale

Given the breeze-up market is ruled by stopwatches and split seconds, it would be easy to assume there is no longer a space for old-school horsemanship and taking your time – yet Philip Prevost-Baratte proves otherwise. 

The Frenchman does not compete in the breeze. In fact, it wouldn't be uncommon to see all of the Prevost-Baratte horses occupy the slowest times at the majority of the sales. Yet, it proves no barrier to them getting sold and ultimately becoming good racehorses. 

While the clock might dominate conversation following the breeze for other consignors, Prevost-Baratte is most pleased when one of his juveniles canters down the back straight at Deauville doing little more than a half speed and demonstrating a good action and temperament. And strangely, it seems to work. 

“It's very simple; I don't know how to do it [get horses to breeze fast],” the consignor said on the eve of the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale. “I never learned how to make a horse breeze fast so I only do what I know. For me, the principal is to bring horses who are sound, clean of limb and wind, and horses who have never been tried. We just pre-train them. I am not saying other people are wrong but, for me, and it is only my opinion, but the clock is not a representation of quality. You can make the clock with any bad horse. It's the way that you prepare your horses, that is what is most important for me. I want horses who are clean, well in their minds and they come up there doing a nice canter without looking around. And do you know what, lots of people like buying that type of horse.”

He added, “I pre-train for the Wertheimers, work a lot with Francis Graffard and I also bred and broke in [multiple Grade-1 winning hurdler] Teahupoo. We have had some very good horses through our hands, including [Hong Kong Vase winner] Sosie, and I think we have had horses who have gone on to achieve something like 120 Group or Grade 1 wins overall. I am not a consignor. I do only two sales per year – maybe three sometimes. There are guys who do six or seven sales. Wow. I buy two or three horses every year, put together partnerships with friends, and then the rest of my horses are made up of what people who like what I do decide to send me. I'm not your typical breeze-up handler. I am a pre-trainer who likes to have a bit of fun with the breeze-ups once per year.” 

The proof, as they say, is in the eating. Along with top French buyers, internationally renowned clients like Hubie De Burgh, David Menuisier, BBA Ireland, Mark McStay and Blandford Bloodstock have bought horses from Prevost-Baratte in recent years. 

If anything, Prevost-Baratte has carved out something of a little niche within what has become a crammed space with a split second making the difference between hundreds of thousands of euros changing hands. 

“Money does not interest me,” he continues about his philosophy to the breeze. “I am looking for emotion and sensation. My whole life is ruled by those two words. Emotion and sensation. I have feelings and I see sometimes that money will drive people to do things. I don't want to be involved in that. I want to do what I have always known how to do best. I know what I can do. I also know what I cannot do and the main thing for me is how I respect my horses. If I am here today, and I am still in business, it is because of the horses. I owe them so much.”

He added, “People trust me from all over the world. I have buyers who are international, and also buyers from France. I am quite surprised, because even some English buyers, they come to me because they know that I don't train for the clock. That makes me very happy. If you always do what your neighbour does, basically you are the same. It's nice to be different in life.”

Prevost-Baratte's five-strong draft features colts by Too Darn Hot and Muhaarar as well as a filly by Zarak. He is mindful about the fact the opening sales of the European breeze-up season have been tepid, but says he has a gut feeling that the market could be jolted into life at Arqana on Saturday, where the sale gets underway at 11am. 

He said, “I know that the market wasn't so fun at Tattersalls or Goffs but I would not be surprised if the market was the same as last year here. I think people will be pleasantly surprised. I believe that Arqana can make it. We understand that the war is going on and there are a lot of things outside of our control but I think the market will be good.”

Delloye Sees Strong Demand Ahead Of Arqana Breeze-Up Sale

Olivier Delloye | Scoop Dyga

The horses are here, now let's hope the market rises to the standard on offer. That was the view of Arqana President Olivier Delloye, who says he is taking plenty of encouragement from the amount of well-known buyers who were out in force inspecting the stock on the eve of the sale.

“All credit to our vendors for bringing so many nice horses,” Delloye said. “There is a very consistent draft of horses here and we have to say that the average yearling price is pretty high – it's above €100,000. That means that the quality on offer here is really good.”

He added, “We all hope, both vendors and Arqana, that the market can be strong. That will be the big question and we will see tomorrow. But everything is here for a good sale and the people on the ground, they have a lot of time to really work this sale hard between the practice breeze, the breeze and the full day of inspections on Friday. Plenty of time to do vettings also. There are some buyers who, in my opinion, have kept some bullets for this sale. The judging will be in the sales ring tomorrow. We hope to be more in line with the American breeze-up market rather than the European one!”

If the buyers have kept powder dry for Arqana, the same is true for vendors. For many handlers, the season will boil down to one sunny day in Deauville and Delloye is all too aware of the responsibility that the sales company has for so many.

He said, “I would say it makes me feel more confident than stressed, the fact that so many consignors have kept nice horses for this sale. I mean, this sale has proven its ability of achieving some really good prices for the best individuals and we have offered a very good platform to present these horses in the best possible condition. The track was in great condition and the breeze went really well. We've got the right weather so, if there is demand, with the quality of horses that we have, the sale should work well.”