Arthur Hoyeau - Windfield International
TDN AusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?
Arthur Hoyeau: I am from France and I have been surrounded by horses for as long as I can remember. Both sides of my family were involved in racing and breeding racehorses, one with standardbreds and the other one with thoroughbreds, and more specifically national hunt horses in the west part of France, where the racing and breeding culture is deeply rooted in the traditions and what you could call the 'French Tipperary'. My father embraced a career in the bloodstock industry and later founded the leading French sales company Arqana. Earlier in his life, he was champion amateur jumps jockey and my earliest racing memory would be following him racing at a very early age.
TDN AusNZ: Which is your favourite racehorse of all time? Why?
AH: On a personal level a horse called It’s Gino (Ger) (Perugino {USA}). I was lucky enough to ride him in his first race in France back in 2007 at age 17 as an amateur jockey. He was unbeaten to date at the time and needless to say I would have been laughed at if I got beaten. He went on to be the Champion older horse in Germany the following year and finished third in the 2008 Arc won by a certain Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar {USA}). It was a very close finish but she (Zarkava) would come on top as my favourite horse of all time. She was quirky, but her brilliance was unbelievable.
TDN AusNZ: Do you have a favourite day on a racecourse? Why?
AH: It would be a mix of Breeders' Cup, Derby Day at Flemington, Arc Day and Royal Ascot. Any of those days where there is such a concentration of the very best racing is mind blowing.
Arthur and his father Eric | Image courtesy of Arthur Hoyeau
TDN AusNZ: Could you tell us how you got into this industry, about your job now and what you love most about it?
AH: It came naturally and I believe unconsciously I knew I would always end up being involved in this fascinating industry. The first reason has to be the passion for the animal and its aesthetic, followed by the competitiveness of the environment. I have been lucky to cross the paths of great horsemen and mentors through my education, such as Vin Cox, Jean-Etienne Dubois or Henri Bozo. After diverse experiences worldwide including 18 months in Hong Kong and four years in Australia from 2013 to 2018, I founded in 2019 my bloodstock advisory and trading business.
I now split my time between the United States and France while still travelling extensively to Australia and other major racing countries. It has obviously been a challenging year travel-wise and we are all very hopeful that this will get fixed sooner rather than later.
The emphasis on the international dimension is where I see the industry and our business going forward. I have been lucky to be involved in a short period of time and from a limited number of purchases with outstanding horses including this year's G1 Arkansas Derby winner Nadal (USA) (Blame {USA}), so we are off to a good start.
TDN AusNZ: Is there a stallion that you consider to be under the radar?, and why?
AH: In Australasia, All Too Hard is doing extremely well and can throw a very talented horse. In the United States, I am a big fan of Munnings (USA). In Europe, Zoffany (Ire) is kicking a lot of goals and seems to get better and better with the quality books he has covered after his stellar first season.
TDN AusNZ: Which stallion, ever, do you think was the best type?
AH: Interestingly the best stallions have not always been the best perceived types. It doesn’t really answer the question but I find fascinating any stallions that have been breed-shapers. The influence Northern Dancer (Can) has had is unprecedented and has impacted the breeding of thoroughbreds in every corner of the globe through his sons and grandsons. I wasn’t born but from what I have read he wasn’t perceived as the best type even though he developed into a very well balanced and powerful individual although small before he matured.
TDN AusNZ: Which first-season sire (other than your own) do you believe is most exciting?
AH: It is out of the box but I was quite taken by the Sooboog yearlings at the sales at Magic Millions in January and at the Inglis Classic Sale in February and I am looking forward to seeing how it translates on the track. Otherwise, the first American Pharoahs (USA) down under and the Capitalists will be very exciting to follow.
TDN AusNZ: What was your favourite weanling, yearling or mare purchase this year?
AH: It is difficult to detach one from another but I particularly like a Frankel (GB) colt we purchased at the Arqana Select Sale a couple weeks ago from Henri Bozo's Ecurie des Monceaux. As a commercial breeder, his record to breed top horses is second to none, especially in such a short period of time so let’s hope he is one of them.
TDN AusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star within the industry? (Person not horse).
AH: I am not sure if we can still categorise him as a rising star, but I would say Henry Field. He is sharp and has an international and forward-thinking vision of the game. He has developed in a short period of time a fantastic operation in Newgate, surrounding himself with the right people and partners.
TDN AusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?
AH: Each jurisdictions has its own issues to solve and it appears to me that the fierce rivalry between the different state racing authorities in Australia is not always productive. More generally, and I will repeat myself, but the growth of the industry is based on its globalisation and will further do so I believe, so a come back to normality will be a new start for most of us.
TDN AusNZ: If you weren’t in this industry what would you do?
AH: I have actually never really thought about this, but it would have to mix business with something I am passionate about. I am not a great connoisseur but I have an appreciation for art and design in general so probably Art Dealer or something along those lines
