A healthy crowd on a sunny day. Blessed by beautiful weather, the 11th annual AQPS show of Western France took place at Lion d’Angers on Wednesday 9^th September and was a resounding success. As at Décize two weeks earlier, a number of professionals visited the show and more than 300 people from the local area, Paris, the Centre-East, Great Britain and Ireland attended the on-site lunch.

Cathal Murphy, nominations manager at Coolmore’s jumps-oriented Castlehyde Stud, was a member of the jury. “The British and Irish are among our main clients,” explained Nicolas Devilder, president of the AQPS breeders’ association of Western France, “so it is interesting for them to be among the judges. This allows them to become spokespeople for our event and encourage their compatriots to attend in greater numbers.

We saw a good presentation of foals and although the two-year-old fillies were rather ordinary, the males were very nice. English and Irish visitors were present; as well as bloodstock agents and plenty of local trainers. I don’t think many horses actually changed hands, but a lot of contacts were made.”