Katsumi Yoshida’s spending spree across Europe and the United States extended to France on the weekend, with the Northern Farm principal paying 1.1 million euros (US$1.16 million) for Group 3 winner Thunder Drum and another 850,000 euros (US$893,000) for Miss Extra, a Group 2-winning mare in foal to Frankel, at the Arqana December Mares Sale.

Yoshida has made a major mark on the overseas sales in 2022, spending nearly US$20 million on mares, foals, yearlings and two-year-olds in the United States and also investing in Ireland and England, where he recently purchased the Group 1 winner The Platinum Queen.

His French purchases were in partnership with agent Narvick International. Thunder Drum won the G3 Prix de Royaument at Chantilly in 2021 for her trainer Jerome Reynier and is a daughter of Dubawi out of the G1 Irish Oaks winner Great Heavens, who herself is a sister to multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire Nathaniel.

The value of Miss Extra, whose career includes a victory in the G2 Prix De Sandringham at Chantilly for trainers Pia and Joakim Brandt, was bolstered by the fact she is carrying a foal to global star stallion Frankel.

The Arqana purchases take the Japanese breeder’s total overseas investment over the past four months past US$24 million.

Shadai Farm, owned by Yoshida’s brother Teruya, also made a mark at Arqana with the purchase of G2 Rockfel S. winner Hello You for 1.55 million euros (US$1.63 million).

It was the first time Shadai Farm had been active at the French sale and representative Takuya Fujita also signed for Group 3 winner Noble Heidi for 400,000 euros (US$420,000) and paid 160,000 euros (US$168,000) for Wooturn.

“My first impressions of Hello You when I saw her on the sales ground were that she had a really good walk. I thought she was my pick of the day and her conformation was perfect. She achieved good performances as a race filly but, more than that, she is just a very good mare,” Fujita told reporters.

The Gr2 winner HELLO YOU (lot 1️⃣9️⃣5️⃣) offered by @EcurieMonceaux sells for €1,550,000 to Shadai Farm at #TheVentedElevage ❄️ pic.twitter.com/DL6lql8BTi

— ARQANA (@InfoArqana) December 3, 2022

Fujita said it hadn’t been determined if the three-year-old Hello You, a daughter of Invincible Spirit,  would remain in work or head straight to the breeding barn.

“The European pedigrees have made a big imprint on our breeding and racing in Japan. I try to find mares with good speed rather than stamina which is why I picked up this filly,” he said.

The third Yoshida brother, Haruya, was also active in France, paying 280,000 euros (US$296,000) for the Camelot mare and Group 3 winner Penja, to go to his Oiwake Farm.

Japanese outfit Pangloss YK secured dual Arc winner Treve’s unraced sister Shumi La Shumi La, together with agents Catheryne Bruggeman and Paul Moroney for 310,000 euros (US$326,500).

Pangloss TK is the breeder of G1 Dubai Turf winner Panthalassa, who contests this weekend’s G1 Hong Kong Cup.

Australian-connected buyers were also very busy at Arqana, headed by James Harron, who combined with fellow bloodstock agent Hubie De Burgh to pay 1.25 million euros (US$1.37 million) for Group 1-placed Times Square.

The Listed winner & Gr1-placed TIMES SQUARE (lot 1️⃣8️⃣0️⃣) offered by Christophe Ferland goes to @Deburghequine for €1,250,000 at #TheVentedElevage ❄️. pic.twitter.com/Z3a6dEWUFy

— ARQANA (@InfoArqana) December 3, 2022

The three-year-old daughter of Zarak will continue her racing career in Australia.

$184-million Flightline and Yoshida’s $5.5 million mare highlight Keeneland opener