A quickfire round with bloodstock agent Bevan Smith
TDN AusNZ: Favourite racing moment of 2019?
BS: Winx winning her last ever race in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as dominant as always and bowing out like the true champion she is.
TDN AusNZ: And non-racing moment?
BS: Skipping winter and spending the cold months in America in the sunshine. I have some great friends over there and I really enjoy getting stateside as much as I can.
TDN AusNZ: Best thing about Magics and the Gold Coast?
BS: Beyond the great horses for sale, the best thing is catching up with everyone. It is a tight-knit community in this industry and with Magic Millions being the first sale of the year after a bit of a break between sales, it is great to catch up with people and enjoy a cold slushy on a hot day.
TDN AusNZ: What progeny have impressed you so far on your MM inspections?
BS: I haven't seen a lot of horses for the sale yet but it is a great crop of first season sires and I am really looking forward to seeing what is on offer. It is an exciting bunch and that is reflected by the number of yearlings by first season sires in the MM catalogue.
TDN AusNZ: If you could be someone else in the industry for a day. Who would it be, and why?
BS: Mike Rennie - so I know what it feels like to be 'under the pump' and the busiest person on the planet. In fact, if I was him I'd take a day off to relax.
Bevan Smith
TDN AusNZ: Favourite racehorse of the decade? Domestic and international.
BS: Locally, definitely Winx. She captured the public's imagination and brought people to the races, she truly was a champion racehorse.
Internationally, American Pharoah. Again, he brought people to the races and got mainstream attention. He broke a long drought of Triple Crown winners and then to win the Breeders Cup Classic as well cemented him as one of the greatest to ever race.
TDN AusNZ: Greatest sporting moment this decade (not solely racing related).
BS: Phil 'The Power' Taylor winning a record 16th World Darts Championship. A super athlete and a physique to aspire to.
TDN AusNZ: Who is the most under-rated stallion in Australasia?
BS: Darci Brahma is having a great run at the moment. He isn't overly popular at the sales but he gets loads of winners and can produce a top class horse too. His two 3YOs Catalyst and Harlech both look very good.
TDN AusNZ: Positive change you would like to see in the industry in 2020?
BS: In New Zealand, we just need to see change. It seems such a scary word in this industry but we need to band together and get things done, sacrifices will need to be made for the greater good.
TDN AusNZ: New Year's resolution for 2020?
BS: Buy fast horses.
