For the third consecutive year, Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s showpiece nursery has put the book full sign up on Almanzor while Cambridge Stud will also be sending a sizeable portion of its broodmare band to a selection of leading Hunter Valley-based stallions.

The farm will breed more than 150 mares in 2020 with 60 booked to proven Australian-based stallions and an array of first-season sires.

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Hunter quality

Included among the proven Australian-based sires to be used by Cambridge Stud is Dundeel (NZ), with three mares booked to the Arrowfield Stud stallion.

“Ardeche is going to him along with another nice mare called Promise To Reign, who was a stakes-placed filly. We think he’s done very well at stud and had two Group 1 horses in his first crop,” Plumptre said.

Ardeche (NZ) (Dehere {USA}) is the dam of the Group 3 winner Mongolian Marshal (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) while Promise To Reign (Manhattan Rain), a multiple Group placegetter, produced her first foal last year by Tavistock (NZ). Both mares are currently empty.

“We have decided to roll the dice with I Am Invincible and sent the Zabeel mare Zonza to him. She has produced the stakes winners Bavella and Vernazza,” Chief Executive Officer Henry Plumptre said.

“We’ve got a beautiful Tavistock 2-year-old colt with Roger James out of her so she’s getting every chance and Zonza is in foal to Almanzor.

“We were delayed by the piroplasmossis investigation so our in-foal mares have to foal here before they go to Australia.”

Two further high-profile Hunter Valley matings involve Griante (Good Journey {USA}) and Thames Court (Commands).

“They are two pretty important mares and they will be going to Pierro,” Plumptre said.

The G1 The Galaxy H. winner Griante is the dam of recent debut winner Cadenabbia (Redoute’s Choice), who was a NZ$800,000 Karaka yearling, and is in foal to Dundeel and currently at Milburn Creek.

Thames Court won the G3 Alexandra S. and her first foal topped Cambridge Stud’s draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale this year when her Lonhro colt sold to Coolmore for NZ$675,000. She was served by Written Tycoon last year.

“Of the other established stallions, we’re using horses like Written Tycoon, Lonhro, Epaulette who I think has also made a very good start, Deep Field and Brazen Beau,” Plumptre said.

First-season sires

Cambridge Stud is also sending mares to first-season stallions including Blue Point (Ire), Castelvecchio, Microphone, Pierata and Too Darn Hot (GB).

“We’re sending Egyptian Cross to Pierata. She is a daughter of Egyptian Raine and had a Deep Field filly last year and a very nice All Too Hard colt,” Plumptre said.

“Egyptian Cross is in foal to Almanzor and we’ve got a mare called Prose Poem. She’s a European mare by Street Cry and going to Pierata and also in foal to Almanzor.

“Pierata is easily the fastest son of Pierro and Aquis has been extremely good supporters of the yearling sale arena for the last few years. We wanted in some small way to do some reciprocal business with them.

“I loved Pierata when he was racing, he was a very good horse, and Pierro looks like the heir designate to Lonhro. "

The older guard of Coolmore's Pierro, So You Think (NZ) and Fastnet Rock aside, Cambridge Stud will also support the youthful members of the roster including Rubick, American Pharoah (USA), Churchill (Ire), Merchant Navy and Yes Yes Yes.

“We’ve taken the view with some of the young Coolmore stallions that they are horses that Coolmore have a lot of vested interest in. In their inimitable way, they will do everything they can to make sure those horses succeed and we’re trying to be part of that as well,” Plumptre said.

“The Group 2 winner Abidewithme is going to American Pharoah and is foal to Almanzor. The dam of the Group 2 winner Scott Base (NZ), Extra Celestial, is going to American Pharoah as well.

“That’s a good mating for her and she has got an I Am Invincible yearling and wasn’t served last year.

New Zealand sires supported

On the home front, stud resident Almanzor and Embellish (NZ) will again be strongly supported, and the farm will also send mares to the established group of outside stallions Savabeel, Ocean Park (NZ), Reliable Man (GB), Per Incanto (USA), Darci Brahma (NZ), El Roca and Charm Spirit (Ire).

Young stallions Tivaci, Tarzino (NZ), U S Navy Flag (USA), Ten Sovereigns (Ire), Belardo (Ire), Ribchester (Ire) and Eminent (Ire) figure in breeding plans as well.

Cambridge Stud was delighted to see Almanzor claim first-season sire honours at the recent Arqana Deauville Select Sale. The son of Wootton Bassett (GB) had 19 yearlings sell at an average of €126,789 (AU$206,300) and a top price of €280,000 (AU$455,500).

“We were very heartened and there was a bit of an indicator with his foals at the December sale at Deauville last year. The few on offer sold extremely well and we were very happy with Almanzor’s yearling sale,” Plumptre said.

“For a first-season sire they sold for pretty serious money and, in a year like this and off a €35,000 (AU$56,940) service fee, it was all pretty acceptable.

“He does get good types and puts a bit more bone and substance into them than the average French sire. That’s one of the things we’ve noticed down here, they are well-conformed with plenty of scope so we’re excited.”

Among the Cambridge Stud mares booked to Almanzor is the G3 Nivison S. winner Diamond Earth (Choisir).

“She’s (Diamond Earth) had a colt by Churchill last year and then missed, and Game Duchess, who is the dam of two Group 3 winners, Exquisite Jewel and Dark Princess, is in foal to Almanzor and going back to him,” Plumptre said.

“Zenella, who was second in the G1 Queensland Oaks, is in foal to The Autumn Sun and another going to Almanzor.”

Also booked in is Mefnooda (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), who had a Snitzel colt last year and is in foal to Justify (USA), and My My Maree (Testa Rossa) who is the dam of Group 1 winner Marky Mark (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).

Mefnooda was purchased at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale out of Segenhoe Stud’s draft for $450,000. She is a half-sister to the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner One Last Dance (Encosta De Lago).

Almanzor will serve Too Many Diamonds (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), dam of Group 2 winner Ruud Not Too (NZ) (Bernardini {USA}), as well as the Listed winner Diamond Like (Danehill {USA}), dam of Group 2 winner Forever Loved (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and in foal to the stallion.

“We’ll be selling yearlings by him at Karaka and we’ve offered a small group to Inglis and Magic Millions. There’s a couple for Magic Millions who are more forward, robust types and a few others we’ve put in the Classic Sale and two or three in the Melbourne Sale.

“We’ve got a minimum of 50 yearlings going to Karaka and that’s going to be our strength. If we can take half a dozen or so Almanzors out of the Karaka system we’re not directly competing with our major supporters here.

“We want to carefully expose him to the Australian market and luckily for us I think his exploits overseas at the sales and Wootton Bassett’s record over the last 18 months has resulted in Almanzor successfully advertising himself.”

The book for Almanzor’s associate sire Embellish includes proven mares Dancing Forever (NZ) (Keeper) and Love Diamonds (Danehill {USA}).

“We’re giving him a lot of chances. He’ll serve Dancing Forever, the dam of stakes winner Respin, and he’s getting Love Diamonds, the dam of Group 2 winner Queen Of Diamonds, who is in foal to Embellish,” Plumptre said.

The G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Fazzle (NZ) (Johar {USA}), who is empty, and the G3 Desert Gold S. winner Glamorous Girl (NZ) (Thorn Park) is another on Embellish’s list.

Team approach

The matings are completed with a team effort from Cambridge Stud employees and modelled Plumptre’s past experience.

“I’ve done pretty much the same thing here as I did at Godolphin. I had the stud managers from New South Wales and Victoria, who knew their mares, and I’d have Alastair Pulford and Andy Makiv,” he said.

“In the first run through everyone would sit down and go through every mare, the second run through we’d fine-tune.

“Here, we sit down as a group with Stud Manager Bevan McCullum and General Manager Marc Devcich, myself, Scott Calder, Head of Sales and Nominations, and Cameron Ring from the sales team.

“We look at pedigrees and crosses, Scott and Cam are very up to speed with what works with a sire line and we use the stud manager’s expertise of the types the mares throw. We gradually come up with a picture of what we want.

“What we have done this year, because we had a disastrous time last year losing our stallions, is that we made the decision to send a significant number of mares to Australia.

“Hopefully, we won’t have to do that next year because we will have Hello Youmzain arriving, but equally I don’t see anything wrong in going to the yearling sales with a draft of horses with a strong representation of Australian sires.

“In terms of pedigrees and stallions, we have to be multi-national to appeal to our biggest customer.”

Cambridge Stud's 2020 mating plans

Cover image courtesy of Keeneland

At A Glance

>> A colt by Tapit (USA) offered by Eaton Sales on behalf of Stonestreet tops the session when knocked down for US$2 million (AU$2.75 million) to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bob LaPenta, Gainesway Farm and Ron Winchell.

>> Into Mischief’s (USA) daughter was the top-priced filly when she was bought by Larry Best out of Taylor Made Sales’ draft for US$1.9 million (AU$2.6 million).

>> During the session, 100 yearlings changed hands for gross receipts of US$44,535,000 (AU$61,211,693). The average was US$445,350 (AU$612,203) and median was US$360,000 (AU$495,000).

>> The Book 1 gross was US$85,215,000 (AU$117,097,659) at an average of US$407,727 (AU$560,279) and median of US$330,000 (AU$453,574). The overall buyback rate was 39.6 per cent.

>> Year-to-year comparisons would be inexact at this time as last year’s Book 1 was spread out over three sessions.

>> The leading Book 1 buyer was the stallion-making partnership of SF, Starlight and Madaket, with Donato Lanni as agent, which was responsible for 12 purchases for US$5,905,000 (AU$8,115,309).

>> Taylor Made Sales assumed its usual spot atop the consignor standings with 38 horses sold for US$14,435,000 (AU$19,840,640).

>> Into Mischief (USA) was the leading sire by gross with 20 sold bringing US$13,085,000 (AU$17,986,079), while Medaglia D’Oro (USA) led by average at US$720,537 (AU$990,080) from 14 sold.

Tapit colt star of show

The session topper and likely sale topper was Hip 435, a son of Tapit (USA) out of the Grade 1 winner Tara’s Tango (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) who sold for US$2 million (AU$2.75 million).

The colt was offered by Eaton Sales on behalf of Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet and acquired by a partnership between Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bob LaPenta, Gainesway Farm and Ron Winchell.

The sale’s leading filly sold just two hips later, when Larry Best of OXO Equine went to US$1.9 million (AU$2.6 million) for the Into Mischief (USA) daughter of stakes winner Taylor S (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}). The bay was consigned by Taylor Made Sales as Hip 438.

Gallery: The leading colt and filly of the Sale

“It was a great end to the sale today, and among the last [11] hips there were four million-dollar horses,” said Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell. “It had a frantic end to it. We appreciate Barbara Banke and her support of Keeneland and having another top-priced horse over here so it was a very exciting couple of minutes.”

For the session, an even 100 yearlings changed hands for gross receipts of US$44,535,000 (AU$61,211,693). The average was US$445,350 (AU$612,203) and median was US$360,000 (AU$495,000). The buyback rate was a fairly high 42.86 per cent after a significant number of outs.

The Book 1 gross was US$85,215,000 (AU$117,097,659) at an average of US$407,727 (AU$560,279) and median of US$330,000 (AU$453,574). The overall buyback rate was 39.6 per cent. Year-to-year comparisons would be inexact at this time as last year’s Book 1 was spread out over three sessions.

“The reserve not attained was a little higher than we wanted or would’ve anticipated,” Russell said. “We are in that Book 1 market where people are willing to send horses to the racetrack. As we go through the Sale, there are people who are commercial breeders with commercial crops who have to sell, so hopefully we see a change in that.”

The current topper would be the lowest at Keeneland September since 2012.

There has been notable strength during Book 1 for fillies, with 11 seven-figure sellers of the fairer sex this year compared to six during Book 1 last year. This year’s filly median among the top 20 was US$1,012,500 (AU$1,391,662) versus $912,500 (AU$1,253,763) 12 months ago.

The leading Book 1 buyer was the stallion-making partnership of SF, Starlight and Madaket, with Donato Lanni as agent, which was responsible for 12 purchases for US$5,905,000 (AU$8,115,309). Taylor Made Sales assumed its usual spot atop the consignor standings with 38 horses sold for US$14,435,000 (AU$19,840,640).

Into Mischief was the leading sire by gross with 20 sold bringing US$13,085,000 (AU$17,986,079), while Medaglia D’Oro (USA) led by average at US$720,537 (AU$990,080) from 14 sold.

Conglomerate lands topper

Aron Wellman’s Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bob LaPenta, Antony Beck’s Gainesway Farm and Ron Winchell pooled their sizable resources and struck late in the day to land the current sale topper, a US$2 million (AU$2.75 million) Tapit colt.

He was offered by Eaton Sale on behalf of Stonestreet, who will remain in the ownership.

“The power of the partnership is so prevalent in today’s market,” Wellman said. “It’s wild to think how far the partnership has come.

“To think of how the partnership model has evolved, now, we as a partnership company are partnering with moguls, titans of industry like Bob LaPenta, like Antony Beck, like Ron Winchell. It speaks volumes for the model… hopefully, between all of us, we have plenty of good mojo.”

The youngster’s dam Tara’s Tango (USA), whose now 2-year-old Curlin (USA) colt was purchased by Godolphin here last year for US$2.15 million (AU$2.95 million), is half to 2008 GI King’s Bishop S. winner Visionaire (USA) (Grand Slam {USA}).

“Visionaire was the first Grade I winner that I was associated with during my tenure at Team Valor when he won the King’s Bishop,” Wellman said. “The family speaks for itself; Tapit speaks for himself. The reality is, all I care about is that you’re interviewing our partnership after he wins a Grade I.

“Right now, it’s a big gamble, and the only thing we proved today is that we were the only people who were willing to pay US$2 million for him.

“He was just a phenomenal physical; he was a man among boys, to our eye, in the sale. We waited two days to pull the trigger on him. We just couldn’t find any chinks in his armour; physically, mentally, pedigree wise.”

Best into more Mischief

Larry Best has been a big supporter of Into Mischief for years, campaigning the likes of stakes winners Instagrand (USA), Rowayton (USA), Clivetty (USA), Mundaye Call (USA) and Center Aisle (USA).

The OXO Equine principal added another offspring of the red hot Spendthrift sire to his stable Monday, going to US$1.9 million (AU$2.6 million) to acquire Hip 438.

The filly is out of stakes winner Taylor S, a half-sister to young sires Liam’s Map (USA) and Not This Time (USA).

“I like her frame. She looks like a two-turn filly,” Best said. “She has a wonderful family. With my collection of Into Mischief fillies, she has to be one of the best in terms of pedigree. I continue to bet a lot on Into Mischief and so far, so good. I feel good about this one.

“I didn’t get in until about US$1.6 million (AU$2.2 million). I knew she was going to go for between US$1.5 million (AU$2.06 million) and US$2 million (AU$2.74 million) so, it did not surprise me.

“Book 1, I think, has been unbelievably strong. It blew my expectations away. Keeneland should be very happy.”

Breeder Dennis Albaugh privately purchased Hip 438’s second dam Miss Macy Sue (USA) (Trippi {USA}) near the end of her racing career, which was highlighted by a Grade 3 win and over US$867,000 (AU$1.2 million) in earnings.

Her second foal Liam’s Map (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) brought US$800,000 (AU$1.09 million) at the 2012 renewal of this auction and went on to win the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and GI Woodward S. before retiring to the Lane’s End stallion barn.

The Albaugh family retained her next foal Taylor S, who was a stakes winner and Grade 2-placed. Two seasons later, Miss Macy Sue produced Not This Time (USA), who carried the Albaugh silks to a win in the G3 Iroquois S. He retired to Taylor Made and has his first runners this year, headlined by Grade I winner Princess Noor (USA).

“We are very happy. Larry Best got a very nice horse. There is a lot of upside for him on this filly. We couldn’t be happier,” Albaugh said.

Peach of a mare for Anderson

The Anderson Farms-bred mare Orchard Beach (USA) (Tapit {USA}) has been quite the Blue Hen for the operation, producing Dave Anderson’s first seven-figure sale in Sergei Prokofiev (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}).

She provided the Canada native with a new high on Monday when her yearling filly by Medaglia D’Oro, Hip 319, sold for US$1.6 million (AU$2.2 million) to Shadwell Farm.

“It means everything. I am very emotional right now. I bred the mother and now I bred this filly. She is probably the most athletic filly that I’ve ever had on the farm,” Anderson said.

The Ontario-based Anderson Farms purchased Hip 319’s second dam Song and Danz (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) for US$400,000 (AU$550,000) with Orchard Beach in utero. Orchard Beach was winless in two starts on the track, but has more than made up for it in the breeding shed.

Her first foal Sergei Prokofiev sold for US$1.1 million (AU$1.5 million) to M.V. Magnier at the 2017 renewal of this auction and her second foal, a Hard Spun (USA) filly now named Turko Beach (USA), brought US$950,000 (AU$1.3 million) from Shawn Duggan. She is also responsible for a now-2-year-old colt named Early Warning (USA) (Air Force Blue {USA}), who sold for US$400,000 (AU$550,000) last year.

Shadwell makes big splash

Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estate Company, perennially among the leading buyers at the September sale, purchased a pair of fillies by Medaglia D’Oro during Monday’s second session of the auction and came back later in the day to secure a colt by the Darley stallion.

Shadwell’s Kentucky general manager Rick Nichols warmed up with the US$425,000 (AU$585,000) purchase of Hip 231 and then refused to be denied when bidding US$1.6 million (AU$2.2 million) to acquire a daughter by Medaglia D’Oro out of Orchard Beach from Anderson Farms’ consignment.

“She was a beautiful filly, extremely well-bred and conformationally correct,” Nichols said after signing the ticket on Hip 319. “It’s one of those that you kind of got to have.

“Sheikh Hamdan told me this morning to try to concentrate on getting some really nice fillies. We send all of our really good fillies to England and he promises that he’s going to send them back, but he never does,” Nichols said.

“So our broodmare band is starting to get a little old and we need to rejuvenate it a little bit. We are looking for a nice colt, but mainly our focus will be on some nice fillies.”

Later in the day, Nichols got his colt and a third yearling by Medaglia D’Oro. The horseman went to US$450,000 (AU$618,158) to acquire Hip 369 from the Taylor Made Sales consignment.

Medina, Allen busy

Joe Allen did not make it to Kentucky for the yearling sales this year, but his presence was heavily felt with Blackwood Stables trainer and former Shug McGaughey assistant Robbie Medina signing plenty of big tickets on the breeder’s behalf.

Medina represented Allen on the US$1.5 million (AU$2 million) Quality Road (USA) filly that topped the Fasig-Tipton sale and he kept busy at Keeneland, where his acquisitions were highlighted by a US$1.4million (AU$1.9 million) daughter of Medaglia D’Oro, Hip 442.

“For me, I thought she was the best horse that I saw,” Medina said. “She’s a big, athletic-looking filly. Obviously the mare has produced a Grade I winner and a 2-year-old winner and I like everything about her.”

Chris Baccari, of Baccari Bloodstock, purchased Hip 442’s stakes-placed dam Theycallmeladyluck (USA) (Dixie Union {USA}) for just US$60,000 (AU$82,400) back in 2009 at the Keeneland November Sale.

Her second foal brought US$500,000 (AU$686,677) at the 2013 renewal of this auction and Baccari raced her next foal in partnership with Gary Barber and Chester Prince. That foal was Grade I winner Salty (USA) (Quality Road {USA}), who sold to Don Alberto for US$3 million (AU$4.12 million) at the 2018 FTKNOV sale.

Curlin colt popular

A colt by Curlin (USA) has no shortage of new owners after Gainesway’s Alex Solis signed the ticket on Hip 282 at US$1.2 million (AU$1.65 million). The new partnership includes Mike Repole, Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias, Gainesway, John Oxley and Robert Clay’s Grandview.

“We’ve been talking about all the colts we liked and I really liked this colt,” Solis said. “I thought his mother was a pretty special filly. All week long I kept seeing him and thought I’d like to find a way to take a piece of this colt.”

The grey colt is out of multiple Grade I winner Midnight Lucky (USA) (Midnight Lute {USA}) and was co-bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. The mare was trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who was an interested observer while standing out back as the bidding escalated.

“I thought he’d be somewhere around there,” Solis said of the colt’s final price. “I didn’t know where. In this market, it’s kind of who you run into.”

Asked if the purchase was made considering a future stallion career for the yearling, Solis said, “Oh yes. When you pay that much money, you’re hoping it’s multiples if they hit.”

Pharoah filly secured

Long-time owner-breeder Mike Rutherford, of Lexington’s Manchester Farm, fended off several stiff challenges to ultimately land an American Pharoah (USA) half-sister to unbeaten G2 Amsterdam S. Yaupon (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) for US$1.2 million (AU$1.65 million).

The chestnut (Hip 291) was consigned to the sale by Bill Betz’s Betz Thoroughbreds and bred by Betz, J. Betz, CoCo Equine, former Chicago newscaster Ron Magers and Burns.

Rutherford said he currently has six other sons and daughters of American Pharoah in training. He said he hadn’t yet decided on a trainer for Hip 291, but he has employed Yaupon’s trainer Steve Asmussen in the past.

Louis Le Metayer opened the doors of Astute Bloodstock in 2013 in Sydney and is now firmly established in the top echelon of agents. He spoke with TDN AusNZ’s Paul Vettise about his upbringing, major influences on his career and thoughts on the industry.

Paul Vettise: Tell us a bit about your family and upbringing, early introduction to the breeding and racing industries? Did you develop an immediate love for thoroughbreds? Did you ever consider any other career path or was it always horses?

Louis Le Metayer: I grew up in Normandy, an hour south of Deauville, near Alencon in a region where breeding and racing, equestrian sports and agriculture really dominate the way of life.

My father was a bloodstock agent and he and my mum also ran a broodmare farm, Haras du Buff, and were yearling consignors. Growing up, my brothers and I had the best pony (Marko) in Normandy and we used to absolutely clean up at the regional show jumping competition. My love of horses started thanks to Marko and I immediately took an interest in the family farm. We had a pretty lucky upbringing.

However, when I turned 16 my father got really sick with cancer and things got tougher. His business as an agent almost stopped and he had to delegate the running of the farm to my mother who was relatively inexperienced at the time.

On the weekend as well as before and after school, my brothers and I had to chip in, and for a couple of years I was glued to the farm breaking in horses, foaling down mares, mucking out stables and all the rest of it. My dad used to say jokingly “no need to get up early, just make sure that you are in the yard at 6am.” It was full on, but it gave me a good work ethic.

The reward was to drive Dad around the country to buy foals on other farms and while he could barely walk, he taught me a lot about conformation and horses in general. In 2000, my father passed away and my mother decided to take over the farm when the business was in a poor situation.

My mum can work like very few people I know, and slowly she rebuilt the business with a lot of sweat and a few tears. Now, she owns double the land as well as the farm next door and she has an excellent clientele and a thriving business. She has taught me some good lessons in grit and tenacity through her own experience.

PV: I believe you were trading horses at a tender age?

LLM: I got my first introduction to pinhooking when I was about 13; my brothers and I had a cow each and we decided to sell the cows and start pinhooking. With that money, I bought my first foal for 12,000 francs (AU$18,062) in 1993. We prepped him ourselves on the farm and eight months later we sold him for 50,000 francs (AU$75,262). We bought a few others with a good friend Nicolas Clement, now a trainer in Chantilly, and we got lucky most of the time. I was already a horse tragic but that hooked me even more.

PV: Did you attend university and if so what did you study?

LLM: I did a three-year agriculture degree at the Lycée Agricole and the French National Stud which was very interesting. We studied farm and pasture management, farming techniques, equine science, breeding techniques and anything to do with horses in a general sense. I used to know the name of every muscle, tendon and bone of the horse body which was interesting, but not exactly the best conversation material.

At the same time, I used to ride track work in the morning and I took an amateur jump jockey’s licence which was a lot of fun. I was never really built to be a jockey so I had to diet very hard, but it was worth it. I only rode 10 times for one winner and to fall once and both were memorable experiences. Jumping fences on a horse at full speed is definitely one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done.

PV: When did you decide to see the world and what jobs did you have?

LLM: My dad insisted we had to be bi-lingual which is common now for young French people, but not so much at the time. I did a family exchange in Ireland at the age of 12 and I have been ‘travelling’ ever since. I quickly realised that the industry was an international game and I was also very curious to see the world through the industry. When you can ride horses well, all you have to do is turn up at a racecourse anywhere in the world with your boots and helmet and you will get a job pretty quickly.

PV: I believe you worked for several trainers around the world, tell us a bit about your experiences?

LLM: I enjoyed working for all of them and I am fascinated about training in general. Jumps racing is huge in Europe and Paul Nicholls has been champion National Hunt trainer 11 times in the UK. He was the leading trainer when I worked there 20 years ago and he is still at the top now. His training techniques were simple, but once you analysed it a bit deeper it made a lot of sense. Training jumpers is arguably more challenging than training flat horses as you have to train them to stay the distance, to jump at speed and to accelerate at the end of a two, three or even four mile races.

They can often race until 12-years-old and I have seen top horses recovering from major injuries and coming back to winning form, which requires a lot of good care and fine horsemanship. Some of the best trainers in the world like Aidan O’Brien, Andre Fabre and Ciaron Maher have all started with jumpers, which is interesting.

I have also enjoyed spending time with Glen Kotzen and Tony McEvoy. They both have a very positive outlook on things and their energy is infectious.

PV: When did you first come to Australia and how did that come about?

LLM: In 2005 coming back from Kentucky, I was 25 and I wanted to take over the family farm, however my mother didn’t quite see it that way, so she gave me a plane ticket at Christmas and two weeks later I landed in Sydney. I knew nothing about Australia then and I didn’t really have the time to make much of a plan.

However, I got lucky and I met some very nice people during my first visit Down Under and I spent a fair bit of time with John, Kris and Paul Messara, Tubba Williams, Dr Johnnie Walker, Jenny McAlpine, from Lindsay Park, and Scott Irwin at Rothwell Park. I am very grateful for their friendship, hospitality, support and for introducing me to other people along the way.

PV: Tell us about your stint at Lindsay Park and your role there?

LLM: Lindsay Park was a wonderful experience. It was like a little community where everyone did their job and got on well. I was there for four years and started by riding trackwork in the morning at Angaston and a few months later I ended up in the bloodstock office selling tried horses. I was also in charge of short-listing yearlings for David Hayes and Mark Pilkington at all the yearling sales. I got to inspect thousands and thousands of yearlings and it was a brilliant learning curve. This is where I really started to get excited about picking an athlete among others and I have been studying it ever since. I also got to spend a lot of time working with Sam Hayes at Lindsay Park Stud (now Cornerstone) and we became good friends.

PV: You also worked at Arrowfield Stud, what was your role there?

LLM: After all my hands-on experience with horses, my four years at Arrowfield from 2009–2012 taught me to understand the industry through a more analytical approach. I worked in the bloodstock office promoting the stallions, selling yearlings and I was in charge of overseeing all the foal shares.

This experience added immensely to my knowledge of pedigrees, stallion management, marketing and it helped me to get a broader perspective on industry issues. Post GFC, the market was a bit flat, but Redoute’s Choice was in his prime while Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt were starting to really emerge.

In this game, I think you learn about horses with your eyes and about business with your ears and there was plenty to take on board at Arrowfield. John Messara was an excellent influence; his vision and tenacity are remarkable; “Don’t be afraid to explore a new avenue” was one of his sayings that stuck with me for some reason. I have been doing some business with Arrowfield since the start of Astute Bloodstock and it is nice to keep the relationship going.

PV: What have been the most important lessons you learned and best pieces of advice?

LLM: I have learned from a lot of people, some of whom I didn’t work for or even dealt with, but if I had to sum up what I have learned it would be: Work hard, be accurate, stay positive, work for or with the best people, don’t ever bullshit, keep learning all the time and build relationships with people who are going forward.

PV: Astute Bloodstock was established in Sydney in 2013, was it hard going early on?

LLM: The business started slowly beginning in 2013 and it has grown organically ever since. It rarely feels like work which is fantastic. I love the independence of building my own brand and the challenges that come with running a business. I toyed with the idea of “shuttling” between Australia and France every six months, but my wife is Australian so she gave me an excellent excuse to settle here.

PV: Tell us a bit about your success stories?

LLM: One of my very first yearling purchases was a filly called My Country purchased for $140,000 at the Magic Millions sales in January for Peter James from Sunninghill Park. She won three from four starts as a 2-year-old, including the Listed Lancaster S. and she was Group placed as a 3-year-old a few times. She also trained on to win at Randwick as a 4-year-old. She didn’t have much pedigree, but she was an outstanding physical specimen as a yearling. It gave me confidence that I could pick a good horse at a value price who could outperform its pedigree.

Some of our other Group successes include: Harlem, twice winner of the G1 Australian Cup; Miss Leonidas, Group 2 winner and second the G1 Galaxy; Thump who was dual Group 2 winner; Group 2 winner Ventura Storm; Coral Beach, a Group 3 winner in Ireland, Bebeautiful was a Listed winner in France; Pilote D’Essai was a multiple Listed winner; Fixette was a 2-year-old stakes performer in France and Wolf Cry was a 2-year-old stakes performer in Sydney.

All of these horses have a different story and there have been a lot of other winners in between. In the last two months we have had 11 individual wins from 18 starts and there are some very nice young horses coming through.

PV: What are the biggest challenges you face as a bloodstock agent?

LLM: In my view, 90 per cent of horses on offer don’t match our buying criteria and the remaining 10 per cent are generally very expensive so our window of opportunity to strike in the market without overpaying is very small. Considering that there is an average of nine owners per horse in Australia, it is difficult to line everyone up before an auction when the price is still unknown. This means that we have to buy on spec regularly, which involves a financial risk. However, this year we have purchased 14 yearlings and they are all fully sold and our database of owners is growing all the time with word of mouth.

PV: You have expanded into Melbourne, who represents you there?

LLM: We’ve had some good clients in Melbourne since Astute began, but our business expansion to Melbourne and Adelaide started early this year thanks to an old friend Dean Elliott. Dean has 20 years of working experience in the industry and he is a particularly astute judge of form. We used to work together in the Lindsay Park days and our skill sets are very complementary. Dean is constantly on the lookout for up and coming racehorses either for our Hong Kong clients or our local owners. He has a good understanding of the breeding industry and he is also sourcing mares privately. After COVID-19, Dean will be able to look after our Victorian clients and keep a close eye on our racehorses based in Victoria.

PV: Repeat business is vital, who are among you most loyal clients?

LLM: Bruce Neill from Cressfield has been a good client over the years and he has been lucky buying from me. This includes recent purchase Group-1 winning mare Spright, Group 2 winner Miss Leonidas, Group 2 winner Wild Rain, Group 2 winner Thump and Group 2 winner Jeu De Carte.

Lustre Lodge is a boutique broodmare farm in New South Wales made up of four investors who have purchased a few very nice mares with me during the last three years as well as a few yearling fillies who are doing very well at the moment. Their horses to follow include Nags To Riches, 2-year-old winner at her only start, Obscene, winner of her last two starts, Zorocat who won a trial by 5l in record time last week, Bebeautiful, a last-start Listed winner in France, Just Field who won her first start for us after we bought her at the Inglis Chairman's Sale and Cross the Rubicon who is a nice 3-year-old filly that we have a lot of time for.

My very first client Peter Walsh from Amelia Park in Western Australia has become a good friend and I always enjoy catching up with him. Amelia Park has sold horses up to $600,000 from mares sourced by Astute Bloodstock and Peter’s business advice over the years has been very helpful. Peter James from Sunninghill Park runs a beautiful agistment farm in Berry, NSW, and he raced My Country, who won a Listed race for us. He too has been full of good business advice.

Richard Gibson in Hong Kong is also a very good friend and client. Over the past two years, we have purchased 11 yearlings at the major sales in Australia. The first runners are doing well including Casa Del Sol, who won his first start in good style and Turin Warrior won his second start impressively. They are all in work in Victoria with Archie Alexander and none of them have been targeted at the 2-year-old races as the plan is for them to head to Hong Kong and to train on as older horses.

PV: Do you have a favourite sale and why?

LLM: I like the Magic Millions January sales because there are plenty to choose from and some of the most forward-types are often sold there.

PV: How has business been through COVID-19 for you?

LLM: Pretty good overall, we are learning to work differently and the online sales have been terrific, however, as a talent scout I still need to inspect horses in the flesh to assess them properly. I have done a lot of kilometres to inspect horses throughout NSW in the last three months, but I really enjoy it. The fact that the market has held up so well in such challenging times is really amazing and it is very encouraging going forward.

PV: Some thoughts on the Australian breeding and racing scene?

LLM: Although the export market is a lot smaller here than in Europe, I think the Australian racing industry is much better run and more sustainable. Obviously, the high prizemoney is the big point of difference and our industry is a lot more accessible, it has fresh ideas and isn’t afraid to innovate which really lacks in Europe.

However, every three months there is a new scandal in the sport and most of them were relatively obvious to the insiders who can see the cracks a long way out. I think we need a serious new internal integrity commission because obviously the steward system that we have in place at the moment isn’t working properly.

If we don’t regulate ourselves properly we will be regulated by outsiders who don’t know our industry and that won’t work either. The industry is often in the front page for the wrong reasons and the public is getting fed up with it. If we want racing to be still relevant in 20 years’ time, we need to do something serious to protect its image.

PV: Current times aside, do you go home to France regularly?

LLM: At least twice a year, generally in July and August for a holiday followed by the Deauville race meeting and the Arqana sales. Then I often make a trip in October for the Arc sales and the races and I also generally go to the Tattersalls and Arqana broodmare sales in December. I really enjoy going to Europe regularly and we had a fair bit of luck with our imports. The more horses I see, the more chance of finding the rough diamond and in a normal year will inspect about 8000 horses.

PV: What are your aspirations for Astute Bloodstock going forward?

LLM: Growing the business, consistently sourcing top horses year in year out and winning at least one Group 1 each year. The hardest thing in all business is to survive the test of time, reach the top of your field and stay there. I feel like we are only just warming up.