In what are uncertain times in any business environment, educational publishing entrepreneur Sandblom has been impressed by the manner in which the Australian racing, breeding and bloodstock industries have been able to carry on under the circumstances of what has been described as the 'new normal'.
"Considering what could have happened and what has happened elsewhere in the world in terms of shutdowns, I think the industry has done a great job staying open and racing. Even in Victoria at stage 4, they have been still able to race, which has been great to see," Sandblom told TDN AusNZ.
"Most people have worked their way around to keep things going. It’s really been a credit to everyone, the administrators as well as the participants who have stuck with the rules.
"The fact that we are back up to normal prizemoney is a great sign. There seems to be more people watching and betting on races, because a lot of other things haven't been available. There's a real silver lining there in the whole equation."
"There's a real silver lining there in the whole equation." - Matthew Sandblom
From what he has seen both at Newgate and Kingstar and across the wider industry, Sandblom senses that while there has been a degree of uncertainty for breeders, the market has adapted to reflect that.
"From what I am hearing, things have been a touch harder, in terms of getting stallions booked, and for mare owners, in terms of how things may look going forward," he said.
"There's a bit of nervousness, but most people are making the commitment and breeding their mares. They are looking for better value in their stallions and the fees have accommodated that. There's plenty of deals happening at the lower end of the market.
"If you can, there is no reason not to breed your mares and the sales results have held up pretty well."
Matthew Sandblom and Adam Cook at Kingstar Farm
The yearling sales season in Australia fared remarkably well considering the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, with the market adapting to the change of timing and format of sales to record only moderate falls in key indicators such as average and mean.
Sandblom pointed out that the Australian yearling market had performed considerably better than both the United States and the United Kingdom, but he also anticipated considerable challenges for the 2021 sales season.
"Magic Millions and Inglis will have a challenge accommodating everyone into the sales. I've heard there is quite a few New Zealand horses wanting to come over, and these sales are hard enough to get into as it is. That will be a bit of a pressure point, just getting a horse into the sales," he said.
"Hopefully the market can absorb those extra numbers, not just at the top end but at all levels of the market."
Full speed ahead with breeding plans
While uncertainty persists, Sandblom is not taking a backward step in his plans for his broodmare band of around 120, across his various interests, this spring.
Matings for those mares have been planned in close consultation with Newgate's Managing Director Henry Field, as well as a 'couple of pedigree guys', Sandblom uses, in addition to the staff at Kingstar, headed by manger Adam Cook.
"Ninety per cent of my mares would go to supporting our own stallions, be they at Newgate or Kingstar. That's what most of my mares are for. Right up the top end, there are some which you need to go outside for," he said.
"Ninety per cent of my mares would go to supporting our own stallions, be they at Newgate or Kingstar." - Matthew Sandblom
"We've got Deep Field at Newgate, who is an up-and-coming stallion, but he's not that proven, big-time stallion yet. When you look at those, you start looking at the Snitzels and I Am Invincibles and those types."
A foal from a Star
One headline mare who has already headed to an outside stallion this season and who is very close to Sandblom's heart is Group 1 winner I Am A Star (I Am Invincible), who visited Coolmore's Fastnet Rock this week.
She delivered her first foal, a colt by Deep Field, last month.
"He's a good strong colt and a good first foal. We sent her to Deep Field, because he has good scope and a good pedigree and matched up well. It gave a bit of size to her, which is what you want in the first foal. He's a good medium-sized foal," he said.
"She is a young mare who got in foal first time with Deep Field, so hopefully it will work out that way with Fastnet Rock.
"There is always a big expectation with those type of mares. You know with breeding, you have no guarantees. You try and mate them right and think what suits and hope for the best really."
As well as high-profile outside stallions, Sandblom also confirmed that the Newgate partners had purchased breeding rights in Darley's first-season son of Exceed And Excel, Microphone, which he will look to utilise.
"We are supporting him and we thought it was a reasonable deal. He's a good prospect," he said.
Newgate partners have purchased breeding rights in Darley's first-season sire Microphone
Newgate also has a trio of first-season sires in Brutal (NZ), Cosmic Force and Tassort, all of which will be supported by Sandblom.
"We've got about 15 mares for Brutal. He's a good outcross with good substance, and there's a few for Cosmic Force and a few for Tassort, both existing mares and new purchases," he said.
Ready to Conquer
Kingstar Farm was especially busy in the broodmare market in the past few months, picking up 12 mares at the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale and another 15 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, to support a young three-stallion roster which features Bull Point, Lord Of The Sky and new addition Unite And Conquer.
"About 80 per cent of those are for Unite And Conquer and there are a couple for other horses," Sandblom said.
Among those new purchases headed to Unite And Conquer is Arson Annie (Nothing To Lose {USA}), the half-sister to G1 JJ Atkins S. winner Rothfire (Rothesay), who cost $42,500 on the Gold Coast.
Arson Annie
"For Unite And Conquer this year, we have been out there actively sourcing mares which we think will suit him physically and pedigree wise. If anything, we want to double down on that early speed. We’ve bought a lot of 2-year-old stakes winners and placegetters and horses who performed young," Sandblom said.
Among Kingstar's purchases at the Magic Millions Sale were stakes winners Marquardt (NZ) (Shamardal {USA}), Silversands (Dubleo {USA}) and Cavalry Rose (Charge Forward), all of whom were 2-year-old winners. At the Inglis Sale, it picked up horses such as Group 3 winner Hi Belle (Clangalang) and Listed winning 2-year-old Tweet (Magic Albert).
"Unite And Conquer was a good pre-Christmas 2-year-old, so we want to get him off the ground quickly. He's quite a strong looking horse, so you don’t always need a lot of substance in the mare. He can put that into them," Sandblom said.
"We have bought 20-25 mares just for that purpose for him, which we thought matched well. He's got a double-Danehill there already, so we are trying to get more outcross pedigrees."
Gallery: Some of Kingstar's mare purchases
French connection
Sandblom's thoroughbred investments aren't just confined to Australia and just last week, he purchased two yearlings through the Arqana Deauville Select Sale, paying €50,000 (AU$80,902) for a colt by Lope De Vega (Ire) and €30,000 (AU$48,541) for a filly by Dabirsim (Fr).
"I bought three fillies last year and they are all trained by Francis Graffard. The first one might race in the next week or so, High Fever. We also bought a Fastnet Rock last year and a Toronado," he said.
"I spend a bit of time in France when I get the opportunity, which is not at the moment. But when things get back to normal, I'd love to get back over there. I thought I’d buy a couple which had some appeal."
