The trio discuss what they look for in a yearling, stallion selections, the importance of pedigree and how they approach buying at the blue-blooded Sale, while Messara also provides an insight from a vendor’s perspective.
“One thing Australia offers that the rest of the world doesn’t is the access. Everyone here (in Australia) sells their best stock, where generally in the Northern Hemisphere a lot of the best stock is retained and trainers and bloodstock agents don’t actually get a good look at,” Messara said.
“One thing Australia offers that the rest of the world doesn’t is the access. Everyone here (in Australia) sells their best stock..." - Paul Messara
“Whereas, here, pretty much everyone puts everything in the ring, and everyone wants to get an opportunity to select what the best horses are.”
Newnham talks about his decision to focus on purchasing horses that profile as 3-year-old types who will get out over further ground and buying into families he is fond of.
“Two years ago, I wrote to my owners before the sales season started and said I’m going to start to concentrate on 3-year-old-plus types at a mile to 2000 metres as there’s value in the market there,” Newnham said.
“I’ve bought horses by Pierro, Dundeel and So You Think with those types of races in mind as all the new races added to the Sydney calendar are for 3-year-olds at a mile and beyond and that has been ignored.”
Shadow Hero, a dual Group 1 winner by Pierro, trained by Mark Newnham | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
De Burgh details his emphasis on buying a yearling on type rather than page and along with Newnham outlines the conformational faults he can't forgive.
His approach to buying aligns with Newnham’s, saying there is now enough prizemoney in the industry that you no longer have to be pigeonholed to buying forward and precious-looking yearlings.
“For me personally if I was buying for a client, not Darby (Racing) as they like that speedier type of horse, I would be trying to get those more slightly more distance horses who won’t be running in the Golden Slipper as you get a little bit more value and end up with a horse ,if you’re lucky, that can win a couple of million,” de Burgh said.
“For me, personally, if I was buying for a client, I would be trying to get those more slightly more distance horses as you get a little bit more value and end up with a horse, if you’re lucky, that can win a couple of million.” - Hubie de Burgh
Newnham highlights how conducting sales during COVID has had a positive effect by providing buyers with access to more information than ever.
“I think you’ll find the more transparent we become in the sale of racehorses it gains momentum with people’s confidence in the sport that they are not being misled,” Newnham said.
