Ben Triandafillou flies into action with Clarke Bloodstock

Cover image courtesy of Ben Triandafillou

After completing the Godolphin Flying Start course, Ben Triandafillou took an opportunity as Jim Clarke’s bloodstock assistant. His background in the racing side of the business has provided new opportunities for Clarke’s business, bringing a broad range of skills to the position.

Triandafillou recently joined Thoroughbred Breeders’ Australia’s Next Crop committee, but giving back to the industry is only a small part of how Triandafillou spends his days.

Next Crop Committee

The 2026 Next Crop Committee is a national group of passionate and forward-thinking industry participants committed to supporting the next generation of Australia’s thoroughbred industry. Chaired by Arvin Chadee of Godolphin Australia, the committee kicked off 2026 with a trivia night at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“Originally I wanted to do something in the industry to give back, whether it was mentoring or going on board. When the applications were there for the next crop committee, I wasn't sure whether it'd be for me or not, because I felt it might be too breeding focussed, and not encapsulate both the breeding and racing side of things,” said Triandafillou.

“That's why I joined so that I could get more people on the racing side involved, and so they can see more of the industry. To try and broaden the scope of what the Next Crop is.”

“The trivia night went really well. We had 14 groups, so 140 people. Lance (Forbes) did all the questions, and I probably didn’t get any of the general knowledge ones, but the racing ones were quite good.”

Loving the variety of his current role

Triandafillou has been with Jim Clarke Bloodstock as a bloodstock assistant for about 18 months. “I'm his assistant, and help with his client base, which will be Ridgmont, Bjorn Baker, Jack Bruce and he's got another client up here in Queensland that has a boutique setup called Sheralee Racing.

“I help with a lot of the research heading into sales, any other research to help with the breeding season, stallion choices, and whether or not we should sell broodmares. A lot of it is managing the admin side of our clients' businesses. There's a lot more administrative paperwork than I thought there would be when I joined him.”

Triandafillou prepares all the documentation for Racing Australia for clients, including the registration and naming forms. “I don't come up with the names. Ridgmont and our other clients always come up with brilliant names, and I just put them forward. I also write a lot of copy for our clients' websites.”

Second yearling sale season in 2026

This year will be the second year that Triandafillou has worked the yearling sales season with Clarke. Clarke Bloodstock purchased 20 yearlings at the recent Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, headlined by Lot 252, a Snitzel colt who cost $1.5 million and was purchased in conjunction with China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock. The equal third-top price of the sale, the chestnut colt is the second foal of G3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Embrace Me (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}).

“I’m more on top of things this year with a better understanding of Jim’s processes. Last year, I’d only been to three or four sales, and I was basically just following people around,” said Triandafillou.

“Jim would ask me things, to clarify how a stallion is going, or percentages based on the cross, and the first year I was all over the place trying to figure out where to get the stats from. But this year, I have it all at my fingertips and I’m more involved.

“And with the physical side too. With book 2, he sent me around to make a short list. I’ve got a good idea of what he’s after, and I was pleased to get more responsibility. It’s the right way to do it, to start off at those smaller sales, like Book 2, and build your way up.”

With Jack Bruce Racing, Clarke Bloodstock purchased Lot 536, a Zoustar filly and Lot 1186, a Stronger filly. With MyRacehorse Pty Ltd/Bjorn Baker/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)/Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA), the team purchased Lot 314, a Stay Inside colt. For the Ridgmont fillies partnership, four fillies were purchased being Lots 301, 342, 590 and 604 by Zoustar, State Of Rest (Ire), Justify (USA) and I Am Invincible.

Three lots were bought for Scott Waters/Jay McPhee/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA), being Lot 51, 775, and 783. With Trilogy Racing and Bjorn Baker, Clarke purchased an Ole Kirk colt for $500,000 being Lot 685. In conjunction with Bjorn Baker, they purchased eight lots averaging $273,000.

Gallery: Lots Clarke Bloodstock purchased with Bjorn Baker, images courtesy of Magic Millions

Strength through a racing background

Triandafillou’s background is in racing, with his father being a retired jockey. “When it comes to yielding sales, I watch a lot of race replays, jump outs, trials, and try to buy (tried) horses privately.

“We’re trying to get more involved in the Hong Kong trade, and we went over there a few months ago to begin to build that up. That's been very enjoyable because I’m watching a lot of the replays already for Ridgmont and for Bjorn to buy privately and now if they don’t buy the ones we like, we’ve got Hong Kong as an option.”

When watching a trial, what is that you look for?

“Mostly, I'm just trying to find horses that are doing it comfortably. I don't rely too much on the time (they run), although it does give you a bit of a push. I actually love it when young horses, two and 3-year-olds are competing against the older horses. Vinrock trialled against the open handicappers before he debuted, and I was quite keen on him.”

Vinrock (I Am Invincible) ran second in a barrier trial before he won on debut then followed it up with victory in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes, but wasn’t for sale at the time Triandafillou identified him.

“It’s probably my favourite part, seeing the young, unproven horses coming through. Last year it was quite exciting seeing Point Barrow with the whole process and see where she could reach.” Point Barrow (Blue Point {Ire}) is owned by Rigdmont along with Halo Racing and other partners. She has won four of her six starts including the G3 Red Roses this spring as a 3-year-old.

Media training brings additional skillset

Triandafillou trained as a journalist, gaining a bachelor’s degree in Media and Communications (Sport Journalism) at La Trobe University in Victoria, doing freelance work before moving into more ground work with horses. “Dad was a jockey, so that made it a bit easier because I grew up around it, but I never actually really properly got involved in the industry till after I was 18.

“When I left school, I didn’t know what I wanted to be, and I thought sports journalism sounded good. I loved all sports. After doing journalism and media, I was writing all these articles about horses and great successes, and I thought, I want to do this myself now.”

It was a big leap from freelance media into becoming a strapper. “I joined Pat Carey and was there for a couple of years, then Jason Warren down at Mornington. Just hands on, probably about 18 months of mucking out boxes!

“Everyone in the industry has been very helpful. If you want to go further in this sphere, they're happy to push you. Then fortunately, I got onto the (Godolphin) Flying Start and did that for two years. I was pretty new to the breeding side, and you learn a hell of a lot on that course, not just from the leaders in the industry, but also from the other people in the course with you. Everyone comes from different backgrounds.”

Triandafillou’s advice for other young people is to broaden their experiences, especially before tackling bloodstock agent type work. “Do as much in the industry as possible before going into it. Whether you're doing the racing side or the breeding side, the bloodstock work combines it, so you need both the racing and breeding knowledge.”

Next stop, Karaka

Jim Clarke Bloodstock and his team are heading to the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, starting on Sunday January 25. “We're very much looking forward to Karaka. I actually love the New Zealand racing. My mum's from New Zealand, so I’ve a bit of time out there. I even spent six weeks with Kevin Myers during the Flying Start because I wanted to learn to ride. I had a great time, but he really knows how to make you work. He takes it to another level!

“I feel like the horsemanship (in New Zealand) is at a different level because it’s done on farms, not city based like here. And the racing is very similar to ours. The people are very good in New Zealand, you can always have a good laugh with them.”

A couple of stallions to watch

With a keen eye for watching races and trials to pick out the next prospects, Triandafillou picked out a couple of stallions whose progeny caught his eye at the Gold Coast. “Everyone's got to say Anamoe. The Anamoe yearlings are really nice,” said Triandafillou.

“I'm actually looking forward to Ozzmosis next year. He was quite a good racehorse and I'm growing on him every time I look at him. I’m looking forward to seeing his yearlings next year.”

And for value, Triandafillou picked out Trapeze Artist, who has had a wonderful spring. “Trapeze Artist is having a good spring, and to be honest, not everyone is a fan, but I think you can get a good runner by him. He’s a great horse just to be confident that you'll have a runner on a Saturday, and he still gets a very good one every now and then.

“I feel like people undervalue him. He's a Snitzel, he’s had Griff, who won a Group 1."

Trapeze Artist has nine stakes winners to date in his career, and this spring he enjoyed the likes of Panova, Where’s The Circus, Piggyback, and Disneck, all winning big races for their connections.