There is no better place to broaden your horizons and further your bloodstock education than in being a key member of the Inglis bloodstock team.
This week we find out more about Harry Bailey, a Senior Bloodstock Consultant at Inglis based in Sydney at Riverside Stables.
1. Where are you from, and what got you in involved in the thoroughbred industry?
Originally from Lambourn in the UK. I was fortunate enough to grow up around horses, my father is a national hunt (jumps) trainer. As a result, horses and racing have always been a big part of my life, despite my parents’ very best efforts to steer me clear of a career in racing!
2. What does a workday in the life of Harry Bailey look like?
It is very varied depending on the time of year.
From August – September/October we spend a huge amount of time clocking up the km’s on the road inspecting yearlings for prospective yearling sales the following year. Between our Sydney & Melbourne office we would have inspected approx. 4,800 yearlings this year… a lot of horses!
We provide detailed feedback to each farm on every yearling we inspect and give our opinion on which sale is most suitable. As colleagues we spend a lot of time in each other’s company and quickly pick up each other’s good habits (and bad – more than happy to share offline!) On those extra-long journeys when the chat has run dry and phone reception has run out, we turn to a trusty podcast to pass the time!
From October onwards we spend a lot of time buyer canvassing for the R2R sale and then the upcoming yearling sales season. This period provides a brilliant opportunity to catch up with existing clients across the country whilst also looking to develop new relationships. In a non-COVID impacted year this could also include a trip overseas to Asia where a large number of our clients are based… I promise it’s not all fun!!
Our Yearling Sales kick off in February with our Classic Sale, and the sales season continues through to our breeding stock sales culminating in June with the Great Southern Sale in Melbourne. It’s a very busy time!
One thing that remains regular is the twice monthly Inglis Digital Sales which have witnessed exponential growth over the past two years. Plenty of time and effort goes into prospecting horses to be sold on the platform as well as providing a high level of service to users (buyers & sellers) during the respective sales.
At year end we sit down and evaluate our performance, look for ways in which we can improve our results and the service we provide our clients, before commencing the whole process again!
3. Who is your favourite horse and why?
Lord Seamus – He provided me with my first winner in point to points (amateur jumps racing). He was a lovely, kind, gentle horse who must have been a push button ride for me to win on him!
I owe a lot of gratitude to his owner/breeder Iain Buchan, who kindly gave him to me once he retired from racing under rules.
4. Tell us about the best day you had at the races or at the sales, and what made it memorable for you?
The Warrnambool Cup carnival is great fun. The laid back atmosphere, combined with a hugely passionate and large crowd makes for an awesome day with a brilliant atmosphere.
To be part of the Easter Yearling Sale this year was incredible. The atmosphere in the auditorium was electric with exceptionally strong demand for the yearlings on offer. To witness grown men and women cry due to the results we helped them achieve makes you feel very proud. It goes to show that the results in the sales ring can truly be life changing for some people.
5. What is your favourite show on Netflix or TV?
I can’t say I watch a huge amount of TV, although I am watching The Defiant Ones on Netflix
For an all-time classic TV series, Band Of Brothers is my go to..
6. Now that travel is open again where is the first place you will go?
I have already booked flights to go home to the UK in December which is very exciting as I haven’t been back in 3 ½ years
7. What is your favourite cuisine and restaurant?
I love Asian food, especially Japanese. However, I’m not fussy - in fact, my family call me ‘Harry the Horse’ because I eat so much!
8. Name two things on your bucket list?
1. Go to South Africa.
2. I really enjoy the programme SAS Who Dares Wins, I would to take part on that or something similar.
9. What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?
“If you’re going to do a job, do it properly.”
10. Tell us one thing that not many people may know about you?
I had a very fleeting acting career when I starred as an extra in Steven Spielberg’s ‘Warhorse’ with Benjamin Cumberbatch! If you pause the film at exactly 1 hr 30 mins 07 seconds you might just spot me amongst the hundreds of other soldiers… a brief taste of stardom!
