The recent Inglis Chairman’s Sale once again demonstrated the top end of the breeding market in Australia remains very strong, but for aspiring breeders seeking a more accessible entry point there is no shortage of opportunity.
With 14 individual mares selling for $1million or more attracting worldwide interest, Inglis Chairman’s was a celebration of the glamorous side of our thriving thoroughbred industry, but the general broodmare session that followed the next day told a different story.
With a clearance rate of 64%, many mares failed to meet their reserve and remain for sale, while many more are offered online in various sales with the scale and diversity of this smorgasbord of broodmare talent requiring expert assistance to decipher.
Our modern Australian racing industry requires a large supply of quality home grown thoroughbreds to sustain itself at all levels and for investors looking to embark on a breeding enterprise now might be the time to get involved.
FBAA members read caution in the marketplace as potentially a positive sign, reflecting a shift toward more responsible breeding practices. We are not out to encourage the breeding of unwanted horses, especially at a time when breeding costs are rising and expenses are putting pressure on many participants.
FBAA members are there to guide newcomers through the processes involved and in particular how to start small, learn the fundamentals of commercial breeding, identify achievable goals, and explore entry points into the industry.
Louis Le Metayer of Astute Bloodstock was a notable player during Inglis Chairman’s Sale (read more here) and is one of many FBAA agents with a proven track record for finding value for clients at a lesser starting point.
He purchased an off the track mare Audacious Choice from the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale in 2018 for just $20,000.
From there, her new owner sold her 2019 filly by Harry Angel (IRE) for $150,000, 2020 filly by Toronado (IRE) for 190,000 and 2021 filly by Written By at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast sale at $220,000, while the mare herself was sold on to another new owner at $85,000 in foal to So You Think back in September last year.
Another well known FBAA member Julian Blaxland helped Mr Ron Hamer buy his first broodmare Prompt for just $40,000.
Mr Hamer had a share in the young stallion Beneteau and Prompt duly produced Group III winner Prompt Return and then Group I winner Prompt Response to the ill-fated son of Redoute’s Choice in his only two seasons at stud.
Prompt was later on-sold privately and her progeny continued to sell for up to $800,000 for her subsequent owners.
The Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on May 27 and 28 is the last big Australian breeding stock sale of the year in terms of a ‘horses on the ground’ style physical auction, but online sales such as the twice monthly Inglis Digital mean there will be opportunities aplenty right up to the start of the breeding season on September 1.
The path to becoming a broodmare owner starts with questions and making a good plan which is where FBAA agents can get you started.
Before you make a purchase, you need to think money and have a budget that you are comfortable with – How much to spend on a mare? Where do we keep her? How much for ongoing costs? What is the end game and is there an exit strategy?
What are the short and long term goals? Are you breeding to produce a winner for yourself or are you breeding for the sale ring?
The answers to the above questions will lead you to the next and it’s a big one!
Having purchased a mare, what stallion to choose?
At this time of the year, even though we are more than three months away from the start of the season many stallions will already be fully booked.
This is where an FBAA member can help you not only find a stallion that suits your particular purpose, but also one that you can realistically access for a fee that could well be less than is advertised.
Many of the major commercial stallion farms are prepared to deal down on certain stallions and there will always be stallion shareholders not using a service that may be willing to sell it privately and again an FBAA member will be across these avenues to find value in what can be a less than transparent marketplace.
FBAA member Brett Howard of Randwick Bloodstock operates The Stallion Nomination Centre which targets this area of the market, click for more information.
FBBA agents are all about identifying opportunities, setting realistic goals, reducing risk and promoting responsible breeding decisions that can benefit the entire industry.
