An Australian breeder wishing to purchasing bloodstock from the American market can be faced with a number of varying challenges, however the engagement of a professional and knowledgeable bloodstock agent can assist to mitigate risks and provide a much smoother and enjoyable transaction.
The processes of bloodstock trade in the US differ slightly to the Australian experience. Race form and pedigrees are recorded differently and sale days operates at a much faster pace than that in Australia, with some sales cataloguing up to 5,000 lots.
There are also major differences in the way auctions are conducted. American auctioneers speak very quickly and the auction speed is almost double that of Australia, due to the volume of horses offered each day. Auctioneers also call one bid ahead, rather than the current price, which makes the auction even faster and more challenging to follow. The speed and style of an American auction has caught out many new buyers who were not familiar with it!
Compliance and medical records differ, many US bloodlines are unfamiliar to the Australian gene pool, there are conformation differences between the turf and dirt-raced thoroughbred to be aware of, and the selling of tried horses through claiming races is not something that is done in the southern hemisphere.
A bloodstock agent with a good local understanding, networks and reputation is crucial to the co-ordination of an effective purchase plan. Working with you to gain an understanding of your portfolio requirements, your agent will assist to determine your budget, the right life stage to purchase at, and narrow down your best bloodstock options to best suit those needs.
Your agent will then determine the best sales to attend as well as the most appropriate bloodlines on which to focus. With local knowledge, your agent will also know the best vendors to inspect and purchase from (and those to avoid!) as well as have a preferred list of contacts for all your veterinary, insurance, post-sale and export requirements.
Craig ‘Boomer’ Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock is a trusted industry professional with nearly two decades of global equine experience, across all training and breeding aspects. Dividing his time between Australia and the US, Boomer retains his finger on the pulse of industry happenings in both jurisdictions and keeps an extensive digital database of horse records and notes, which help to ensure a continual provision of high-quality service to his clients and an edge over the market.
In recent years, Boomer Bloodstock has been fortunate to purchase several broodmares for Australian-based clients looking to expand and globalise their broodmare bands. Purchases made across a range of price brackets are proof that success is possible no matter your budget.
An example of the spectrum of mare purchases include:
Blame (USA) mare Ascertain (USA), purchased in 2019 for US$40,000 (AUS$54,877).
Her page is littered with black-type winners including her own sire, a G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner with strong Danzig and Mr Prospector bloodlines. Back in Australia, she is currently in foal to Newgate Farm sire Deep Field.
More Than Ready (USA) mare Ginger N Rye (USA) purchased for US$350,000 (AUS$480,259) in 2018.
A five-time race winner including the Listed Saratoga Smart & Fancy S., she has a yearling Written Tycoon colt and is currently in foal to Snitzel.
I’m Pretty Strong (USA) (Street Cry {Ire} x Shared Account) for US$220,000 (AUS$301,968) in 2018.
Post-purchase, her half-sister Sharing (USA) won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. A two-time race winner with impressive bloodlines, I’m Pretty Strong has a Dundeel (NZ) yearling filly.
Sweet Victory (USA) by Blame (USA), purchased in 2016 for US$400,000 (AUS$548,986).
Listed-winning dam My Mammy (USA) is the dam to 6 foals, all winners. A four-time winner including two at Listed level, Sweet Victory’s half-sister also won the G1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland post-purchase. She is the dam of retained 3YO filly Sweet Finesse (All Too Hard) trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. She also has a Dundeel (NZ) yearling colt.
