Major Part of Business
Purchasing broodmares is also an area of special focus for Melbourne agent Damon Gabbedy.
“Mares and matings are a big part of my business and it depends on the client. I have different clients at all ends of the scale and being a former Western Australian I still have a few Western Australian clients,” the Belmont Bloodstock Agency principal said.
“They can’t compete with the big studs so the criteria depends on the client. Whatever price range I’m working in, I ideally like running mares – those that have showed ability.
“From a young age I was taught that if you’ve got ability you can throw ability. If you stick to the proven broodmare sires you obviously can’t go far wrong.
“When it comes to a yearling, presenting them out of the established champion broodmare sires gives a real advantage. Trainers and buyers have become more astute and tuned into these things.
“If you are presenting a yearling out of a Redoute’s Choice, Zabeel or Encosta De Lago mare you have got a great head start.”
Gabbedy inspecting Sunlight at Widden Stud | Image courtesy of Widden
Gabbedy said purchasing mares off the track was often a more viable option, but again depending on who he is acting for.
“If you’ve got a client looking at the bigger picture and has some patience, for say $200,000 can get you a better maiden mare off the track.
“If you’ve got $200,000 to buy a nice running mare already in foal you are discounting something, but if you’re buying without the pregnancy you’re getting better race fare or pedigree. But that is all dependant on the client.”
Bob Peters and Damon Gabbedy
Gabbedy will again be looking to fill a number of orders on the Gold Coast.
“It’s one of the biggest and best sales of the year. In the last couple of years I’ve been in the top three buyers of broodmares so it will be interesting to see if I can keep that up, it might be hard work this year,” he said.
“The market is proving to be incredibly resilient and holding up well. I see it as becoming more two-tiered, at the top end demand is very strong and the bottom end has been affected and really dropped. The gap is widening between the top and the bottom.”
