‘With little twists of fate, you end up with the right one’ – value the aim as Boman sharpens July Sale focus
The three-day Tattersalls July Sale begins on Tuesday and few have read the European market better in recent years than Stuart Boman.
A partner at Blanford Bloodstock, Boman has enjoyed considerable success sourcing talent at horses in training sales, particularly for Australian clients.
Among them, multiple Group 1 winner and $11.1 million earner Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux), sourced for Annabel Archibald at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in 2020 for 150,000gns.
Global market awareness is key to Boman’s approach, with a sharp eye fixed on which horses may translate across jurisdictions.
“I make region-specific lists [out of a catalogue] – Australia, which is a primary focus; a domestic list [for primarily Joseph O’Brien]; then a Middle East list,” Boman said.
“I suppose the skill is knowing what works in each region and the little nuances: the racing programme, the style of horse you need, certain training. Racing around tight bends, firm tracks, there’s certain requirements you need to be successful.
“There’ll be a lot that I identify as domestic prospects, as opposed to going abroad.”
This year’s July Sale features 942 lots and over 800 horses in and out of training. While the sizable catalogue was released on June 4, Boman prefers to time his analysis carefully.
He said: “There will be a lot of withdrawals and horses running through the period between when the catalogue is released and the sale itself.
“I think you can start too early [analysing a catalogue]. As it gets closer, probably ten to 12 days out, I start to refine the lists, think about what region specific horses might suit, then around five days out finalise and send out a preliminary list to my clients.
“Each client for each region will get the same list – I find that that’s important. You can’t not advise everyone equally; if you withhold one horse from one person to focus on one client, another could turn around and say ‘well why didn’t you tell me about that?’
“I’ll start inspections when the horses arrive the day before. Potential conflicts kind of work themselves out, most understand that I’m working for a variety of people and there are situations where there’s crossover, but normally you can direct traffic. There’s normally more than enough to go around.”
With inspections to come on Monday, Boman said the main attraction at a HIT sale is always a horse’s form.
He said: “I’m mindful that I’m generally sending my horses a long way and people are spending a lot of money. I always think, that the first moment the horse steps off the box from Europe, they’re either impressed with them physically or they’re not.
“But with these sales you’re measuring ability. It’s the reason I was always attracted to buying horses in training. I buy plenty of yearlings as well but at a HIT sale or a breeze-up, you can more accurately measure ability.
“On the flip side, the chances of uncovering that Group 1 horse at a HIT sale are probably less – that’s the dream when you’re buying a yearling.
“Most of the time you know roughly what you’re getting. But many people that are active in this market always want to buy the horse that’s going to improve.
“They’re still buying the dream sometimes – the three-year-old that’s lightly raced, still a colt. People go in wanting to do that…they’re going to improve it 20 pounds. The statistics are that it doesn’t happen. Some of them will be fantastic, but it’s like believing in the tooth fairy.
“I believe in buying the rating, buying consistent performers.”
Boman duly purchased a proven performer in Zaaki five years ago, who at the time was a dual Group 3 winner of the Diomed Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 0.5f) and Joel Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 1f) before being exported to Australia.
The Leroidesanimaux (Candy Stripes) gelding turned out to be a dream horse for connections under Archibald – winning four Group 1s in addition to the $4.2 million All-Star Mile (1600m) – and also marked the beginning of a fruitful relationship between the stable and Boman.
They also combined to purchase subsequent Australian Group 1 winners Top Ranked (Dark Angel) and Bois D’Argent (Toronado), as well as Group winners My Oberon (Dubawi) and Fawkner Park (Zoffany).
“Zaaki was different in that he was quite exposed, he was an older horse,” Boman said.
“I think people were shocked with him. He suited the circumstances and was already running to a similar level here. Annabel did a great job; it was a fit.
“Annabel didn’t pigeon hole him. Here he was always held up. She completely changed his racing style, he’d generally lead his races and dominate. She trained him fresh and on her instinct and allowed him to realise the potential he’d shown.
“She’s got a very close connection to that horse. He’s a big part of her life, and anyone who came in contact with him.
“That was a dream start with Annabel. Then the second one was Top Ranked, then the third My Oberon. Two Group 1 winners straight off, and then we just built.”
Earlier notable purchases for Boman include top class miler Excelebration (Exceed And Excel), Grade 1 winner Euro Charline (Myboycharlie), Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) hero Dandino (Dansili) and Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) placegetter Jakkalberry (Storming Home).
When it comes to stallions, he thrives on the challenge of identifying value.
Boman said: “It’s probably my niche. I always try to challenge myself to add to my list of off beat stallions. It’s just looking for value. Once you know a horse is rated 100, the stallion is immaterial.
“I can’t say how many times I come away from a HIT sale and a big shiny colt by the right stallion is rated the same or less than the one by the random stallion that’s probably not quite as shiny looking, but is actually better performed.
“In saying that, pedigree is important. I generally don’t compromise on the female family.
“There’s also sire lines that work in certain regions and others that don’t. In terms of buying for potential, I would always err on the side of buying a well-bred horse. They’re bred to be good and under different circumstances they can realise that elsewhere.”
As for the July Sale, Boman doesn’t place it on par with the Autumn Sale in terms of international appeal for his clients, but expects to find a few value opportunities.
“This sale is probably quieter [for international interest],” he said.
“It’s growing in appeal because a lot of the regions want the horses earlier. The Tatts Autumn Sale is quite late. That sale is probably my specialty. It’s been very kind to me. But with regards to this sale, it’s like any other HIT sale, it looks good at the moment.
“I just underbid on three at Arqana. It’s whatever falls your way. You look back on these little things in life and what you want to buy and what you end up with are not always the same.
“With little twists of fate, you end up with the right one.”