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Top Australasian bloodstock agent, Suman Hedge has seen success at the highest level quite early and been involved in purchasing all parts of the racing spectrum during the MM July Sales.
“I have an annual contract to buy weanlings for a group of owners which we’ve had great success with. We have a few commissions for broodmares and racehorses as well. There is a possibility that I will be buying yearlings as we've got some orders from trainers as well,” said Hedge about his plans for the upcoming sale.
“I have carte blanche as far as the weanlings are concerned. We tend to gravitate towards the upper end which is the most likely to deliver returns. Although we don't try to limit ourselves, good quality weanlings are usually reasonably priced.”
Hedge has a different buying method chalked out for each category, “But when you buy broodmares you want the upper end of the market. I try to look at every horse unless their past performance is disappointing.”
Unlike most bloodstock agents who head to the sales with armfuls of notes and pedigree information, Suman prefers to visit the sales before he looks at the catalogue. “I don't look at the catalogue before I go to a sale. I always prefer to take a fresh look at the horse. Then the pedigree tells us what to pay. I just think that we miss opportunities by being biased.
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Although this year has been a challenge to Hedge, like most of his ilk, he has had to make private visits which have taken a lot of time. “I prefer to see them all in one place but this year we will just have to do things differently.”
These private visits have provided Hedge with new opportunities as well. “I had the opportunity to make a fair few private purchases. Sometimes the only problem with buying privately is that you can end up paying more than the fair price. While in a sale you tend to buy at a certain benchmark but sometimes in a private sale if you like a horse you can overvalue the horse.”
Suman reflects on his time as a young man, “I've had an interest in racing and sports from an early age. But as I had no connections to the industry I had to self-teach. I always enjoyed reading about pedigrees and would head off to the sales when possible. I would go to visit the sales as a teenager at one point a friend of the family introduced me to businessman Sheriff Iskander - a meeting destined to shape his destiny.
“Today I have a lot of experience under my belt because we learn from all our mistakes. It's such a hard industry and we had to do quite a lot of hard work. I have learnt to be realistic and resilient.”
It’s the stuff of legends when a relatively young bloodstock agent with no family connections to the industry, spent every last dollar to buy a broodmare called Myrrh (NZ) in foal to Testa Rossa for A$19,000at the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale. He sold that yearling for A$260,000 and then proceeded to breed a Doncaster winner from his prized mare.
“Fortunately, I achieve success early and was able to move forward quickly.”
Suman was instrumental in the purchase two significant horses, a Northern Meteor colt later to be known as Zoustar and a stallion named Written Tycoon. Both horses have had an immeasurable impact on the Australian breeding scene.
With the borders closed and the European sales are almost inaccessible. However, Suman Hedge Bloodstock has built up quite a European network.
“After the July sales I will look to make some purchases of European Horses and we want to get involved in the yearling sales over there they are there perfect for import to Australia,” says Hedge with quiet composure.