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Blueblood Thoroughbreds' star mare Secret Agenda was retired from racing after an illustrious career consisting of 23 starts, including seven wins, five seconds and a third placing, as well as A$1,549,400 in prizemoney. A Single Doubt out of Negotiate was purchased for a mere A$120,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2014 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Carol Walsh who got the deal done, paying A$750,000 for the first foal of the mare who did more than any other to build her syndication business, Secret Agenda.
Co-owner Walsh speaks to The Impact in a phone interview about her exciting I Am Invincible colt who was A$500,000 dearer than anything else she’s ever bought, her sentimental and business reasons for buying the colt and what she likes about Ready-To-Race sales.
Q: You purchased a beautiful I Am Invincible X Secret Agenda colt, together with Ciaron Maher Racing and Sheamus Mills Bloodstock? What are your plans for him?
A: He will be going to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace to train.
Q: Could you tell us about your journey with Secret Ambition once she was retired as a broodmare?
A: I kept tabs on her even after she was sold. I knew when she was in-foal to I Am Invincible, and I kept in contact with them until he developed into a nice young looking yearling. I just knew I had to have him. I thought he was a beautiful specimen.
I see a bit of her in him and I see a fair bit of I Am Invincible as well. He’s an outstanding type who ticks all the boxes for us. He’s got a really nice temperament and I really like the horse.
I usually don't buy horses on spec but because his pedigree is outstanding, there was no doubt in my mind about buying him. We still had to see him in the flesh and inspect him but since I worked with his mother, I have an idea about what will work well with him.
Q: What races are you hoping to aim him for?
A: We hope to see him all the major 2YO races like the Blue Diamond and the Golden Slipper.
Q: You purchased 20 yearlings thus far for just over A$2.5 million. Is this a typical spend?
A: Yes, each year we try to buy 20 yearlings. This year has been incredibly buoyant and so we have spent more than we do traditionally but we are very happy with our purchases. When you are trying to target the racing public, it's difficult to sell really expensive shares, we have to keep that in mind. But we try to maintain the quality of the horses we buy and that makes the shares easy to sell.
This year, many people have realised that to really experience racing, they need to go in a bit deeper. They need to have some skin in the game.
Q: What is different about Blueblood Thoroughbreds? Why do your customers keep coming back?
A: We pride ourselves on our communication, with our shareholders. We let them know where their horses. In fact, we put a lot of effort into making sure that we buy the right type of horses and send them to the best trainers and keep communicating with our shareholders all throughout.
Q: Do traditionally buy at the Read-To-Race sales typically held in the last quarter of the year?
A: We have bought some great horses at those sales. Lightsaber (Zoustar) whom we purchased at the Inglis Ready-2-Race sale in Sydney last year recently won the Gr.2 Sires' Produce Stakes at Randwick. I will definitely be visiting the Inglis Sydney sale later this year.
Q: What kind of year do you think this will be for Blueblood Thoroughbreds?
A: I am looking forward to the Sydney Carnival. I’ve always enjoyed it. We are slowly getting back to racing normally and (hopefully) things can go back to being normal. I think it's going to be a lovely and busy year.