Bloodstock agents

10 days after a genuine question and nobody with the experience of being involved in the industry has anything worthy to say?

Not surprising really. Plenty of back slapping on here from those with their noses in the trough on less controversial subjects.

Don't rock the boat guys, clearly the whispers and rumours are perhaps more than just that.

Possibly people have better things to do but to try to make you calm down a bit...

You could easily get a mortgage yourself or a pension or all manner of other things that people provide advice for.  If you don't value the advice or feel you are able to (successfully) do it yourself then don't use a bloodstock agent.  You will have to register details with the sale co. and/or pay up on the day if you dont use an agent / trainer.  And you'll obviously have to physically be at the sale - I presume that suits.

Some people (usually at the upper end of the market) use agents because they accept the don't know enough about horses/sires/the market and have other things to do / can't commit the time to research or learn expertise or be at a sale on a Tues in October.

Don't see the complication or need for the animosity.

There are many reasons to use an agent as these guys understand the market better than anyone else. It's accepted that the ring is a bear pit and good luck to you if you want to buy or sell under your own steam but, at a certain level, that is completely fraught with extra risk.

The specific example outlined is hard to understand if you are outside the inner circle but you can only be sure who is acting for whom when the horse appears on the track. Agents will have other functions such as identifying stallion prospects, chasing private purchases, offloading horses to different jurisdictions etc.

Of course there is a lot of chicanery but it is "caveat emptor" If, for example, you allow yourself to be skinned that is your problem and it seems many in the game accept certain practises as "just the way it is" because you also need these guys on your side. I imagine Gigginstown prefer to use an agent as the sight of Eddie O'Leary bidding would lead to hyper-inflated prices and a raft of unsold lots. On the other hand, as one often reads, an agent will say post-sale he had "a hundred grand to spend"....well, this is just stupid!!

The most remarkable thing I've read in a bloodstock publication in recent times was a venerable Irish breeder/agent calling of a code of conduct within the industry here. It was met with stony silence. Quelle surprise!

Ok thanks guys,

I'll have a look at that link later when on the laptop.

Fwiw I have no intention of using one if I buy this season, I'll be buying very cheaply anyway so will do my own research and viewing.

I just wondered why as in the example above a knowledgeable owner/manager like o leary would stand beside an agent and have him bid on his behalf.