How to find a breeze-up bargain: the latest debate for Art of the Mating series

The interactive Art of the Mating series has been a welcome addition for those seeking to learn more about the inner workings of how decisions are made in the bloodstock industry amidst lockdown.

Jack Cantillon, a solicitor also involved in the running of his family’s stud Tinnakill House, created the series in April. Participants submit homework online on topics such as mating plans and conformation to a panel of bloodstock experts, who assess them and share their own insights and expertise over a live Zoom call.

The series has evolved further by delving into the breeze-up market for its fifth session on Sunday. The homework, now available to view online at Bloodstock.Racing, is to look at the breeze-up market and suggest some golden rules for buying a breezer. Hot topics such as time are sure to divide opinion and ignite healthy debate. The panel will consist of two breeze-up experts – one of whom advocates the use of data in finding a bargain breezer, the other preferring the use of the subjective eye to find value.

“The breeze-up market is the ultimate buying test in our game – it’s the art of the subjective versus science of the time available – perfect for a show called The Art of the Mating,” quipped Cantillon.

“We can’t afford anything close to the top 20 in time so how should you cut a corner to gain an advantage? I’m looking forward to debating it and encouraging a bit of counterintuitive thinking. Breeze-ups are a proven source of top-class winners and these are the best collection of breezers ever assembled. Why wouldn’t you want to support it?”

Star Bloodstock have kindly made their extensive data from the 2017 Tattersalls Craven Sale available to everyone. The spreadsheet includes sectional times and stride lengths along with their eventual peak RPR to help inform participants create their golden rules.

Invincible Army: top sprinter went unsold at the breeze-upsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Cantillon has gone a step further by offering participants the chance to have a say in the actual purchase of a breezer for his Syndicates.Racing. For a €350 share (with 100 units available), a share can be bought in the quest to find the next breeze-up bargain, where shareholders can discuss their decision-making and create a shortlist prior to purchase via the Bargain Breezer WhatsApp Group. The aim will be to turn a profit at the end of the season. To align incentives, he’s asking trainers to give their best pitch to take equity in lieu of training fees.

“There’s been a great reaction to buying a breezer and if it keeps up we’ll buy more – you wouldn’t think the sales would struggle from my inbox” said Cantillon. “I think it’s very important we get out there if we can at all and support our friends with breeze-up horses. They’re a hugely important part of the industry and when the going gets tough – you should get going with them.

“The data that Matt Eves (of Star Bloodstock) supplied is amazingly interesting – how do you find an Invincible Army or a Gronkowski? Both weren’t close to the top ten in overall time so time is only a small part of a really interesting puzzle. It’s not just data, it’s the whole picture – I’m really looking forward to discussing it and unearthing some value.”

Previous weeks of Art of the Mating delved into what goes into mating a mare to a stallion and conformation. Should those webinars be anything to go by, this week’s panellists can expect to receive hundreds of submissions from people all over the world eager to know more about bloodstock.

More details about getting involved in this week’s series can be found on Bloodstock.Racing, where the webinars of previous weeks can be viewed.

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