Flying Starter

GLEN LATHAM

Many would envy the setting for Chris’ idyllic childhood. “Our family owned a cattle farm, which had its own pub that we lived at the back of, so there probably wasn’t a lot of hope for me with that backdrop. The farm was small by Australian standards, around 100 acres, but it was in County Laois which is about 30 minutes from Kildare and The Curragh, real horse country. There were always a couple of horses on the farm, more so sport horses than thoroughbreds. When I was around twelve I started dabbling in the market with sport horses, finding a few to pinhook, but failed every time. I then tried my hand in the breeding game and fared just as well there!” With the thoroughbred bug yet to bite by the time school finished Chris made academic achievement a priority. “I had an idea I wanted to be a vet but in Ireland only the smartest of smart people go straight into the Veterinary courses and that wouldn’t have been me. So, I studied for a degree in Agricultural Science at University College Dublin with an eye on progressing into the veterinary side afterwards. The whole thing is a four year course with a six month placement in year three.” It would be that six months off campus that would send Chris down a different path than the one which he had planned. “My placement was with Dr Harry Sweeney of Paca Paca Farm in Japan which I thought would be a great opportunity to learn the veterinary side with Dr Sweeney being a qualified veterinarian, but it actually changed my mind. In a good way he turned me off veterinary work, or more precisely opened my eyes to the opportunities within the thoroughbred industry, for when I was there I got to work with some of the best bloodstock in Japan at sales time which was very exciting. I spent a brilliant six months out there learning a lot from Harry, just not quite the things I had expected.” That fork in the road traversed Chris’ career and saw him start to head in the direction that will eventually see him as part of the Bloodstock team at Magic Millions. “During my final year of college I picked up a part-time job bid spotting at Goffs sales which I absolutely loved and thought it was the best job ever.” Chris then had a stint at Equinome, now PlusVital, and a three month internship with Horse Racing Ireland before his eyes were further opened to international possibilities.

"After HRI I got a job working for Equilume selling their Light Mask’s which enabled me to travel to Kentucky and California when the industry in the United States just blew me away. If I wasn’t properly hooked on thoroughbreds before I was after that.” And it was that role that saw him land in Australia. “My first taste of the Australian industry was with Equilume. I was based in Victoria for three months but in June 2016 I attended the Gold Coast sales and was taken in by the vibrancy of the whole thing. Right then I thought if ever I had the chance to come back to Australia, Magic Millions was definitely a place I would want to work.” But joining the team at Magic Millions would have to wait for a while as Chris was accepted for the prestigious Godolphin Flying Start program, a move inspired by the excitement engendered by his time in the USA and Australia. “The two year program starts at Kildangan Stud in Ireland in the European autumn, and then it is over to Dalham Hall in Newmarket and the December Sales at Tattersalls followed by a break for Christmas. The new year starts with a seven month program in Kentucky followed by Australia which includes the Hunter Valley, Sydney and the Melbourne Cup Carnival. As part of that placement I also got to go to Karaka for the Breeze Up Sale in November. The following year starts in Dubai culminating in the Dubai World Cup and then it’s back to Ireland to complete the course.” From talking to Chris it is apparent that there is much more to Flying Start than just the learning and personal development aspects of the course. “The countries you get to go to and the industry leaders you get to meet are incredible, but with over 150 graduates dotted across the globe the opportunities to develop are endless. As we’ve all been through the same course and have similar goals, everyone wants to see each other succeed in the industry and help is always close at hand.” The program is also designed to give the students hands on experience in the various facets of the industry, opportunities to ditch the laptop and get some dirt under those fingernails. “During the program you are required to do various horsemanship placements of a few weeks each in Europe, America and Australia followed by a placement of our choosing. My time in Australia was split between Vinery Stud and Newgate Farm, the latter spent with Henry Field and Bruce Slade, two guys I found incredible to work with. I was on rotation working with mares, foals, weanlings and stallions but I enjoyed it so much I asked if I could do my elective placement there in the office which was also both incredibly educational and immensely interesting. One thing that struck me about the Australian industry was the ethos of giving opportunities to anyone willing to learn. The people down here are so open and they want to see people doing well, which pretty much mirrors the Flying Start program.” His commitment to Godolphin over, Chris’ next challenge was to get the gavel in hand. “I think I always had an interest in the auctioneering side of things even in my formative years going to the cattle markets with my Dad for to the horse sales with my Grandad. Becoming an auctioneer has been an ambition of mine since I started bid spotting at Goffs. I just loved the atmosphere and the way the auctioneers can control the auditorium, throwing in one-liners as they try and get the best price possible for the vendor. Then there is going out to the farms to inspect and value the bloodstock and meet the vendors, I just love that side of the industry.”

Auctioneering is one of those jobs that requires plenty of practice but there are precious few opportunities to hone one’s skills. “The auctioneering side of things has taken a while to develop. I’ve been working on the patter now for about five years and I find it goes better after a few beers. One question that always arose throughout the Flying Start program was “What do you want to do?” and my answer would always be ‘auctioneering’ to which the response would often be ‘well, let’s hear you then.’ So it became my party piece and after a few ales someone would always find me something to auction off which was good fun.”

There were times when Chris got in a few practice runs in Europe, even at Tattersalls’ hallowed rostrum, but his first dry run down here came across the ditch. “As part of that placement at Karaka I did some bid spotting and then after the sale had finished Danny Roulston and Steve Davis got me up and I did another mock auction which was great fun. Steve was impressed which was great as it has given me the confidence to go forward and pursue it. Watching the guys at Magic Millions operate is great, Steve Davis, Clint Donovan, David Chester here and Grant Burns in Perth are some of the best auctioneers in the world.”

My first proper exposure to it was over in Kentucky when I was asked to be auctioneer for a benefit night for a groom who had had a stroke. Leslie Campion from Paramount Sales had probably heard my party piece and asked if I would do a charity auction at McCarthy’s Pub in Lexington. I’d been to a few there before where 20 or 30 people turn up, so I agreed. Next day my name appeared in the Bloodhorse in an advertisement for the night so I knew it was going to be big stuff. Then I’d been told I’d have an announcer to help things through the way the Americans do things, but instead of it just being one of the lads off a farm it was Terrence Collier the announcer from Fasig Tipton. Some of the stuff that was auctioned was fantastic, everything from halters for American Pharoah and Tepin to holidays to free sales x-rays. It was unbelievable, the night raised around US$200,000 and it was just another example of how the thoroughbred industry worldwide is brilliant at coming together when somebody is in need. By his own admission Chris cut to the chase when it came to seeking a job with Magic Millions and his application wasn’t in writing. “I met Barry and Clint on a stallion tour and that night in the Belmore Hotel in Scone I lay the foundations for a job. Fortified with a little ‘Dutch courage’ I went up to Clint and, brazen as you like, said ‘I want to work for you guys, I want to be an auctioneer’. Clint’s response was “who’s your favourite auctioneer?”, to which I made the mistake of saying “Steve Davis” when the correct answer was Clint Donovan. Despite that rocky start Clint thrust a bottle of beer in my hand and said “well if you think you are so good, auction off that”, which I did. I kept in touch thereafter by social media and when the time came they offered me a job. I’m thankful that they took me on.” “I started at Magic Millions in the Gold Coast offices in August of last year and did six months before heading to Perth and then Adelaide. Under the terms of my visa I’m required to do a certain period of time in regional areas, so I went back down to the Hunter Valley and worked with the spellers for Godolphin which was fun. Stepping out of the office and back into the paddocks gives you an appreciation for the work those people do especially given the incredibly successful year Godolphin have had. I started the weekend Godolphin had the trifecta in the Golden Slipper and it just kept getting better and better thereafter on the back of their efforts.” So Magic Millions have their man, at least in the short term. Chris has some time left on his visa, but his fate after that rests with an obliging Department of Immigration. It will certainly be Magic Millions’ loss if he does have to leave our shores, again.