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Bred For It
By Jess StaffordSports
Bred For It episodes
- Episode 40: Going, going... Group 1!
It’s Episode 40!
- The autumn yearling sales have delivered the headlines, and Jess goes through the biggest from Tattersalls Ireland, Goffs Orby and Tattersalls Book 1, from a European-record 4.6m guineas Night Of Thunder colt to Godolphin’s biggest-ever spend at Book 1. She also spotlights the stallions and first-season sires making their presence felt, and asks what the unsold lots say about who was really making money.
- Then, fresh from a golden Arc day, Jess is joined by Jane Mangan, racing manager of The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation, whose colours won two Group 1s at Longchamp with Green Empress and Book 1 buy Miss Scott. Jane tells the story behind the Corporation’s Arc-day double, her role with them and the background to the revival of the historic green and white colours.
- Richie Hassett of Monksland Stables shares the journey of their homebred two year old star Adonius, the history of his family operation and life on the road as a busy consignment. He shares his views as a young vendor and being part of the next generation within the bloodstock industry.
Brought to you in association with VV Rouleaux.
54 min - Episode 39: Living The Bacio Dream
It's Episode 39!
- The European sale season is in full swing and Jess goes through the biggest headlines from Arqana, Goffs Premier and the Tattersalls Somerville Sale, covering everything from the stories generating genuine excitement to the ones giving the market pause. She also spotlights the stallions making their presence felt and looks ahead to what the coming major sales might bring.
- Then, fresh from one of the summer's most electric results, Jess is joined by Caitlin Ward of MyRacehorse. With BACIO'S Group 1 Nunthorpe victory still reverberating, Caitlin tells the story behind securing the horse, the conviction it took to keep him in the team, and the bloodstock journey that has shaped one of the industry's most compelling careers.
Brought to you in association with VV Rouleaux.
52 min - Episode 38: Doyle Dominates & Echo Bows Out
It's Episode 38!
- Jess reflects on the bittersweet retirement news of champion miler Bow Echo, the son of Night of Thunder who became the first horse since Frankel to complete the Guineas, St James's Palace and Sussex Stakes treble. His remarkable pedigree, featuring a 3x3 cross to Zomaradah and a place on the Darley roster alongside Dabawi and Night of Thunder, makes his future at stud one of the most exciting prospects in recent memory.
- The episode guest is the highly regarded bloodstock agent Ross Doyle, fresh off a stellar few week at Goodwood and Galway. Ross breaks down the purchases behind his recent winners including the Persian Force filly Pershaada and multiple Ghaiyyath winners shares. Ross shares his philosophy on building long-term owner and trainer relationships, reflects on the enduring legacy of his grandfather Jack Doyle, and offers his early picks for the first-season stallions worth watching at this year's sales.
37 min - Episode 37: Going For Gold at Goodwood
It's Episode 37!
The Qatar Goodwood Festival is approaching and with ten years of Weatherby’s data on hand, we reveal the stallions and pedigree patterns that consistently succeed at Goodwood.
- We unpack the ‘double hit’ dam‑sire angles, juvenile and nursery trends, and the sires to follow this week — from Dark Angel and Dubawi to Sea The Stars, No Nay Never, Mehmas and underrated names like Twilight Son.
- Plus an in‑depth interview with Jayne McGiven on Golden Horn, his son Trawlerman, the importance of dual‑purpose breeding, and how careful rearing and bloodstock decisions help produce durable racehorses.
This episode is brought to you in association with VV Rouleaux and VV Chapeau — top off your race day style in London’s Marylebone Lane.
50 min - Episode 36: Takes Two To Tango
Its Episode 36!
We are still recovering from a sensational Royal Ascot and in this episode, we offer a concise wash‑up on the breeding storylines that shaped the meeting.
- Highlights include the Dubawi sire‑line dominance, sprint sires holding their ground and another tough week for two busy and popular stallions.
- Jess speaks to Rob Speers, racing and bloodstock manager to Ibrahim Araci who triumphed in the Albany Stakes with Libertango. What goes into finding a Royal Ascot winning juvenile? What were her pedigree clues that led to the purchase and Rob teases on long term mating plans for the unbeaten daughter of No Nay Never.
This episode is proudly brought to you in association with VV Rouleaux.
38 min - Episode 35: Bred for Royal Ascot? The Bloodstock Insights You Need & Wathnan's Ascot Masterplan ft. Richard Brown
It's Episode 35!
The biggest week in global Racing and in this special episode, Bred For It has your bloodstock angles covered.
- This episode is a full deep dive into ten years of Weatherbys data — stallion trends, dam-sire patterns and the pedigree angles shaping betting and breeding decisions across every distance category at Royal Ascot. Who leads the way? Which bloodlines keep delivering at the biggest meeting of the flat season? And which sires should you be following this week?
- Guest Richard Brown — bloodstock director of Wathnan Racing and founding director of Blandford Bloodstock — joins the show to discuss Wathnan's 2026 Royal Ascot team, his breeze-up buying strategy, and his reaction to a remarkable stat about one of Britain and Ireland's most prominent stallions that has yet to register a single Royal Ascot winner. Richard also reveals which horses represent Wathnan's strongest chances at a meeting the operation targets specifically and prepares for year on year.
Sponsored by VV Rouleaux & VV Chapeau, the place to go for your Royal Ascot hats, found on Marleybone Lane, London.
55 min - Episode 34: Up For The Derby Fight
It’s Episode 34!
With the Derby just around the corner, what can the pedigrees tell us about the leading contenders? Which horses are likely to stay the trip and who looks bred to thrive at Epsom?
- To explore the Derby picture in greater depth, Jess is joined by part-owner Kevin Blake to discuss his Derby hopeful James J Braddock. A highly respected breeder, broadcaster and key member of the Joseph O’Brien team, Kevin shares his insight into the colt’s powerful pedigree, his Derby credentials, and his wider thoughts on this year’s fascinating Classic field.
- Jess also brings you an exclusive interview from Coolmore, with a special focus on Castlehyde Stud following a memorable Irish Guineas weekend. Castlehyde’s resident sire Starspangledbanner enjoyed a remarkable Guineas double through Gstaad and Precise. Clare McInerney from the nominations team offers an inside look at this important division of the Coolmore operation.
55 min - One Off, One On: The Stallion Merry-Go-Round
It's Episode 33!
- The first Classics have been and gone and Jess begins by highlighting the pedigrees that triumphed at Newmarket and Longchamp as well as a nod to a dam who achieved a stakes double with a speedball sprinter and a classic miler.
- Jess digs into a story that has peaked plenty of interest - that of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust returning to training in the UK after a year as a stallion in Australia. Despite getting 70 mares in foal, why have owners, Dr Jim & Fitri Hay pulled the plug on his stallion career? What does his future hold? Find out the thinking from Alex Cole, long standing racing and bloodstock manager to the Hay team.
- Adam Sangster shares the story of Sweetenham Stud located in Victoria, Australia. Listen as he delves into the challenges and rewards of standing northern hemisphere bred stallions in Australia. He gives us an insight into the journey for Diego Velazquez who will shuttle to Sweetenham from The National Stud later in the year.
55 min - Episode 32: It's A Breeze
It’s Episode 32!
It's breeze up fever, but what does the landscape currently look like after the first two European breeze-up sessions?
- Jess reflects on the action with leading consignor Cormac Farrell. What were the key takeaways, and what do they tell us about the market as the season begins to take shape? All while Cormac's headline breeze-up graduate from 2025 DISTANT STORM now heads towards the 2000 Guineas as a leading contender. We hear his remarkable story.
- Jess catches up on the data driving the future of the breeze ups with Stephen Davison of Pythia Sports with the driving question, how are analytics shaping the future of the bloodstock industry?
This episode is dedicated in loving memory of John Fleming.
Brought to you in association with VV Rouleaux.
53 min - Episode 31: Aussie Rules
It's Episode 31!
The international racing scene is littered with equine and human talent and in this special Australian focused episode, Jess speaks with two members of the industry who have chosen New South Wales to set up their racing and bloodstock endeavours.
- Louis le Metayer, a French native has run Astute Bloodstock for over 10 years. He shares his thoughts on the Australian and European bloodstock industry, the advantages of being a European in Australia and his hopes for Mr Monaco in the Sydney Cup.
- Irish born and globally trained Jack Pilkington shares his perspective on setting up training in Hawkesbury, NSW and delivers a refreshing insight into buying yearlings and finding his edge in an ultra competitive landscape.
Brought to you in association with VV Rouleaux.
1 hr 1 min
About Bred For It
From the publisher's feed
Hello and welcome to Bred For It with Jess Stafford. This is a podcast dedicated to the thoroughbred bloodstock industry, coming to you by a bloodstock enthusiast for bloodstock enthusiasts. I am on a…
mission to find out more about what goes into breeding and bloodstock as I interview various members of the industry with the aim to uncover what makes racehorses: Bred For It!