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Bred For It
By Jess StaffordSports
Bred For It episodes
- Episode 20: Kentucky Style!
It's Episode 20:
- After an eye-opening trip to America, including a visit to Lexington, Kentucky for the world-renowned Keeneland Sales, Jess shares her insights into what makes this premier auction such a standout event.
- The 2025 September Sale set remarkable new records, with more than 4,500 yearlings sold for staggering prices. Jess is joined by leading bloodstock agent Jamie Piggott, who reflects on the rich history of Keeneland, what sets it apart from other sales, and the qualities that make its yearlings so distinctive.
- Jess speaks to leading bloodstock agent Jamie Piggott as to what sets this sale apart, the history associated with it and what makes a Keeneland yearling different to the yearlings you might find at other auction houses.
- Jess also catches up with Ramiro Restrepo of Marquee Bloodstock to hear about his unconventional path to becoming a Kentucky Derby–winning agent and his role in Netflix’s Race to the Crown—and how it has helped inspire the next generation within the industry.
48 min - Episode 19: Oh, Diego!
It's Episode 19:
The story (so far) of Diego Velazquez: Jess unpacks how a shrewd move brought the iconic Sangster–Magnier partnership back to the winners’ enclosure — a tale of good timing and inspired bloodstock business.
Jess is joined by Joe Bradley of The National Stud, who explains the significance of Diego Velazquez joining their stallion roster for 2026 and what it really takes for a racehorse to make the leap into stallion duties.
- Plus, trainer Jamie Insole reflects on the first European yearling sale of 2025 at Arqana in Deauville, the type of yearlings he’s looking to buy, and how he found himself celebrating on the winners’ podium with Team Diego Velazquez.
55 min - Episode 18: Reasons To BeliEVE
Episode 18:
- Goodwood Festival once again proved that the so-called ‘under the radar’ stallions can shine on the big stage, with progeny of Expert Eye, Ulysses and Without Parole all hitting the scoresheet. Eve Johnson Houghton was one of the meeting’s standout trainers, landing two winners including Zavareti’s Vintage Stakes triumph — another example of her sharp eye for yearlings.
- In this episode, Eve shares her sales-ring strategy, what she must see (and can’t have) in a pedigree, and the auctions that have delivered her biggest results.
- Jess also speaks to Paul Curran, European representative for Yulong Investments, about their headline acquisitions of Shaquille and Soldier’s Call, how they fit into Yulong’s global stallion portfolio, and the future for fan favourite Carl Spackler.
36 min - Episode 17: Oh So Glorious!
It's Episode 17:
- It’s Glorious Goodwood week and Jess shines a spotlight on the value sires ready to make their mark and highlights how year on year the Festival creates the perfect proving ground for stallions standing outside the commercial elite.
- With the first European yearling sales less than a month away, bloodstock expert Nancy Sexton, fresh from Japan’s JRHA Select Sale, explores how Japanese breeders are rewriting the global playbook — from Sunday Silence’s enduring legacy to the new generation of stallions making waves. Nancy also reveals why the Japanese approach to putting on a sale is something the rest of the world could only dream of emulating.
47 min - Episode 16: Profession meets Passion
It's Episode 16:
- With the fantastic Royal Ascot meeting of 2025 still fresh in our minds, Jess looks back on the bloodstock success stories, the unlikely winning stallions and the blue bloods that triumphed over the five days.
- Jess catches up with bloodstock supremo Anthony Stroud fresh from celebrating Ombudsman success in the Prince of Wales Stakes. Anthony talks securing the son of Night Of Thunder from his friend and co-breeder James Hanly.
- Jess and Anthony look ahead to a weekend to savour for Anthony where his breeding passions collide with his business ventures with Ombudsman looking to take the Coral Eclipse whilst Estrange, bred by himself alongside James Hanly & Trevor Stewart takes her place in the Lancashire Oaks.
- Jess takes you through the sales dates that are coming up over the coming months and updates you on the first season sire table at the mid way point of the year!
26 min - The Royal Ascot Special with Barry Mahon, Juddmonte
This podcast is brought to you in association with The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.
- Ahead of the five biggest days of international flat racing at Royal Ascot, Jess sits down with Barry Mahon of Juddmonte to discuss the operations leading hopes at Royal Ascot 2025.
- Jess and Barry chat through the pedigrees that make up their stars of 2025 including Field Of Gold, Lead Artist & Kalpana as well as the Juddmonte stallions including Frankel & Kingman who will be well represented throughout the week.
- Don't miss some fantastic insight into the star Juddmonte families represented at Royal Ascot as well as the under the radar types hoping for a big run in the handicaps.
56 min - Episode 15: The Derby Storm
It's Episode 15!
- An Epsom Derby special as Jess delves into the profiles of the key Derby contenders for the 2025 renewal. Who, on pedigree, will handle the Derby test and who might struggle?
- With the Derby looking like one of the most open line ups for years, Jess asks leading stallion master and managing director of Ballylinch Stud, does the Derby still matter to breeders?
- John discusses his stallion New Bay, his progeny credentials in this years race and the expectations for the stallions going forward
- Plus, don't miss the unexpected Derby contender who was bred for the Point-to-point field and has ended up in the world's oldest classic. Al Wasl Storm's breeder Gavin Wallace joins the podcast!
54 min - Episode 14: Queen Be's
Its Episode 14:
- In an exclusive interview with Mark Byrne of Coolmore, we hear about the cornerstone broodmares such as Lillie Langtry, Rhododendron and Immortal Verse and their importance to the global breeding powerhouse.
- You will hear about the mating process for the broodmares, the key decision makers & the qualities that make a brilliant mare and the stallions they are using.
- Plus Mark exclusively shares with Bred For It listeners that recently purchased racemare BELIEVING will be covered by Frankel and race in foal at Royal Ascot.
- With the flat season in full swing, we hear from trainer Jamie Insole on the challenges of training two year olds and the rollercoaster story behind his first two year old runner + some up and coming two year olds to follow!
46 min - Episode 13: Ruling The World
It's Episode 13:
- With a superb weekend of International flat action, Jess digs into the breeding of one of the headline acts of the 2000 Guineas - Ruling Court. Jess speaks to Norman Williamson of Oak Tree Stud about buying him as a yearling, breezing him at the 2024 Arqana Sale & turning him into a 2.3million euro sale topper.
- Jess finds out how important it is to see the son of Justify follow up on the racetrack and Norman gives his insight into keeping in close contact with Charlie Appleby since the horse has been in his care.
- With the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Jess picks the brain of Ren Carothers "the Pedigeek" on the main bloodstock angles going into the eagerly anticipated Run For The Roses.
36 min - Episode 12: Breezin' On Up
It's Episode 12:
- Its Breeze Up Season and with consigners and buyers reading themselves for a busy sales period, Jess asks the people that make it happen why this type of sale has become such an attractive source of buying horses.
- Jess speaks with leading consignor Rodgie Kavanagh of Glending Stables who was responsible for the breeze up post boy and champion racehorse, Vandeek. Rodgie discusses the road to establishing Glending, how he sources the correct yearlings to breeze and the preparation they go through to get to the sales.
- Leading racehorse trainer and key buyer at the breeze up sales, Jamie Osborne also joins the podcast to discuss his breeze up graduate Heart Of Honor, his unique buying strategy and what 2025 looks to bring him and his team.
42 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!