Bred For It

Episode 11: Straight to the Chase with Christina Blacker

It's a special edition of the Bred For It Podcast! 
Jess is in Meydan for the Dubai World Cup and sits down with FanDuel Host and Analyst Christina Blacker to discuss welfare standards and improvements to safety in America, breeding and declining foal numbers, broadcasting about horse injuries and her roles with Light Up Racing & The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
Christina also shares an insight into the journey her husband Dan Blacker has been on training the Champion dirt sprinter, Straight No Chaser for the ownership platform, My Racehorse. 

Episode 10: First Season Sires: Who, what, why?

It's Episode 10:
Jess details out the winners at the Cheltenham Festival, with a big breeding prediction that came good from Episode 9! 
With the flat turf season about to get underway in the UK, Jess takes a deep dive into the first season sires to follow for 2025 with breeder and bloodstock aficionado Archie Brookes. Jess asks why first season sire lists are so popular in this country and Archie has some interesting insight into the Japanese approach. 
You will also hear from leading trainer of two year olds by numbers for the last two years in Karl Burke. Jess finds out the niche of training juveniles, what Karl has learnt over the years and the two year olds who are showing up early. Jess also finds out about the most expensive yearling ever sold at auction in Europe which is now in training with Karl for Amo Racing. 

Episode 9: The Cheltenham Special

Its Episode 9:
This podcast is brought to you in association with The The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and Weatherbys
We are counting down the days to the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and ahead of the biggest four days in National Hunt Racing, Jess is joined by a panel of esteemed guests to discuss the breeding clues around some of the standout horses involved in the standout races at Prestbury Park.
Who has a freak pedigree and who has the pedigree of dreams in the Champion Hurdle?
Which stallion should we be following and who should we steer clear of?
What dams might be having a Festival to remember?
On the panel:
Jane Mangan: Bloodstock specialist and leading broadcaster
Richard Pugh: Head of Racing and Insights at HRI and the founder of p2p.ie
Will Kinsey: British Breeder and pinhooker at Peel Bloodstock
Guy Petit: Leading French Bloodstock agent
Listen to this bumper episode as the panel delve into the bloodlines of the leading players as well as highlighting what bloodstock angles should be used when thinking about the Festival.
 
 

Episode 8: To Michael & His Highness

Its Episode 8:
A podcast dedicated to the life and memory of His Highness The Aga Khan who died on February 4th at the age of 88 and Grade 1 winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan who died in February as a result of his riding injuries at the age of 24. 
Jess speaks to legendary owner breeder Miss Kirsten Rausing of Landwades Stud who shares her personal and professional memories of His Highness The Aga Khan and discusses his influence on the bloodstock industry.
Miss Rausing also updates Jess on her stallions and broodmare band including an exclusive update on her champion, Alpinista.
Jess goes international with a fascinating insight into the Indian bloodstock industry with renowned agent, Guarav Rampal of Scintilla Bloodstock. Find out about well known names now based in India including Chindit and Tasleet. 
 

Episode 7: A Stocking for Dubawi

Its Episode 7:
It's the start of a new year and January means foaling time and mating decisions are made.
In an exclusive interview with Juddmonte CEO Douglas Erskine Crum at the Longines World Horse Racing Awards, Jess finds out the mating plans for 2024 champions Bluestocking and Idiomatic. 
Jess catches up with Simon Sweeting, general manager of Overbury Stud to discuss the ups and downs of being a stallion man, the journey Kayf Tara took him on and why he has such a variety of stallions on offer which includes Golden Horn, Jack Hobbs and Ardad. 
With yearlings now turned two, Jess finds out from trainer Jamie Insole as to why studying a two year old pedigree is fundamental at this early stage of training. 

Episode 6: Christmas Crackers and New Year Trackers

Its Episode 6:
After a stellar Christmas period for National Hunt racing, Jess chats to Grade 1 winning breeder Jackie Chugg of Little Lodge Stud about the success of Challow Hurdle winner The New Lion. 
With British NH breeding having a memorable festive period on both sides of the Irish Sea, Jess speaks with Will Kinsey who bred Leopardstown Grade 1 Future Champion Novice Hurdle star Romeo Coolio.
Both featured horses were by the late great Kayf Tara and we go through the other sires who had a memorable Christmas as well as leading stallions from 2024 and stallion predictions for 2025.

Episode 5: Jump, please!

Its Episode 5:
We focus on National Hunt breeding with Ian Kellit, co-breeder of current Champion Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth. Listen to the journey to breeding the popular grey mare, the family coming through as well as insight to Lossiemouth formative years in France before joining Willie Mullins.
Champion Point To Point rider turned Point To Point handler Derek O'Connor takes us through his approach to starting horses earlier over obstacles which has included many homebred of leading NH owner, JP McManus.

Episode 4: From Foal To Final Furlong

Its Episode 4:
We talk all things foals with Charlie King of Heritage Thoroughbreds as he goes through best practice for foaling, why foals are so in demand at the sales and how his business will look to foal both Northern and Southern Hemisphere broodmares in England. 
We catch up with David O'Callaghan of one of the most celebrated studs in Ireland, Yeomanstown Stud after a record breaking year for their sire, Dark Angel. 
Listen to how Yeomanstown Stud approach finding new stallions and the hopes for their exciting first season sire, Supremacy. 

Episode 3: Where the Dirt meets the Turf

Its Episode 3:
It is a Breeders' Cup special and Jess digs into the pedigree of City Of Troy ahead of the eagerly anticipated running of the Breeders' Cup Classic. 
Will City Of Troy throw more to Justify or Galileo? Does he have the speed to go the Classic pace? 
Listen to a fascinating conversation with legendary bloodstock journalist Bill Oppenheim as well as insights from US analyst and host Kaitlin Free as we look to answer the question: Is City Of Troy bred for Breeders' Cup Classic glory?

Episode 2: Crunching The Numbers

Its Episode 2!
 
Jess catches up with Bernard Condren of auction house Goffs about what it takes to put a sale together an auctioneering a €1.85million yearlings. 
Jess talks data with Tom Wilson of Racing Squared as he explains his biomechanics model and how data can be used in the bloodstock industry. 
 
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