Coral Beach 2yo Gr3 winner in Ireland
Owners of Ventura Storm Gr 2 winner
THUMP Gr2 winner
Harlem: winner of the Australian Cup Gr1 (Twice)
Astute Bloodstock Sale Stats

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TTR - Q&A with Louis Le Metayer

In our latest Q & A series, The Thoroughbred Report seeks insights from a variety of professionals, be they agents, trainers, breeders, handlers, owners, administration and ancillary, etc., to hear their thoughts on our industry. In today's Q & A, we feature a quick-fire round with Louis Le Metayer, owner of Astute Bloodstock (FBAA).

Le Metayer and Walsh hoping for repeat trick at Tattersalls

Astute Bloodstock’s (FBAA) Louis Le Metayer and Amelia Park’s Peter Walsh will be hoping lightning can strike twice as they purchased Listed-winning mare Dima (Fr) (Falco {USA}) for 110,000gns (AU$203,000) at the Tattersalls July Sale in Newmarket on Wednesday. The UK-based sale has been a happy hunting ground for Le Metayer and Walsh in the past, with the pair having purchased Canford Cliffs (Ire) mare Bumbasina (Ire) for 75,000gns (AU$131,600) at the 2018 edition of the sale and she'd subsequently go on to produce one of this season’s most exciting prospects in unbeaten Western Australia-based 2-year-old Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}).

Q&A with Louis Le Metayer: Astute Bloodstock

Louis Le Metayer opened the doors of Astute Bloodstock in 2013 in Sydney and is now firmly established in the top echelon of agents. He spoke with TDN AusNZ’s Paul Vettise about his upbringing, major influences on his career and thoughts on the industry.

TDNAusNZ -French success tribute to Australian connection

The impressive debut of Midlife Crisis (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in a 2-year-old maiden at Deauville in France on Tuesday owed more than just a little to the foresight of Australian-based agent Louis Le Metayer of Astute Bloodstock, who sourced his dam, The Hunt Is On (Manhattan Rain) for his French breeders, Haras d'Etreham.

TDN - Making Their Mark: Louis Le Metayer

In this new series we sit down with a selection of Europeans making a significant impression in the Thoroughbred industry on foreign shores. Today we have France’s Louis Le Metayer in the hot seat.

TDNAusNZ - 5 minutes with.... Louis Le Metayer

TDN AusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory? LLM: I grew up in Normandy, an hour south of Deauville in a region where horse racing and equestrian sports dominate the local culture. All the big thoroughbred studs are in the same region and I was very lucky to grow up on a broodmare farm and compete in show jumping as a teenager. Peintre Celebre (USA) (Nureyev {USA}) was the horse who got me hooked to racing. He won the French Derby and the Arc de Triomphe in the same year. Watching his acceleration still gives me goose bumps.

TDN - Astute Agent has Global Perspective

By Kelsey Riley A little more than five years after launching Astute Bloodstock in Sydney, Frenchman Louis Le Metayer has enjoyed success with horses purchased both domestically and overseas. A highlight came just last month when European imports Harlem (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Ventura Storm (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) finished first and third in the G1 Australian Cup. TDNInternational Editor Kelsey Riley caught up with Le Metayer as he prepares to shop the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to talk about a wide range of topics from Australian speed and the shuttle stallion debate to finding value at sales.

Tiz Invincible wins Furious Stakes Gr.2

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Ownership Opportunities

The pursuit of top horses continues in Europe this spring.

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“I have purchased shares in some five horses over the years, picked by Louis and syndicated through Astute Bloodstock.

Four of them have been winners, including:

MY COUNTRY - 2yo stakes winner and Group placed at Flemington as 3yo.
REFORMIST - 2yo city winner on debut and stakes placed in Sydney
VERMENTINO - winner of 3 of his 4 starts to date

Yes, luck has played a big part, but I definitely believe that this luck has been enhanced by the hard work that Louis puts in to inspect every yearling at every sale in his search for the athletic, quality yearling at a genuine price."

DR MICHAEL SANTANGELO (BDS)

“I have been buying through Astute Bloodstock for about a decade and have been in over a dozen horses purchased by Louis. So far all but one have won races.

I have found Louis has an intimate understanding of the Australian and International thoroughbred markets, can pick an athlete at a sale, and plies his trade with honesty, transparency, and integrity.

There is no doubt Louis takes great pride in his track record. He follows his horses throughout their career and adds value to the racing experience using quality communication with his clients.”

ADAM KILGOUR

"We have been working with Astute Bloodstock for a couple of years at the yearling sales and our first runners have all impressed us.

AUSBRED FLIRT is a 4YO mare by Maurice who has now won three of her seven starts. She won her last two starts by a combined margin of 11 lengths
and broke the class record. She only cost $110,000.

AUSBRED BLUEBIRD is a 4YO mare by Teofilo who won her last two starts and she looks like a progressive stayer in the making.

MISS MAGNIFICO is a 3YO filly by Magnus who won her only start to date by 5 lengths."

CHRIS & LYNNE LAWLOR,
AUSBRED/INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH PRODUCTS

"I have been involved in three horses through Astute Bloodstock and all of them are very talented horses, who didn't cost a fortune.

NAGS TO RICHES (Written Tycoon) cost $130,000, she won three from nine and was Listed placed.
CROSS THE RUBICON (Dissident) cost $200,000, she won three in a row in NSW.
VERMENTINO (Extreme Choice) cost $210,000, he is undefeated in two starts and looks like a top horse.

I owned horses for 45 years with limited success, so I wish I met Louis a long time ago.

RAY ROBINSON, NEWCASTLE

"I have known Louis for about 17 years and I was his very first client when he started Astute Bloodstock back in 2013.

Our best-ever horse Amelia's Jewel is a product of Louis' work. He sourced the mare for us in the UK and organized the mating with the stallion Siyouni who was just an emerging sire at the time.

Louis is a straight shooter, he is obliging and I enjoy his company. I trust his word and his judgment of horses, hence my loyalty as a client after all these years."

PETER WALSH - AMELIA PARK, WA

‘Enjoyed the process with Louis when selling our mare Miss Leonidas. It was a measured, humble approach and I would have no hesitation working with him again. In the end, I believe it was a win for both buyer and seller.’

TODD LICHTI, OWNER AND BREEDER, VICTORIA

“Louis has all the characteristics I look for in a bloodstock agent. Unbridled passion for the industry, a natural instinct with horses coupled with a disciplined approach to selection, strong commercial acumen and above all integrity and transparency.”

BRAE SOKOLSKI , OWNER AND BREEDER

"In recent times, Louis has arranged the sale of two of my horses, Ace High (Gr1 winner) and the well-bred mareTatiara ( Sintzel - Gallant Tess). I thoroughly commend the efficient and professional manner Louis handled the transactions and have no hesitation in recommending his services to prospective clients."

JOHN CORDINA, OWNER AND BREEDER

"I have used the services of Astute Bloodstock on several occasions to buy and sell horses including our Gr2 winner THUMP, the Gr2 winner MISS LEONIDAS, as well as the Gr2 winner JEU DE CARTE and the Gr1 winner SPRIGHT. Louis is very professional, very pleasant and clear in his assessments."

BRUCE NEILL - CRESSFIELD

"Louis grew up amongst horses and constantly strives to learn more about thoroughbreds and the industry.

He is a good horseman, a fine judge of yearlings, a diligent form analyst and a straight shooter in business.

We had great success buying horses recommended by Louis such as HARLEM (Australian Cup winner) VENTURA STORM (Moonee Valley Cup winner) and PILOTE D'ESSAI (multiple stakes winner). "

DAVID HAYES - CHAMPION TRAINER

"The professional and experienced approach Astute has brought to our selection process has greatly improved our horses' performance for our owners. We highly recommend Astute Bloodstock."

PETER JAMES - OWNER

“We have done business with Astute Bloodstock for a few years now. Louis is a passionate horseman, a good judge of yearlings and an avid researcher. Astute Bloodstock is conducting good clean business."

NICHOLAS DE CHAMPBURE, HARAS D'ETREHAM, FRANCE

"Leading up to the 2013 breeding season, Louis professionally advised us with our mating choices. We found his work to be very thorough and we look forward to seeing the resulting foals."

JOHN BAXTER - RUANE

"Louis is a bloodstock agent with sound local and international experience. He has a solid international network and has been a successful selector of horses. Louis was a valuable contributor to Arrowfield before he left to establish Astute Bloodstock."

JOHN MESSARA - ARROWFIELD

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At Astute Bloodstock, our aim is “to buy fast horses for top people.” In the long run, we will only succeed if our clients do.

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