Focused on Future Stakes Winners: 

Each year, we actively participate in all major Australian yearling sales, inspecting approximately 3,000 horses individually with one clear goal: to purchase future stakes winners.

Over the past two decades, Louis has inspected hundreds of thousands of yearlings across Australia and Europe. With a finely tuned eye, he can evaluate a horse’s potential within minutes, analysing pedigree,  athleticism, physical power, temperament, movement, constitution, and leg conformation. These skills have been honed through years of hands-on experience and relentless attention to detail.

We don’t buy to fill stables or spend pre-raised funds. Our approach is independent, unbiased, and laser-focused on sourcing elite performers at fair value.

Data & Pedigree Insight

We maintain a proprietary database built over 10 years, updated annually, which tracks the strike rate of stakes winners to yearlings offered by each Australian vendor. We actively target farms with the strongest results.

Additionally, we engage a pedigree specialist who analyses all catalogued yearlings page by page back seven generations, helping us identify patterns that others often miss.

Why We Buy Fillies

Our primary focus is on fillies. With significant demand from Hong Kong and aggressive competition from six major stallion investors, the colt market has become inflated. In contrast, well-bred fillies offer better value and long-term upside.

Our standard buying range is between $70,000 and $400,000. While we rarely exceed this, one notable exception was Tiz Invincible, acquired for $550,000 and later sold for $2.8 million at the Chairman’s Sale. 

Elite Management Beyond the Sale

We work alongside Australia’s leading trainers and biggest stables while ensuring each horse receives individual attention. In racing, success often comes down to the smallest margins and at Astute Bloodstock, every 1% counts.

As your Racing Manager, we’re committed to placing your horse in the best possible environment every day of the year. Clear communication is central to our service — we ensure owners understand the reasoning behind every key decision.

At Astute Bloodstock, we treat every horse as an elite athlete, never a commodity. Buying the right horse is only the beginning. Long-term success comes from the right management.

Our comprehensive racing management includes:

• Horse Inspections: In-person inspections at least every two months to ensure year-round care, with detailed reports shared with owners.
• Facility Selection: Choosing the best spelling farms, dressage/pre-training facilities, and trainers tailored to each horse’s needs.
• Race Programming: Collaborating with trainers to create the ideal race schedule.
• Placement Strategy: Strategically entering horses in races where they can be competitive, avoiding races where they have little chance of success. As a rule, we rarely run horses with odds above 15/1.
• Jockey Selection: Booking the best jockeys available, particularly for stakes races.
• Trial and Race Attendance: Attending most trials and races (for NSW-based horses).
• Progress Updates: Providing regular updates on the horse’s condition, training, and performance.
• Form Analysis: Offering race insights when relevant.
• Veterinary Care: Seeking second opinions on veterinary matters when necessary.
• Owner Hospitality: Coordinating race-day hospitality where appropriate.
• Transport Logistics: Organising smooth and reliable horse transport between facilities when horses are moving from A to B. 
• Online sales: Listing and marketing horses online should at the end of their racing career