Our Team
Louis Le Metayer
Founder - Owner - MD
Louis Le Metayer’s lifelong connection to horses began in Normandy, France, where he was raised at Haras du Buff, a family broodmare farm managed by his mother, Edwige. His late father, Pierre Charles, was a pioneering bloodstock agent who led the export market for French National Hunt horses to the UK and Ireland.
After completing a Bachelor of Farm Management and Agricultural Science, Louis set out to gain international experience with some of the world’s leading trainers. His journey took him to stables including John Hammond in Chantilly, Paul Nicholls in the UK, Glen Kotzen in South Africa, and Todd Pletcher in the US.
In 2005, Louis joined Lindsay Park as a track rider during David Hayes’ celebrated return from Hong Kong. He soon transitioned into the bloodstock division, where he spent four years honing his skills in yearling selection and bloodstock management.
From 2009 to 2012, Louis worked in the bloodstock and marketing team at Arrowfield Stud under industry leader John Messara. This role provided a broader, more analytical perspective on the industry, complementing his practical foundation.
With this blend of hands-on experience, global exposure, and commercial insight, Louis launched Astute Bloodstock in 2013. Today, the company is recognised for sourcing elite racehorses and broodmares with integrity, attention to detail, and a clear long-term vision.
Over the past decade, Astute Bloodstock has consistently delivered high-performing horses from a highly selective annual intake of no more than 20 purchases. “Our enduring philosophy remains simple: we only recommend horses we would love to own ourselves.”
Rebecca Sargeant
Office Manager - Louis's PA
Rebecca Sargeant brings a rare blend of hands-on horsemanship and academic excellence to Astute Bloodstock. Raised on a horse farm near Cambridge, New Zealand, she has been immersed in the thoroughbred industry from a young age and remains deeply passionate about every aspect of it — from breeding and early education to elite-level racing.
Rebecca holds a degree in Equine Science from Massey University, where she specialised in Equine Performance and Physiology. Her practical experience is equally impressive. She played a key role in the early development and pre-training of Group 1 winners Roch ‘N’ Horse and Jimmy Star during her time at Little Avondale Stud. She then worked as a respected foreman for Stephen Marsh Racing for 18 months before making the move to Australia in 2022.
Rebecca continues to hone her horsemanship by riding trackwork for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott at Randwick each morning. In 2023, she broadened her international experience with a 3-month stint in France, working for top trainer Francis-Henri Graffard — where she left a lasting impression with her dedication and skill.
Now part of the Astute Bloodstock team, Rebecca manages all owner registrations, administrative tasks, payments, marketing, and in-depth research. Her exceptional work ethic, “can-do” attitude, and genuine love for the industry make her an invaluable member of the team.
We’re thrilled to have someone of Rebecca’s calibre helping drive our business forward.
Will Macdonald
Sales and Marketing
We are delighted to welcome Will Macdonald to the Astute Bloodstock team as our new Sales and Marketing Manager, commencing in September 2025.
Will brings a strong combination of horsemanship, international experience, and bloodstock knowledge. He is a graduate of the prestigious Irish National Stud Breeding Management Course in 2023, where he was awarded the Irish Field Blue Hen Award.
He most recently worked with Inglis as a Bloodstock Assistant, where he gained experience in pedigree research, yearling inspections, client and vendor relations, and the organisation of live and digital sales. He also acted as a buyer’s agent, bid spotter, and facilitated private sales.
Will’s international experience includes completing the Goffs Internship in Ireland, where he gained valuable exposure to the European market, along with hands-on work at leading operations such as Baroda Stud in Ireland.
Back in Australia, Will has done work experience with Yarraman Park, Widden , and The Chase/Newgate consignments.
Academically, Will holds a Bachelor of Arts in Socio-Legal Studies and Business Law from the University of Sydney and has further enhanced his skill set through auctioneering training at Inglis and CPD qualifications in both real estate and stock & station.
With his deep passion for thoroughbred racing and breeding, broad international perspective, and strong communication skills, Will is perfectly placed to support our clients and strengthen Astute Bloodstock’s sales and marketing efforts.
We look forward to introducing Will to many of you in the coming months.
