All about BC3 Thoroughbreds

For the second week running BC3 Thoroughbreds have been making racing headlines in Australia. Initially, it was through the brilliant debut victory of a 2-year-old now heading the market for the upcoming Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) to be staged on February 25. More lately, it is for the impending import of a recent US Grade 1 winner already qualified for the 2012 renewal of the VRC Melbourne Cup.

BC3 Thoroughbreds CEO, Bill Vlahos, this week confirmed the purchase of 2011 Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) winner Sanagas, as well as the fact that the horse is to be set for this year’s Melbourne Cup by none other than ‘Cups King’ Bart Cummings. A lightly-raced 6-year-old son of the celebrated German staying influence Lomitas, Sanagas is soon to commence his final campaign in the United States before entering in to quarantine in late April in preparation for a tilt at this year’s Holy Grail.

The news comes swiftly on the heels of Malasun storming into calculations for this year’s Blue Diamond Stakes, the daughter of Red Ransom (USA) being a graduate of BC3 Thoroughbreds’ revolutionary approach. An $80,000 2010 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale purchase, Malasun was selected by Vlahos’ team before being on-sold to the lucky owners of the recent Listed MRC Blue Diamond Fillies Preview winner and now ruling Blue Diamond Stakes favourite.

A relatively new entity in Australia with previous links to the American Quarter Horse market, BC3 Thoroughbreds have successful grown its brand in a manner not previously witnessed in these parts. Vlahos explained this week that the objective of the company is to provide a racing item fully equipped to make an impression on the domestic racing scene no matter how it has been sourced.

“Our philosophy is to provide owners with an opportunity to purchase quality, ready-made thoroughbreds,” stated Vlahos. “This includes, a) 2-year-olds that have completed our selection and unique development program; b) Horses that have gone to trial; c) Horses that have raced; and d) Older horses, both in Australia and overseas, that we have identified as potential stars or potential horses for specific races such as the Melbourne Cup. Sanagas, which we bought and on-sold for this year’s Melbourne Cup, is such a horse.

“Having said that, our main business is the selection, preparation and selling of 2-year-olds. We believe in our product and are happy to take the risk of trialing and racing our horses to get them sold if we haven't been able to do so via sales channels.

“Our [original] philosophy has changed to the extent that we see ourselves as sellers of quality racehorses rather than just selling 2-year-olds — despite 2-year-old trade remaining our main focus.”

Vlahos is keen to point out that BC3 Thoroughbreds doesn’t consider itself to be in opposition with the many syndication companies now in the racehorse business, and that his outfit has taken an acutely different position in the thoroughbred bloodstock market.

“We are definitely not a syndicator,” Vlahos asserts. “All our horses are available for sale, either to an individual or a group of people who are interested in racing partnerships.

“Our aim is to sell whole horses and then allow the new owners to make decisions on their horse. Saint Etienne is a recent example of this, having been sold to Hong Kong interests after his third in the Group 3 Carbine [Club Stakes at Flemington last October].

“Some horses, like Malasun, we remain involved in as we have been unable to sell down the remaining percentage in the horse and the owners are happy for us to manage its career as we are still involved. Unlike syndicators however, we do not charge any fees, take a percentage of prizemoney, training fees etc. Once we sell a horse it is no longer ours, though we follow it with great interest.”

BC3 Thoroughbreds’ first few years of operation witnessed the company stage its own, in-house, ready-to-run sale comprising of its initial yearling sale purchases subsequently educated, placed on nutritional diets and exercise programs, before being breezed-up on a designated Open Day. Despite the diverse nature of their dealings in more recent time, Vlahos makes it clear that the exercise is still their No. 1 priority.

“Our main sales channel remains our Open Day, where we gallop our horses, video them and then send videos to industry and corporate contacts worldwide,” confirmed Vlahos. “There has been a shift in regards that we will no longer auction them on the day of their gallop, but it still remains an option for us.

“We also look to sell horses at existing 2-year-old breeze-up sales such as Magic Millions or New Zealand Bloodstock if we have the appropriate horses for such sales.

“Our success has also led to the development of our VIP program, in which owners/buyers can invest in our draft at the start of the sales season, but are then only required to allocate their investment to a particular horse/s at completion of their program. This continues to align our business to the ethos that ready-made racehorses are the best way to purchase a racehorse for success on the track. They get in first but make the decision on their horse selection when horses are ready to go to the races, rather than risk buying when the horse is still a yearling.”

c/- Peter Falconer