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| Staff Writer |
In the intricate dance of Thoroughbred trading, where fortunes rise and fall on the swish of a tail, Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald stands as a master choreographer. Over four remarkable decades, this Royal Agricultural College graduate has evolved into one of racing's most discerning eyes, amassing a portfolio of over 85 Group One winners. His journey maps the delicate intersection where science meets artistry in the pursuit of equine excellence, transforming the raw potential of yearlings into tomorrow's champions.
"It's hugely rewarding. At the end of the day, we are like salesmen. We get to enjoy the rewards when horses win races, which is hugely exciting," Donald explains enthusiastically.
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The tale of Winter Power embodies Donald's ability to spot talent others miss. Purchased for US$98,000 as a yearling, the daughter of Bungle Inthejungle faced immediate scepticism from industry experts.
"I remember when I bought her, I was chatting with some friends - fellow agents and trainers - in the bar afterwards," Donald recalls. "We had quite a good budget to buy for King Power, and they were asking, 'Why have you bought that Bungle Inthejungle filly?' Nobody liked her."
The scepticism led to a friendly wager. "We had a spread bet amongst three of us afterwards. For every point over 80 on Timeform, I was up and they were down," he says. Ultimately, Winter Power would vindicate Donald's judgement with a spectacular Group One victory.
Donald's approach to horse selection reflects years of refined expertise. "It's a process of elimination - you can look at about 100 horses, and with yearlings, you can examine about 150 a day," he explains. This methodical approach has served him well throughout his career.
"You have to deserve it. You typically need to have some initial success to get the better budgets," Donald notes about client relationships. "What comes with bigger budgets is more pressure and expectation, and all eyes are on you."GLOBAL VISION, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.
Donald's international success spans three Hong Kong Derby winners and four Breeders' Cup champions. His deep understanding of different racing jurisdictions stems from extensive early career experience, particularly working with veterinarians worldwide.
"For Hong Kong, 95% of their races will be on very firm ground, which is the same for a lot of foreign markets," he explains. "The climate can be quite warm, and horses often have to carry significant weights. You need a decent-sized horse - preferably around 16 hands and 500 kilos."
"There's a lot to like about their racing, and they get exciting results. Since their budgets have increased, the quality has become very strong out there."
His expertise extends to dirt racing surfaces, too. "Our all-weather surfaces in the UK aren't like dirt because you don't get the kickback. However, a horse who has shown good form on all-weather surfaces, particularly in Saudi Arabia where the surface is quite deep, can adapt well."
The environment presents unique challenges. "It's a tight, claustrophobic environment for horses. They may be training on the track and in multi-story car park stabling, unlike the big green fields and open spaces they might have been used to. Therefore, they need to have a very solid temperament."
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The digital revolution has transformed the industry during Donald's 25-year career. "Yes, there's access to statistics and replays now. With horses in training, I could WhatsApp a client and say, 'Watch the replay of the 3:30 at Ascot.' They can do that within seconds. Twenty years ago, we'd have had to order a video of the replay, and it would take 10 days before it arrived."
This accessibility has changed client relationships significantly. "In the past, you would just give your client a physical description of the horse, and they would trust your personal opinion much more than they do now," Donald reflects. However, he cautions against over-reliance on digital tools. "Videos online can be quite deceptive - they often flatter many horses. It's very risky buying just from photos and online materials."
Donald's approach to finding value remains rooted in thorough evaluation and his presence at sales worldwide. "I think horses in training are always better value for money than yearlings because, with yearlings, you have the dream of what might be," Donald explains. "When buying fillies, you can assess the pedigree and think, 'Well, that's great value,' because even if she's not very good, she has residual value for breeding."
His success with Chrisellliam, purchased for US$52,000 from Book Two before winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, exemplifies his talent for spotting value.
"You go to Tattersalls, for example, and you've been hard at work trying to buy horses all week, then you're in the restaurant at night, and everyone's laughing and winding each other up. It's a good sort of global family."
The emergence of new racing jurisdictions, particularly in the Middle East, has created additional opportunities. "It's another dimension to race planning - both for possible races to target and another avenue for selling horses. We've sold quite a few horses to Bahrain for their International Race Series, which has only been running for two years but is developing very quickly."
When discussing emerging talent, Donald shows enthusiasm for certain young sires. "I think Blue Point looks very exciting. Talking about young sires, there’s Night of Thunder - I suppose he's not that young anymore, but he's still doing better and better."
However, he maintains his cautious approach, stating, "You've always got to be aware - there are a lot of good stallions out there. Again, it's certainly relative to how much you've got to spend. Even the unfashionable stallions can always produce a good one."
"Knowing when not to buy a horse is almost more important than saying, 'Look, that's the best one there.' I think in the long run, the person who does the groundwork of avoiding mistakes will make their own luck."
As Donald reflects on his illustrious career, his influence on the global bloodstock industry extends far beyond the sales ring. His methodology - a careful blend of thorough physical evaluation, pedigree analysis, and market awareness - has helped shape modern bloodstock practices. Through economic ups and downs, changing market dynamics, and technological revolutions, his fundamental philosophy has remained steadfast: success lies not just in identifying winners, but in avoiding costly mistakes.
The industry's future, he believes, burns bright with promise. "More people are wanting to become a bloodstock agent than ever before. In breeding, there's a massive wave of young people who are really enjoying horse racing."
As new markets emerge across the Middle East and Asia, and technology continues to reshape traditional practices, Donald's legacy serves as a masterclass in adapting to change while staying true to the fundamental principles of horsemanship.
His parting wisdom encapsulates a career built on equal measures of passion and pragmatism. "It's hugely rewarding. At the end of the day, we're making our livelihoodsout of trying to make a horse go faster than other horses. It's quite bizarre how much money is involved with that age-old desire to win a race." In an industry where dreams are traded daily, Donald's ability to turn those dreams into reality stands as a testament to the enduring value of experience, instinct, and unwavering judgement.
Perhaps most tellingly, Donald's influence resonates through the success stories of those he has mentored and guided. From Group One champions to promising yearlings transformed into valuable breeding prospects, his legacy continues to shape the next generation of Thoroughbred talent spotters. In a career spanning over four decades, Donald has not just purchased champions - he has helped craft the very framework of modern international bloodstock trading.