Bred For It

Its Episode 36! We are still recovering from a sensational Royal Ascot and in this episode, we offer a concise wash‑up on the breeding storylines that shaped the meeting. Highlights include the Dubawi sire‑line dominance, sprint sires holding their ground and another tough week for two busy and popular stallions. Jess speaks to Rob Speers, racing and bloodstock manager to Ibrahim Araci who triumph...

It's Episode 35! The biggest week in global Racing and in this special episode, Bred For It has your bloodstock angles covered. This episode is a full deep dive into ten years of Weatherbys data — stallion trends, dam-sire patterns and the pedigree angles shaping betting and breeding decisions across every distance category at Royal Ascot. Who leads the way? Which bloodlines keep delivering at the...

It’s Episode 34! With the Derby just around the corner, what can the pedigrees tell us about the leading contenders? Which horses are likely to stay the trip and who looks bred to thrive at Epsom? To explore the Derby picture in greater depth, Jess is joined by part-owner Kevin Blake to discuss his Derby hopeful James J Braddock. A highly respected breeder, broadcaster and key member of the Joseph...

It's Episode 33! The first Classics have been and gone and Jess begins by highlighting the pedigrees that triumphed at Newmarket and Longchamp as well as a nod to a dam who achieved a stakes double with a speedball sprinter and a classic miler. Jess digs into a story that has peaked plenty of interest - that of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust returning to training in the UK afte...

It’s Episode 32! It's breeze up fever, but what does the landscape currently look like after the first two European breeze-up sessions? Jess reflects on the action with leading consignor Cormac Farrell. What were the key takeaways, and what do they tell us about the market as the season begins to take shape? All while Cormac's headline breeze-up graduate from 2025 DISTANT STORM now heads towards t...

It's Episode 31! The international racing scene is littered with equine and human talent and in this special Australian focused episode, Jess speaks with two members of the industry who have chosen New South Wales to set up their racing and bloodstock endeavours.  Louis le Metayer, a French native has run Astute Bloodstock for over 10 years. He shares his thoughts on the Australian and European bl...

It's Episode 30! A Festival review through a breeding lens. Jess Stafford is joined by breeding expert and journalist Amy Lynam to analyse the stallions, pedigrees and production lines behind the 2026 Cheltenham winners. We assess which sires boosted their standing, which lines continue to deliver elite jumpers, and how Irish and French breeding models are shaping the modern National Hunt horse.  

Episode 29 – The 'A' Road to Cheltenham With the countdown to the Cheltenham Festival underway, Jess speaks to two guests with major hopes for the week.  First, we hear from Chris Dawson of Nunstainton Stud, home to Dragon Dancer, whose son Haiti Couleurs lines up in the Gold Cup. Chris explains how he acquired Dragon Dancer from France, the pedigree influences that convinced him to pursue the sta...

It's Episode 28! With the countdown onto the Cheltenham Festival, the French-breds are set to dominate once again.  So what’s the secret? In this episode, Jess Stafford speaks to Céline Gualde who runs Cap Orne Stud in Normandy and sits at the heart of French breeding as Secretary of the French TBA on the committee of France Galop and President of the National de l'Obstacle Show.  From AQPS to “br...

It's Episode 27!  *WATCH NOW on YOUTUBE* For Episode 26 of Bred For It, we do something a little different with our first-ever audio and visual episode. I’m joined by Classic-winning owner, breeder and Rebel Racing founder Phil Cunningham in Meydan, Dubai. Phil's colours lit up the track last season with major sprint victories including the Stewards’ Cup and an extraordinary Ayr and Silver Gold Cu...

It's Episode 26! A new year brings fresh stallion momentum to two of the most influential and forward-thinking studs in Britain. In an exclusive interview, Jess speaks to David Redvers of Tweenhills Stud, who lifts the lid on the decision to add King Of Change to the roster. He explains the strategic thinking behind the acquisition, the partners involved, and how a near-miss stallion buy ultimatel...

It's Episode 25! Jess reflects on the loss of leading National Hunt stallions, emerging sires making their mark, and key developments shaping the global breeding landscape. Jess is joined by legendary Auctioneer John O'Kelly to reflect on his final sale at Tattersalls, alongside stories and insights from more than 30 years at the heart of the sales ring Harriet Jones of Consign Ltd gives her accou...

It's Episode 24: As December settles over Newmarket and the foal and mares’ sales draw to a close, the Sceptre Session delivered real fireworks with Porta Fortuna and Barnavara topping the headlines, while stallion farms opened their doors to showcase the sires shaping future mating plans. With the Flat sales winding down and the National Hunt scene beginning to heat up, this episode brings you a...

It's Episode 23:  With the 2026 stallion fees out, Jess breaks down the key headlines: major new arrivals at Coolmore and Darley, Juddmonte boosting their mid-market, and Diego Velazquez adding depth to Britain’s middle tier. But behind the big numbers sits a far tougher landscape for everyday breeders. To dig into that reality, Jess is joined by Philip Newton, Chair of The Thoroughbred Breeders A...

It's Episode 22:  Jess catches up with Claudia Fitzgerald, Bloodstock Manager for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, to uncover the Australian approach to Newmarket: why Tattersalls continues to be a rich source of value, the unique type of horses the UK breeds that the team is so eager to take Down Under, and what tops Gai’s hit list when she sets her sights on a new recruit. Then it’s all eyes on D...

It's Episode 21: What were the biggest stories from the major 2025 sales sessions? Who were the biggest buyers, the best characters and the special horses that set new records? Jess has the insight from another absorbing couple of trips from Goffs Orby at Kildare Paddocks, Ireland to Tattersalls Book 1 at Newmarket.  Jess catches up with delighted pinhooker and breeder Dave Weston of Flinstone Blo...

It's Episode 20: After an eye-opening trip to America, including a visit to Lexington, Kentucky for the world-renowned Keeneland Sales, Jess shares her insights into what makes this premier auction such a standout event. The 2025 September Sale set remarkable new records, with more than 4,500 yearlings sold for staggering prices. Jess is joined by leading bloodstock agent Jamie Piggott, who reflec...

It's Episode 19: The story (so far) of Diego Velazquez: Jess unpacks how a shrewd move brought the iconic Sangster–Magnier partnership back to the winners’ enclosure — a tale of good timing and inspired bloodstock business. Jess is joined by Joe Bradley of The National Stud, who explains the significance of Diego Velazquez joining their stallion roster for 2026 and what it really takes for a raceh...

Episode 18: Goodwood Festival once again proved that the so-called ‘under the radar’ stallions can shine on the big stage, with progeny of Expert Eye, Ulysses and Without Parole all hitting the scoresheet. Eve Johnson Houghton was one of the meeting’s standout trainers, landing two winners including Zavareti’s Vintage Stakes triumph — another example of her sharp eye for yearlings. In this episode...

It's Episode 17:  It’s Glorious Goodwood week and Jess shines a spotlight on the value sires ready to make their mark and highlights how year on year the Festival creates the perfect proving ground for stallions standing outside the commercial elite. With the first European yearling sales less than a month away, bloodstock expert Nancy Sexton, fresh from Japan’s JRHA Select Sale, explores how Japa...

It's Episode 16:  With the fantastic Royal Ascot meeting of 2025 still fresh in our minds, Jess looks back on the bloodstock success stories, the unlikely winning stallions and the blue bloods that triumphed over the five days. Jess catches up with bloodstock supremo Anthony Stroud fresh from celebrating Ombudsman success in the Prince of Wales Stakes. Anthony talks securing the son of Night Of Th...

This podcast is brought to you in association with The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. Ahead of the five biggest days of international flat racing at Royal Ascot, Jess sits down with Barry Mahon of Juddmonte to discuss the operations leading hopes at Royal Ascot 2025.  Jess and Barry chat through the pedigrees that make up their stars of 2025 including Field Of Gold, Lead Artist & Kalpana...

It's Episode 15! An Epsom Derby special as Jess delves into the profiles of the key Derby contenders for the 2025 renewal. Who, on pedigree, will handle the Derby test and who might struggle? With the Derby looking like one of the most open line ups for years, Jess asks leading stallion master and managing director of Ballylinch Stud, does the Derby still matter to breeders? John discusses his sta...

Its Episode 14:  In an exclusive interview with Mark Byrne of Coolmore, we hear about the cornerstone broodmares such as Lillie Langtry, Rhododendron and Immortal Verse and their importance to the global breeding powerhouse.  You will hear about the mating process for the broodmares, the key decision makers & the qualities that make a brilliant mare and the stallions they are using. Plus Mark...

It's Episode 13: With a superb weekend of International flat action, Jess digs into the breeding of one of the headline acts of the 2000 Guineas - Ruling Court. Jess speaks to Norman Williamson of Oak Tree Stud about buying him as a yearling, breezing him at the 2024 Arqana Sale & turning him into a 2.3million euro sale topper. Jess finds out how important it is to see the son of Justify follo...