In Australian bloodstock circles they call him ‘ The King’; a nickname conjured during Melbourne Cup week of 2005 when a couple of yearlings he purchased won two Group 1s and a Group 2 race between them. (Cover image: Racing Fotos)
Rising 70 years of age this July, Adrian Nicoll distinctly remembers the first time he made the long journey to our shores, a sliding doors moment that opened up his life in more ways than he could possibly imagine.
Adrian Nicoll
“In 1974 BBA Ireland had no representative in Australia in what looked a very up and coming market. So it was decided that my then partner Jonathan Irwin (who left to run Goffs the following year) and I should make an exploratory trip. By sheer luck we boarded a plane in London, lo and behold who gets on but Robert Sangster.”
"By sheer luck we boarded a plane in London, lo and behold who gets on but Robert Sangster.” - Adrian Nicoll
“Back then there was only the front and the back of the bus and needless to say we were at the back. At this stage I didn’t know Robert but Jonathan did, so he invited us up to the first-class lounge where we played cards and backgammon for most of the trip. What a great introduction.”
That long plane ride was the beginning of a business and personal relationship until Robert’s untimely death in 2004.
John Magnier and Robert Sangster
Pioneering the stallion business
“We started buying a few yearlings and mares and he along with John Magnier innovated the shuttling of stallions to Australia.”
“This was John’s brainchild and I was fortunate he asked me to source the studs to stand the stallions. The first of the shuttle stallions was Mount Hagen (Bold Bidder) (USA) who was leased to Newhaven Park Stud in the late 70’s.”
“This was John’s brainchild and I was fortunate he asked me to source the studs to stand the stallions." - Adrian Nicoll
“I remember flying down to Cowra to meet John Kelly Snr which was a pretty frightening experience for a guy in his 20s. I got the impression that he thought 'what is this young fellow doing here?' but we got it done.”
Many stallions followed in the footsteps of Mount Hagen, some to the Hunter Valley and others to Victoria and South Australia with mixed success. Godswalk (Dancer’s Image) (USA) was the first to make a significant impact, he was followed by a horse who rewrote the Australian Stud Book: Danehill (Danzig) (USA).
Danehill
Whilst the stallion business was a major focus in Australia at that time, so too was finding quality yearlings. It was an era where agents had to rely very heavily on their own expert eye and gut instinct. Apart from the pedigree page and physical type, there wasn't much else to base a purchase decision on.
Gut instinct
“Back in 1974 it was very different to what it is now. Everything has got so much more professional including the selling and presentation of yearlings. In those days there was no scoping or X-rays.”
“Then, most of the top-priced yearlings were sold on pedigree and there wasn’t anything like the emphasis there is today on conformation which there should be because if you are buying an athlete you need an athlete.”
European agents in the 70s and 80s had an edge in an era where internet and mobile phones were not the tools relied on today in this information age.
"There wasn’t anything like the emphasis there is today on conformation which there should be because if you are buying an athlete you need an athlete.” - Adrian Nicoll
“There was very little information on Australian Racing and breeding in Europe and no internet or mobile phones. It was possible in those days to source a relation to a top Australian group performer before it was known in Europe and we sold many fillies and mares this way.”
Adrian Nicoll at the old Inglis Newmarket complex
Having access to Robert was also very beneficial as not only was he a major buyer of bloodstock but also a great seller. Adrian bought a number of very high-class mares from him for Australian clients including Princess Tracy who became one of the great foundation mares in the Australian Studbook.
“Robert was one of the first really entrepreneurial owners of the 20th century. He surrounded himself with top trainers and stud masters including Vincent O’Brien and John Magnier in Ireland and Colin Hayes in Australia. They dominated the yearling market globally until the coming of the Maktoum family in the early 80’s.”
“Robert was one of the first really entrepreneurial owners of the 20th century." - Adrian Nicoll
“Robert was also very popular on the racecourse, people loved to see him win. He brought great theatre to the racetrack and liked nothing better than having a punt. He was a most generous host and I have great memories of lunches and dinners, his golf tournament in Barbados was a must.”
“Sadly, he died much too young and we all miss him greatly to this day. Robert was the first professional racehorse owner, bringing a business style approach to it."
Colin Hayes, Robert Sangster and John Letts
In the 90s and 2000s, Adrian enjoyed one of his most successful periods in Australian racing when he teamed up with champion trainers David Hayes and Lee Freedman.
An affable character
Lee, now training in Singapore, reflects fondly on those heady days and their association.
“I have great memories of Adrian Nicoll over many years. We were first acquainted when I was 18 or 19 living in Yass at Hardwicke Stud when he visited with Robert Sangster. I thought he was a pompous arrogant pom at the time,” Lee said with a laugh.
"I always found him to have a heart of gold and to be a good friend over many years.” - Trainer Lee Freedman
“For years our paths didn’t cross again until the late 80s and we hooked up and started buying some horses together, mainly through a common friendship with the Magnier family in Ireland and the rest is history. “
“I always found him to be a very affable character who always liked fun and loved a drink, and still does. I always found him to have a heart of gold and to be a good friend over many years.”
Trainer Lee Freedman (left) with Damien Oliver
The best horse Lee and Adrian selected together was a filly at the Easter sales that went on to become 2005 VRC Oaks (2500m) and 2006 Australian Oaks (2400m) winner, Serenade Rose (Stravinsky).
“I suppose the highlight of our friendship was Serenade Rose. Adrian picked her out and I have unswerving faith in his picks of yearlings, particularly fillies - not to say he can’t buy colts - but fillies he’s been outstanding. It’s been his expertise.”
“I suppose the highlight of our friendship was Serenade Rose." - Lee Freedman
Lee vividly recalls that day in 2004 at the old Inglis Newmarket sales complex.
“He picked this filly out and it was going for about $350,000 and I said that’s probably enough, we don’t have any clients. He said well we have come this far and so quite rightly he bought her for $400,000. Later we then sat down over a glass of vino and worked out who we could sell her to.”
“It wasn’t too hard. Keith Biggs came to the party and so did Lord Vestey and several others made up the Partnership. What a great filly she was. To win two Oaks and several other Group races was a very fine moment,” said Lee.
Serenade Rose winning the 2005 G1 VRC Oaks
Nowadays Adrian operates on a smaller scale.
“I am very dependent on a group of loyal clients who I go back with over a long period of time but am quite happy to take on a new one.”
Australian industry the envy of the world
In conjunction with Coolmore and partners he forked out $640,000 at the recent Inglis Easter yearling Sale for a Fastnet Rock (Danehill) x Personify filly from Cressfield draft. Ironically he purchased her stakes winning dam as a yearling 15 years ago for the Hayes stable and this filly will be trained by David Hayes.
In the 40 plus years Adrian’s been associated with racing in this country he’s observed significant changes and development in the funding of the sport. He comments that strong input from State governments and visionaries such as John Messara has seen the Australian industry become the envy of the world.
“This is the healthiest breeding and racing country in the world. There is no country that has the prize money you have. That states of NSW and Victoria have more prize money than England, Ireland and France put together. That makes it more viable for people to get into racing and syndication has made it very possible.”
“This is the healthiest breeding and racing country in the world. There is no country that has the prize money you have." - Adrian Nicoll
A fan of the industry and the Aussie lifestyle, Adrian plans on coming to Australia for many years to come. “It’s been a great experience down here, I love coming here, have made some great friends and know a lot of people. You have a great climate and wonderful beaches and restaurants.”
Watch: The Fastnet Rock x Personify filly Adrian bought in conjunction with Coolmore at the recent Inglis Easter Yearling Sale
So, what is the key to longevity in the cutthroat bloodstock business and ‘The King’s’ advice to the younger generation of bloodstock agents?
“Never forget that you have got to love horses." - Adrian Nicoll
“Loyalty, integrity, work hard and always listen.”
“People are much more knowledgeable than they were in my early years there was nothing like the knowledge there is now. It’s an international business, the world is a village and everyone knows everything in five seconds so the calibre of people working in the industry has to be better as there is huge competition.”
And the fundamental thing, he says, is having a love of the horse.
“Never forget that you have got to love horses. It’s all about the horse and working and learning from good people that know the industry can be very rewarding.”
