Andrew Williams has heeded the wise counsel drummed into him from his industry mentors, having consistently been told to travel the world and learn from the best.
Williams followed that sage advice and left his home shores of New Zealand to complete the renowned Godolphin Flying Start followed by an extended stint in the horse capital of Lexington, Kentucky.
He continued to soak up as much knowledge and information as possible from luminaries such as John Messara and John Hawkes when moving to Australia in 2014, before taking the plunge to establish Andrew Williams Bloodstock based out of Sydney.
But it all started back home in the Waikato, the heartbeat of New Zealand’s breeding and racing industries.
Andrew Williams
“I was born in Matamata, before moving to Cambridge. Both of my grandparents owned and trained racehorses at one point in their lives,” Williams said. “My godfather is Lance O’Sullivan, the champion jockey. My close family friend growing up was Aliesha Moroney so after school I’d always be at either the O’Sullivan or Moroney stable.
“I also worked at then neighbours Alan and Linda Jones’ racing stable during the school holidays, which was next to the Windsor Park Stud, so was always around the industry in some way, shape or form.
“Alan and Linda’s daughter Clare Hawkes (nee Jones) was like a big sister. She married Michael Hawkes and I became close to the Hawkes family when moving to Sydney.
“I inspected a lot of yearlings at sales with John Hawkes, who is an incredible judge of a yearling and master trainer.” – Andrew Williams
“I inspected a lot of yearlings at sales with John Hawkes, who is an incredible judge of a yearling and master trainer. I learned a hell of a lot from Mr Hawkes, and still do.”
Travelling the world
At the end of his high school days, Williams moved to Dunedin and graduated from Otago University after studying business.
“I loved it at Otago studying, playing rugby and working in the marketing division of Lion Nathan learning valuable life lessons before completing the Flying Start program, which was the experience of a lifetime,” Williams said.
Jason Timperley, Andrew Williams, Angus Gold and trainer David Hayes (left to right)
“During the scholarship, I spent time working at Lindsay Park and got to know David Hayes, Pilko (Mark Pilkington) and Jenny McAlpine, those relationships have been very important to me. I work closely with the team there now and continue to learn a huge amount from them.
“Upon graduating from the Flying Start, I accepted a job offer at Darley America while Olly Tait was CEO there. I was meant to be there for six months and ended up staying for four years. It really set me up with a great skill set and knowledge of the American industry for the future.
“I was in a sales role with a sharp team around me. The American approach to sales is fast and determined and was a good working mentality to get myself into, straight out of the education provided by Flying Start.
Olly Tait
“Olly was very good to me and taught me a lot. So did Tony Holmes, a New Zealander living in Lexington. Tony is a very good breeder, genuine good bloke and incredibly astute at trading horses. I was doing business with him, buying into mares and learning the art of the trade through the claiming market.
“Olly was very good to me and taught me a lot. So did Tony Holmes, a New Zealander living in Lexington.” – Andrew Williams
“That was my first foray into the trading side of the business and I learned a hell of a lot with him over those three years.”
Holmes operates Marula Park Stud in Kentucky where he and wife Susan breed from a boutique band of broodmares. The G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Stevie Wonderboy (USA) (Stephen Got Even {USA}) and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Dangerous Midge (USA) (Black Tie Affair {USA}) among their graduates.
Williams spent four years in the United States before returning to Australia and joining the team at Arrowfield Stud.
Andrew when working for Arrowfield Stud (left) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“I was waiting to come back for a particular role and when the opportunity arose through an introduction to John Messara, it was a terrific opportunity selling stallion nominations and yearlings at Arrowfield,” he said.
“I was grateful to be dealing with the higher end bloodstock, which exposed me to Australia’s leading owners, breeders, trainers and agents.
“I was always watching closely during inspections and got to work out what types of horses individuals like, especially those brilliant judges like Paul Moroney, Guy Mulcaster and Dean Hawthorne.
“I learned an awful lot from John Messara, Jon Freyer and Martin Story and I tried to soak up as much knowledge as possible. It was just amazing learning from them and listening to all the stories of how Arrowfield was established, the challenges they went through over the years and how it grew to be what it is today. What John went through to achieve what he has, is truly amazing.”
Solo career
He then decided the time was right to branch out on his own as Andrew Williams Bloodstock.
“It was a struggle early on. A lot of sleepless nights and a couple of bad payers taught me a few valuable lessons, which were pretty scary, but I was hungry to make this work,” he said.
Andrew with Justin Casse
“I was in my late twenties, without kids or a mortgage, plus I had always had a dream of running my own business. Being self-employed has shaped my lifestyle more than I thought, it is obviously heavily influenced around the sales and racing calendar.
“It’s very consuming from December to June and at some times out of control, always trying to be on the front foot. Thankfully, I’ve learned important skills from business coaches and mentors whereby you look after yourself mentally and physically and learn to switch off, even if it means going for a run just to clear your head.
“The most gratifying sense of achievement is getting a deal over the line for a client. But we all know horses can fail on inspections, vetting and then somebody might pull out of a deal.”
A special mare
A watershed moment for Williams was his involvement in securing a holding in Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) for clients. She had won two of her first three starts in New Zealand before joining Chris Waller’s Sydney yard as a 3-year-old.
Verry Elleegant (NZ)
As they say, the rest is history and she went on to win the G1 Vinery Stud S. and the G1 Australian Oaks and this season added the G1 Tancred S. to her impressive resume.
“Verry Elleegant will always be so special to me, winning that first Group 1 and going on with it for some fantastic owners. I’ve been able to grow the business off the back of that,” Williams said.
“I’m looking and learning the whole time. It’s a fickle industry and you’ve got to be resilient, but there’s always a chance to win Lotto. There’s a chance to get that big result, whether it’s buying a progressive tried horse, a yearling, a pinhook or a mare that gets a significant update, and that’s why it’s so addictive.”
James McDonald and Andrew after Verry Elleegant (NZ) won the Australian Oaks
Williams also has outside interests, albeit closely tied to the thoroughbred industry, and another that ensures he can celebrate his day job successes in style.
“I love trading cattle and love learning about wine especially given the similarities to the horse industry - crops/vintages, breeding/blends etc. If I wasn’t in horse racing, I’d be a cattle farmer or making and selling wine. Wouldn’t it be nice to combine all three one day,” he said.
