James Bester

TDN AusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?

James Bester: I always considered myself a Glaswegian (like my father before me), but I was born and raised in South Africa, whence Robert Sangster ‘rescued’ me and, between England and Ireland, smoothed down some rough edges en route to Australia.

My earliest racing memory, at age 11, was of watching the legendary Sea Cottage (Fairthorn {GB}), after having - literally - taken a bookmaker’s bullet in the rump the year before, dead-heat in the 1967 Durban July with lightweight Jollify (Jolie De Vivre {Fr}), ridden by then-apprentice-jockey-now-trainer David Payne.

TDN AusNZ: Which is your favourite racehorse of all time? Why?

JB: My favourite racehorse of all time (notwithstanding Dancing Brave and Frankel (GB), my idea of the two ‘best’ and Dante’s Paradiso (NZ) (Danske {NZ}), whom I bought as a yearling and lived with and rode myself for nearly 20 years) is Virage de Fortune (Anabaa). Because she (along with Hips Don’t Lie (Stravinsky {USA}), whom she in turn ‘funded’) bought my eldest daughter a mortgage-free home in Sydney.

TDN AusNZ: Do you have a favourite day on a racecourse? Why?

JB: Favourite day on a racecourse’ is a toss-up between Baryshnikov’s (Kenmare {Fr}) Australian Guineas, Kenbelle’s (Kenmare {Fr}) Oaks, Virage de Fortune’s and Global Glamour’s (Star Witness) (two each) Group 1 wins, all of Dante’s (NZ) (Val Dansant {Can}) wins and - here’s the Grand Final winner - Pinot’s (Pierro) VRC Oaks victory. Because all were shared by ‘most-loved’ ones.

TDN AusNZ: Could you tell us how you got into this industry, about your job now and what you love most about it?

JB: I got into the industry as a Stipendiary Steward, then Race Caller, both in South Africa. I soon became a Bloodsuck Consultant (kidding!), which I’ve been for nigh on 40 years now. I have been consulting to Coolmore for some 25 years and advise other clients too, chiefly Robert McClure’s Morning Rise, Ananda Krishnan’s Kia Ora etc.

I love - doing my best at - coming up with well-bought weanlings, yearlings, racing stock, broodmares and sire prospects - in other words, ‘every little thing‘ about this all-consuming way of life.

TDN AusNZ: Who do you believe to be a value sire for the upcoming breeding season? Why?

JB: Surely Justify (USA), for the racehorse he was, sire Scat Daddy (USA) and the physique he boasts, has to be a ‘value sire’ for the coming season at only $60,000 ex GST, compared with his USA fee of US$150,000 (AU$225,000).

TDN AusNZ: Is there a stallion that you consider to be under the radar?, and why?

JB: So You Think (NZ) - and I know Bill Oppenheim and Emily Plant fully endorse this view - flies way under the radar; for a horse with his proven stud record of Group 1 and stakes winners, he should be standing at way more than $35,000 ex GST and yearlings should be selling for far higher than they do. Opportunity!

TDN AusNZ: Which stallion, ever, do you think was the best type?

JB: Royal Academy (USA) (who may also have been Vincent O’Brien’s idea of the best ‘yearling type’ he ever bought). Seldom is such exquisite beauty ever aligned with so much success on the track and at stud (he is the damsire of Fastnet Rock, lest we forget)!

TDN AusNZ: Which first-season sire do you believe is most exciting?

JB: Calyx (GB) is a first-season sire about whom I haven’t been so excited since Danehill (USA), to be honest. He raced in the same colours as Dancing Brave (USA), Frankel and Danehill and I truly believe Prince Khalid Abdullah has allowed us the opportunity to tap into ‘the next Danehill’.

You only need to watch his race-videos - and check out the speed pedigree he possesses - to see why! Oh, and did I mention his sire Kingman (GB)?

TDN AusNZ: What was your favourite weanling, yearling or mare purchase this year?

JB: Well, as for my favourite purchase this year, I was on the Coolmore team that purchased what we considered to be the creme de la creme of Magic Millions and Easter yearlings - for a lot of money. At the risk of bias - because I bought the dams of all three - I particularly fancied Yarraman’s (Magic Millions) colt by No Nay Never (USA) out of Lagerphone (Fastnet Rock), Kia Ora’s ‘Vinnie’ (I Am Invincible) colt out of Twilight Royale (Testa Rossa) and Kia Ora’s Fastnet Rock colt out of O’Marilyn (O'Reilly {NZ}); with an honourable mention at a ‘value’ price of KBL’s Pierro colt out of Tukiyo (Haradasun) (last three all Easter). As for (Chairman’s Sale) mare purchase - Pinot’s half-sister Lubiana (Fastnet Rock), hands down!

TDN AusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star within the industry? (Person not horse).

JB: Annabel Neasham is my idea of a real ‘rising star’ in the industry - a proper horsewoman with all the talent, dedication and ‘people skills’ to go all the way. David Eustace too so it’s little wonder that Ciaron Maher (already a ‘risen’ star) is flying. And, goodness, Sam Freedman!

TDN AusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?

JB: It would be a real positive change if the industry (like Hong Kong) were given the ‘teeth’ to root out the cheats, whether that be trainer, rider, breeder or buyer. And also if conflicting inter- and intra-state interests could combine it would be better for the good of an industry threatened by so many ‘anti-s’!

TDN AusNZ: If you weren’t in this industry what would you do?

JB: If I hadn’t followed the siren call of racing and breeding, I’d no doubt have followed my father, mother and two brothers into the Law, which is what I studied at University.