Marks is a part-owner of the unbeaten colt Normandy Bridge (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who was a debut winner last month and next time out claimed the thick end of the stake in the G3 Saint-Cloud Thomas Bryon S. for trainer Stephanie Nigge of Americain fame.
“I’ve been a bit seduced by overseas racing and I find the tracks fascinating,” said Marks, who also has breeding and racing interests in Australia and New Zealand. “I love my horses and the racing, not that I’m a punter.
“This is the second one I’ve had and is a consequence of the first. That was with Adam Sangster who bought Love So Deep at a dispersal sale for £50,000 (AU$91,053) and offered me a small piece.”
Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, Love So Deep (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) won three races for the new syndicate, including the Listed Newmarket Chalice S.
“She also ran in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot and I went over for that. She ran a fantastic race for fifth at 66-1 and was later just beaten in a Group 2 race in France,” Marks said.
"She ran a fantastic race for fifth at 66-1 and was later just beaten in a Group 2 race in France.” - Chris Marks
“She then went to race at Belmont in New York, but tweaked a tendon and we retired her and Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia bought her off us for £500,000 (AU$910,000) so that started me off with the overseas racing. "
Gems at Arqana
“Having sold her and having had a great experience overseas, I thought 'I like this and might do it again'."
Marks was then hooked on trying out foreign race ownership again, however he enlisted a wise head to do guide him through the process.
"Through Adam I had met John Foote. I’m not someone who thinks I can go and pick out a horse, I can get a nice piece of real estate because that’s what I do,” Marks said.
“If I want a nice horse I get someone who has been doing it for 40 years and rely on their judgment so I spoke to John about it and said pick me a nice colt and filly.
“He started at Newmarket, but they were too expensive so he said he’d have a look in France at Arqana. He selected a beautiful colt by Wootton Bassett, and I hadn’t heard of him in 2018, and we bought it.”
John Foote | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
However, before any money changed hands it was found the colt was suffering from piroplasmosis having tested negative prior to the Sale.
“I was really disappointed and the sale was negated. During that time, John bought a couple of horses by Le Havre for Gerry Ryan and I knew Gerry a bit and he said if you’re interested come in for half,” Marks said.
Normanby Bridge, who was secured for €80,000 (AU$152,000) by Foote, remained in France and the other, as yet unnamed, is with Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien.
“John Foote has become a very good friend and he understands depth of pedigrees and it’s a great credit to him,” Marks said.
“John Foote has become a very good friend and he understands depth of pedigrees and it’s a great credit to him.” - Chris Marks
“I named him Normandy Bridge and did a bit of research on it. He’s by Le Havre and there’s a beautiful bridge that goes from Le Havre to Honfleurs and my daughter’s name is Fleur.”
Local racing interests
Marks is a long-time owner and on the domestic scene also has horses with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr at Caulfield.
“I raced a horse called Prince Of Brooklyn and his first 2-year-old has landed in Melbourne and he’s with Mick. He’s out of a Stravinsky mare and looks just like his father. He’s affectionately known as He’s Dynamite, which I’ll probably put in for,” he said.
“I’ve got a Vadamos yearling on the ground, a beautiful filly who will go to Mick and a Vadamos colt bought by John Foote in work with them. He also bought me a nice Epaulette colt at Karaka that’s with Mick, I’ve known him since he was 19.
“I started off a long time ago with shares in five horses with Tommy Smith and they all won, if they hadn’t I might not have been talking horses today.”
One of Marks’ early success stories was Yachtie (Broad Reach), winner of the G2 Pago Pago S. and a multiple Group 1 placegetter. He later sired Happyanunoit (NZ), who won the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. and three Group 1 events at Hollywood Park.
