SA Horse Racing recently took time out to speak to Kerry Jack. Kerry was good enough to speak to us –despite being busy with yearling inspections. Kerry, who has worked extensively around the world, is one of South Africa’s best known bloodstock agents and is also involved with former Triple Crown winner Louis The King’s stud career.

Kerry, who can be contacted on her excellent website kerryjackbloodstock.com, will be attending this week’s Cape Premier Yearling Sales, and any people looking for advice regarding the sale are most welcome to contact her.

How did you get started in racing?

I studied Veterinary Nursing after finishing school, intending to work at an Equine hospital.  I got a seasonal job at Summerhill stud and ended up working there for 11 years

Are you from a family interested in racing/horses?

No, non of my family are ‘horsey’.  I was always a horse mad kid, I think they hoped I’d grow out of it!

Where did you first work –and how did you get involved at Summerhill?

I did a practical at Summerhill while doing my Veterinary Nursing course.  I was offered a position on the Summerhill pretraining team when I qualified and it evolved from there.

You have worked extensively overseas. What did places like Arrowfield teach you?

I’ve been very fortunate to do quite a bit of travelling and working abroad, my first overseas trip was to Arrowfield Stud, Australia, in 2001 where I spent a month doing yearling prep for the Sydney Easter sales.  It was a fantastic experience and I’ve returned to sales in Australia many times since.  I’ve also been lucky enough to do stints with and learn from Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold at sales in UK, Ireland & Kentucky; top pinhooker and breeze up specialist Becky Thomas in Florida & California; pre trainer Malcolm Bastard in Lambourne and the McVeigh vet practice in the UK amongst others.  It’s always great seeing how other people in different parts of the world do things.  Thoroughbred breeding and racing is such a global industry and there’s so much to learn.  Travel broadens your mind and reminds you that there are many different ways of doing things.  

What made you branch to become a bloodstock agent?

I really enjoyed the sales work and pinhooking we did at Summerhill.  It was something I was keen to do for some time and finally took the plunge a few years ago.  

You have already enjoyed a number of top class wins as an agent –what was a standout day/win? 

All wins are great, particularly when the owners are on course to enjoy it.  There’s nothing like leading in a winner and some wait years to do so.  It’s really the Graded races we all aspire to win though so Always in Charge winning the G1 Gold Medallion & New Predator winning the G2 Drill Hall (with Triptique 2nd) & G2 Charity Mile would be standouts so far.

Which is the best horse you have bought thus far?

Always in Charge locally, New Predator in Aus.

How did you get involved with Braam Van Huyssteen?

I was introduced to Braam by Jane Thomas a few years ago.  His racing string was getting quite large and he needed some assistance with the management and admin side of things.  He’s passionate about his racing, supports many trainers around the country and has introduced many people to the racing game.  When Pride Rock won at the Queen’s Plate festival last weekend you’d have thought he’d won the main race the way the team celebrated when he crossed the line! Racing needs more people like that.  

Do you do any pinhooking?

Yes, I enjoy trying to find the diamond in the rough

How many clients do you have approximately?

Hard to say.  Braam van Huystteen’s management work keeps me fairly busy and I select, shortlist and buy for various owners and trainers at all the sales.  Times are tough and owners are scarce in South Africa at the moment!

Which big race would you like most to win? 

Durban July and Queen’s Plate

Has anyone has inspired you in racing and if so who?

Many have inspired and influenced me so far and many more still will I’m sure. From early school days I’ve known Paul and Lindi Garlicki, who encouraged me to go to Summerhill and have given me plenty of good advice over the years.  Mick Goss has obviously been a big influence, having spent 11 years at Summerhill stud at a time when they were champion breeders.  Whenever Mick sees me he likes to remind me, and anyone else who will listen, that he taught me everything I know and he’s probably not too far wrong! I never quite mastered the gift of the gab though!

I have a good working relationship with Derek Brugman who does such a great job as racing manager for the Jooste family.  I’ve done occasional sales work for Joey Ramsden & Tony Millard, both top trainers with an eye for a proper racehorse and it’s always very interesting viewing horses with them.  I enjoy assisting Dennis & Gill Drier at sales whenever possible, fantastic people, real horsemen and a great team.  And of course all the people I’ve been privileged to spend time with on my travels have been an influence & inspiration in some way or other particularly Angus Gold who gave me a great insight into the bloodstock world.

How did you get involved with Louis The King –and how has his first season at stud gone thus far?

Sorrento Stud & Louis the King's owner Tiaan van der Vyver asked me to syndicate and manage 'Louis' when it was decided to send him to stud last year.  The stallion market is incredibly tough, particularly in the Cape, and unfortunately he didn’t get the support we had hoped.  However, he has been sent some lovely mares and is extremely fertile. We're looking forward to seeing his foals later in the year.

What made Louis so special?

His story has been a real fairytale and hopefully it continues now at stud.  From being sold in the parking lot at a regional sale for little money to going on to win not only the coveted Triple Crown, but also the Summer Cup, 2nd in the Queen’s Plate, 3rd in the Daily News and earning over R5million for his owners who are relatively new to racing. He has a great temperament, is incredibly athletic and talented and showed that dreams can come true.  (Robyn Louw did a great piece on him last year in the Sporting Post: http://www.sportingpost.co.za/2016/01/fairytales-and-ostrich-feathers/)

What kind of mares would you recommend for Louis?

He’s fairly versatile I would think, we’ll know more once we’ve seen some of his foals on the ground. Captain Al, National Emblem, Jallad & Lecture mares are good matches both on pedigree and type.  He’s had a number of Trippi & Fort Wood mares which should also suit him well.  Karel Miedema points out in his pedigree analysis that ‘Louis’ is a descendant of the world’s most prolific stallion producing female lines with Pretty Polly (English Triple crown winner & founder of a dynasty) appearing in multiples in his pedigree.  It’s an interesting read: http://kerryjackbloodstock.com/images/gallery/downloads/louis-the-king/Evaluation.pdf

What advice would you give someone keen to get involved in the bloodstock industry?

Anyone who works with horses will tell you it’s a lifestyle, not a job so you have to love it.  The bloodstock world is also bit of a boys club so a thick skin and a sense of humour always helps!  

How did you get involved with the BSA yearling inspections –and can you touch on how long it takes, which sales are involves and how many farms/horses (roughly) you need to inspect?

BSA asked me to join the National yearling sales inspection team 5 years ago. We inspect around 650 yearlings on farms all around the country and it takes roughly 3 weeks.  We give each yearling a conformation score out of 10 after which the pedigree panel gives each pedigree a score out of 10.  The combined score out of 20 determines whether the yearling qualifies for the National yearling sale.

Which of the Australian sales do you attend –and do you have one overseas sale you favour in particular?

I usually attend the Inglis Premier Melbourne sale (where we pinhooked Igugu during my Summerhill days) and the Magic Millions weanling & mare sale (where I bought New Predator as a weanling)  Both are excellent sales and the Aussies really know how to look after their client’s, but it’s become tougher buying there now as their market is so strong and our weak rand doesn’t help.  

Do you have one part of your work which you enjoy particularly?

I really enjoy most of what I do, it’s very diverse and never dull, but I would have to say sales interest me the most.