Special colt a game changer for Becker and Kennewell

The rekindling of a long-time family connection could prove a life-changer for Lloyd Kennewell and Matt Becker, who combined to pull off the biggest coup of the recently completed Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

There was a palpable sense of a moment of significance for two young men when Kennewell trumped global powerhouse Godolphin to secure Lot 869 for $1.7m in a dramatic conclusion to Book 1 of the sale on Saturday night.

Becker, who runs Group 1 Bloodstock, was alongside of him all the way as the pair orchestrated the purchase of the colt by I Am Invincible out of Oakleigh Girl (Snitzel), pulling together a syndicate of owners which including emerging powerhouse Aquis, prominent owner Ozzie Kheir and a handful of Kennewell's existing clients, while breeder Steve Gillard also retained a share.

The connection between the Kennewell and Becker families runs very deep and harks back to when both Lloyd and Matt's fathers were in Perth.

"My father, originally back in WA, he was a racing journalist. We rented stables alongside the Ascot Turf Club, and Gary, Lloyd's father, trained out the back of our house. We go way, way back," Becker told TDN AusNZ.

So far back that it was Mike Becker who drove Lloyd's mum to hospital when she was in labour. As a result, Lloyd's middle name is Michael.

So it’s somewhat surprising that Becker, with such a strong background in racing himself, and Kennewell, didn't join forces until just before Christmas.

"This was really the first sale in an official capacity, although we have been really close family friends for a long time," he said.

"My business itself has only been operational for three years. We waited until he got to Melbourne before we wanted to team up."

"That transpired at the backend of last year and this is the first chance to go to an auction together. We caught up a few weeks ago, just before Christmas, just to see what we might be able to do."

The connection was renewed quickly and easily.

"We are similarly-aged guys and we were trying to help each other out, with his clients linking to mine and mine to him and that's how it came about," Becker said.

"Lloyd's been building his name for a long period of time over there but as soon as he came over here, we really connected up. I know his partner Melissa really well. The two families get along really well."

Doing the leg work

Becker did much of the early leg work, doing on-farm inspections and working on a short list before doing further inspections on the Gold Coast ahead of the sale. Lot 869 made an immediate impression.

"I did see this colt at Yarraman and I thought he was outstanding. I had an inkling then he'd be one of the top lots. You don’t really know until you see everything," he said.

He also knew Kennewell would notice the colt as well. The trainer had such brilliant success with I Am Invincible progeny with multiple Group 1 winner Viddora, as well as the impressive recent Flemington 2-year-old winner Jedastar.

"Lloyd went straight to the Yarraman draft because he wanted to see the I Am Invincibles. He rang me about an hour in and said I've just seen a very nice colt, the one out of Oakleigh Girl," he said.

"I said to him, it might be a bit tough, I've seen every colt and he's the best horse in the sale in my opinion. He’ll have the big studs on him for sure."

Getting it done

According to Becker, it was Kennewell's tenacity that made the dream colt a reality. Becker had been working with Kheir on his broodmare portfolio as well as a couple of Japanese horses, notably the ill-fated Tosen Basil (Harbinger {GB}) and he was happy to be involved, while the Gillards were also said to be keen to stay in the colt.

But the key to getting the suspected $1.5m-plus needed together to buy him was involving one of the big studs and Aquis, who spent $12.8 million in total through their various partnerships at the sale, looked the right candidate.

"We had a chat with Shane McGrath very early and flagged our interest in the horse and that took a few days to come together. Shane came and saw us in the couple of days before the auction and said if you think you can get the rest of it done, we’re involved. With three main legs locked away, we had the final leg to do and that was soaked up by some of Lloyd's long-term clients," Becker said.

Kennewell had worded up experienced Magic Millions bid spotter Andrew Browne that he would be bidding, but apart from Yarraman Park's Harry Mitchell and his close circle of owners, few other people knew that the Caulfield trainer wanted to be part of the most anticipated colt of the sale.

At around $900,000, Kennewell made his intentions known. Next to him, Becker was hoping for the best, but fearing their coup might come up short.

"Even though we knew we had some decent firepower to go after the horse, I never really thought we’d get him. I thought one of these big operations would keep going and it would get to a point where we had to pull up," he said.

At $1.2m, Kennewell got a subtle pat on the back from McGrath that Aquis was backing him in. From there it was between the kid from Caulfield and the richest thoroughbred operation in the world, who were cashed up after winning the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Exhilarates (Snitzel) earlier in the day. The kid won out.

"When the hammer came down it was an unbelievable thrill, it really was. Everybody was just so excited for Lloyd and it’s got a big vibe about it," Becker said.

Making a statement

Becker knew it was about much more than just a cracking colt with an impeccable pedigree page for Kennewell. It was a statement of intent.

"It was a great end to the sale, and I'm sure this horse is just the start of things to come for Lloyd. He's a very good young trainer and he's a very good communicator. He gets the business and I think the future is really looking good for him," he said.

"Hopefully this is the horse which can really break the stallion market open for him. That's the big key for young trainers. If they can prove they can make a stallion, it opens a whole new world up for them."

"That's where he wants to be and it’s where I want to be as an agent as well."

Becker feels it can prove a similarly transformative moment for his business as well.

Following his father into the thoroughbred industry was natural for Becker, but while Mike Becker was renowned as one of Victoria's leading breeders, his son was more enamoured with the racing side.

"Predominantly most of my working life, I've been in the racing side, working for trainers like David Hall and John Hawkes, who had a huge influence on me," he said.

"I guess as a young guy, I had thought of training myself, but as time progressed, it was more the bloodstock side which drew me in. It was just a process to get to a point where I could start a business."

"About three years ago, I got my first main client called Ben Cooper, who started a major breeding operation in Victoria called Merricks Station, which is a going concern here. He races fillies and breeds and has horses with Lloyd as well.

Making the most of a moment

From there Becker has built the business, expanding his client base but waiting for that moment which could transform Group 1 Bloodstock into something bigger.

That moment presented itself last Saturday.

"There's been a lot of interest since then. I think like anything, the more you can get your name out there and prove you can do these type of things, it opens the door and it’s up to you how far you take it," he said.

"Really for me, it’s been a pretty significant week. I feel it’s only the first step in the direction we take. For Group 1 Bloodstock, we are only a small business at the moment, but we are trying to grow it pretty rapidly. I think this week has been a pretty significant step forward."