From colts to fillies: Harron covering the market

5 min read
As another sales season progresses, James Harron has been busy scouring the top end of the colt market for elite performers with stallion potential and searching for value precocious fillies for his syndication company.

James Harron has had a successful run with his colt fund, producing stallions Capitalist (Written Tycoon) and Pariah (Redoute's Choice) to stand in the Hunter Valley.

2-year-old colt Rome (Pierro), another high profile member of the James Harron Bloodstock colts’ syndicate, is close to resuming after finishing runner-up in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. at Doomben at his second start in late December.

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt is out of Dance Card (Exceed And Excel), a half-sister to the G3 Southern Cross S. winner Kaepernick (Fastnet Rock) and was bought out of Bhima’s Magic Millions Gold Coast draft for $1,050,000.

Rome pictured as a yearling

“I was very happy with his trial on Monday, as were Peter and Paul, along with jockey Brett Prebble,” James Harron said.

“Rome was very sharp and responsive in the blinkers, which is what we wanted to see going forward.

“Rome was very sharp and responsive in the blinkers, which is what we wanted to see going forward.” – James Harron.

“We have a number of options available to us, the most likely being a start in the G2 Skyline S. at Randwick on March 2, with obvious major targets beyond that being the Triple Crown races.

“Unfortunately, he just missed out on a start in the Magic Millions, which was particularly disappointing as he was going into the race in outstanding shape.

“That said, it could be a blessing in disguise as he could now be the fresh horse on the scene. He has the pre-Christmas experience that seems so vital and Group class performance already under his belt.”

JHB Syndications a diversification move

In order to diversify the James Harron Bloodstock business model, JHB Syndications was established two years ago to take advantage of the major financial returns in 2-year-old racing, targeting value fillies.

“We launched JHB Syndications with our first purchases at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale,” Harron said.

JHB Syndications

“We take a very boutique approach, enabling us to provide the very highest level of ownership experience, while targeting a very select group of fillies who we feel have the necessary attributes to target 2-year-old success on the racetrack.

“The response has been great, with the owners in JHB Syndications ranging from complete first-timers to experienced owners.

“The response has been great, with the owners in JHB Syndications ranging from complete first-timers to experienced owners.” – James Harron.

“It has been particularly rewarding to provide an educational aspect to what we do, keeping people updated at every stage of the ownership journey, and most importantly providing our owners with good results on the track. We have had a number of city winners.”

The top earner to date has been Biscara (Rubick), purchased for $42,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in 2018.

Biscara pictured as a yearling

“She's done a great job for owners, gaining a pair of black type placings and over $120,000 in earnings, not to mention the great value-add that 2-year-old black type puts onto her future value as a broodmare when the time comes.” Harron said.

“All being well, we very much envision her becoming a black type winner this preparation.”

Fast fillies the target

Harron said precocity was a major quality they were searching for in prospective fillies.

“It goes without saying that there is a huge focus in Australian racing toward 2-year-old racing, so we are keen to fulfil that with the types of fillies we are buying.

“There has also been fantastic investment into the sales races, with naturally a lot of this prize money focussed toward the juveniles.

“By aiming for the types of fillies who look like 2-year-old sorts, we are looking to give our owners every chance of lining up for these huge prizes.”

“I've been very impressed with Super One’s progeny during the sales.” – James Harron.

Super One

JHB Syndications has been in the market in 2019 for another package of yearlings.

“We've been delighted with what we have been able to secure so far this year, with our seven fillies consisting of six by proven stallions and one by first-season sire Super One,” Harron said.

“I've been very impressed with Super One’s progeny during the sales. I feel that he's a real chance to emulate his sire, who started with a fairly similar profile.

“With the larger number of owners involved in syndicated horses it makes breeding careers in the same ownership as their racing careers fairly difficult, though it is always a possibility,” Harron said.

“With the larger number of owners involved in syndicated horses it makes breeding careers in the same ownership as their racing careers fairly difficult, though it is always a possibility.” – James Harron.

“More important to us is maximising the value of the fillies through their racing careers to ensure that when the time does come to sell a filly for breeding, the owners are well rewarded in terms of a good sales price.”