GBRI plays an important but discreet role in the industry, providing a bespoke service to international clients looking to invest in British bloodstock.
Through our promotion of British success globally and our travel overseas, we seek to connect anyone looking to invest in British racing – be that as an owner, breeder or sponsor – with industry professionals back home. I joined almost two years after GBRI was set up and it has been deeply fulfilling to be part of the journey.
At the same time, GBRI exists to look after the international participants who already make up such a significant percentage of the ownership base in Britain.
We do this predominantly via the GBRI Members’ Club, run in partnership with the RCA, which offers a range of benefits and services to owners who have at least one horse in training in Britain but have a primary domestic address overseas.
The biggest challenge is ensuring that GBRI is competing with our counterparts in Ireland, France and Australia, in spite of our much smaller budget.
Naturally, working with a smaller budget can present its difficulties, but on the flip side it forces the team to be creative and resourceful. We regularly work on projects in partnership with our stakeholders to minimise costs and maximise efficiency and experience.
I genuinely believe that there is no better place to enjoy racehorse ownership than in Britain.
GBRI is very fortunate to be granted access to some of the world’s most beautiful training yards, studs and racecourses, which allows us to put together truly special, behind-the- scenes itineraries for prospective owners. Witnessing a client lay eyes on these historic landmarks for the first time is intoxicating; this is the aspect of my role I enjoy the most.
GBRI is a small but select team of four that works closely across all activity.
I would like to think that people view us as a ‘can do’ team that can always find a solution, no matter what the query. I have seen the regularity of contact from industry professionals increase over the past five years – we are now often the first point of contact when someone is unsure who they would be best dealing with, particularly if they are based overseas.
I would love to see the growth of American participation at British yearling sales extend to the breeze- ups.
The expanding turf programme in the US, combined with an ever-growing infatuation with Royal Ascot, means that the appeal of British sales has never been stronger.
With our research showing impressive figures for these two-year- old sales, such as Goffs UK’s Breeze-Up delivering a huge 39.2% winners to runners last year, there is every reason for American buyers to be looking to the breeze-up market next.
The breeze-up sales schedule has been affected by the coronavirus outbreak and I hope we can continue to pull together as an industry and help the country get back on its feet.
We also hope to see Fiona Dowling’s recently published research into longevity of breeze-up graduates boost buyer confidence in breeze-up sales.
It reveals that breeze-up horses are as durable as their yearling counterparts. GBRI’s statistical research supports, and in some areas boosts, Dowling’s findings. She states that 8.3% of her sample of breeze-up horses failed to make the track, compared to 13.2% of the yearling cohort she examined. We have found that these numbers have improved further in recent years, with 93.6% of Tattersalls Ascot Breeze-Up Sale 2019 purchases graduating to the track as two-year-olds.
I was brought up at Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire, home to star National Hunt sire Kayf Tara.
This is where my love of horses began. Since Simon Sweeting took over the lease in 2000, it has been wonderful to see his business thrive. Each year, the GBRI office relocates to Overbury for the Festival and we have mounted meetings each morning before arriving on course!
The Godolphin Flying Start programme was a wonderful experience and the perfect steppingstone to my job with GBRI.
The extensive international travel and networking provided me with an excellent global foundation, both in terms of an understanding of racing around the world and an invaluable international network. I am still in regular contact with many of the professionals I met during my time on the course.
Today I split my time between London and Brinkley near Newmarket.
I live with my husband Matt, Head of Tattersalls Ascot and Cheltenham, and our whippet, Wiggle.