Don Alberto Farm: One Year Later

by Brian DiDonato

Just over 12 months ago, Don Alberto Corp., a relatively unknown outfit in the U.S. based in Chile, made its presence felt with the $13.82-million purchase of Dr. Tom Simon's former Vinery Farm in Lexington, Ky. If that was the group's first major splash into the North American bloodstock market, there were more waves to come. 

Only a couple weeks after purchasing the 440-acre farm, Don Alberto, which is owned by the Solari family's expansive conglomerate Bethia Holdings, went on a shopping spree at the November breeding stock sales. Bethia President Carlos Heller and advisor Fernando Diaz-Valdes purchased five mares at Fasig-Tipton for a combined $2.95 million, and secured an incredible 32 head at Keeneland for a gross of $10.64 million, making them leading buyer by expenditures at the country's biggest sale of its kind by more than $5 million. 

“At the beginning, we bought this farm because it was beautiful and a good opportunity,” Heller said through Diaz-Valdes. “Then, we needed to fill it. So we bought all the mares… The goal is to have a beautiful band of mares, and hopefully have some success racing and possibly with stallions. Step by step, that's what it's all about.” 

After Kentucky, it was on to Tattersalls December, where Don Alberto was responsible for six purchases totaling 1.77 million guineas. One mare the group didn't buy through the ring was Irish MGSW and G1SP Chrysanthemum (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who was signed for by Reiley McDonald's Eaton Sales after she was hammered down for 800,000 guineas in foal to superstar Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Don Alberto purchased the mare privately after the sale, and was the first owner of a foal by Frankel when Chrysanthemum produced a colt at Coolmore Stud in Tipperary on Jan. 11. Chrysanthemum was bred back to Galileo. 

Don Alberto's additional purchases after acquiring the Vinery property included 10 mares purchased privately that had been bred to Frankel on Southern Hemisphere time in Europe. The mares were shipped to Kentucky, and produced 10 of the first Frankel foals to be born on Southern Hemisphere time this summer. Diaz-Valdes says the youngsters will likely be sent to Australia at some point. 

“They're very nice, very powerful and smart,” Diaz-Valdes said of his impression of Frankel's produce so far. “They're very good-looking.” 

Heller, Diaz-Valdes and team were back at it this year at Keeneland September. They scooped up four yearling fillies for a total of $1.315 million, including a daughter of leading sire Tapit out of MGISP Jade Queen (Giant's Causeway) for $775,000. 

While Don Alberto may not be a household name in America–yet–the group operates a large farm in Chile with some 300 mares, and have leased a number of stallions, including Stormin Fever, Proud Citizen, Fusaichi Pegasus, Dylan Thomas (Ire), Rock of Gibraltar (Ire), Bluegrass Cat, Henrythenavigator, Mastercraftsman (Ire), Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) and Stevie Wonderboy, during Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons. Bethia Holdings also owns and operates the local racetrack, Club Hipico de Santiago. 

It may be easier to list the other businesses in which the Solari family is not involved in, but Bethia's interests include retail, television, transportation, banking, utilities, health care, communications, agriculture, wineries and real estate. 
Alberto Solari, Carlos Heller's grandfather, was the driving force behind his family's empire and instilled a passion for breeding and racing in his family. Heller's mother, Liliana Solari, founded Haras Don Alberto in 1987, and later that year, the farm enjoyed its first racetrack success at Santiago with 3-year-old filly Bethia (Chi), a Group 1 winner in her native country who went on to win a stakes race in the U.S. for new connections. The family also bred and campaigned in partnership 2004 GI Hollywood Gold Cup winner Total Impact (Chi) (Stuka), who now stands at their farm in Chile. Another Don Alberto-bred Group 1 victor, Vamo a Galupiar (Chi) (Proud Citizen), won the 2012 GII Santa Ana S. for Shel Evans and Neil Drysdale. 

“My grandfather was a big breeder in Chile, and that passion for racing was passed on to my mother and to me,” explained Heller. “Unfortunately, the new generation is not interested much in horses–they have other interests and we're missing that continuity of love for the horse business that we've had for years… In South America, it's been quite difficult to maintain the industry… For us, it's been a rich investment in terms of enjoyment and excitement, but it doesn't make any sense financially.” 

A desire to turn their passion for racing into something more financially viable, plus the increased ease with which such an endeavor can be carried out thanks to technological improvements in communication and transportation, have been major factors behind Don Alberto's Northward expansion. 

“For us, it's always been a dream to be on the world stage, and where better than in the United States, where you have racing all year round at different racetracks with great purses? It's fantastic,” Heller offered. “Before, it used to be so much more complicated… We now can send horses to different places so much easier–you just put them on a plane. Before it was terrible in terms of health and quarantines… I'm president of the racetrack in Chile, but now that I have a farm here [in Kentucky], I can go anywhere. I've been to Australia, New Zealand, everywhere.” 

Heller added, “We're into horses to enjoy it and have fun, but we need a break-even point. It's not that we're expecting to make millions, but we don't want to lose millions either.” 

Diaz-Valdes cites similar factors behind the general influx of South American money into the American breeding industry in recent years. 

“In our countries, we take it as a hobby, and that's the problem,” the California-based agent and director of Indoamerica, S.A. explained. “It's not an industry. That, to me, is a huge difference. The Argentinians, Chileans, Brazilians, etc. have been close before to making that step and buying here before, but now it's easier with things like improved communication. Now it's a different world and it makes sense, because the experience here is so much better.” 

When asked if building Don Alberto Farm from the ground up in just a year has been more work or less than he anticipated, Heller replied, “It's been a little bit more work than expected, but we're so lucky to be surrounded by such great people. They make our lives much easier–everything starts with [farm veterinarian] Dr. George Mundy and [farm manager] Francis Relihan and everyone else who works on the farm. We're very grateful to them.” 

While they wait for their American-based yearlings and weanlings to reach racing age–and determine who will train them–Don Alberto already has an exciting racing prospect Stateside in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile entrant Bronzo (Chi) (Fusaichi Pegasus). The Chilean Group 1 winner earned his spot in the starting gate thanks to a 
3 1/4-length victory in the June 22 G2 Copa de Oro Vinas de Chile at Santiago for Jorge Inda. 

“He's training very, very well,” said Diaz-Valdes of the bay gelding, who will stay in California after the Breeders' Cup and join Neal Drysdale's barn. “It's a tough race, but he's been acclimating very well since coming to America. His coat is shiny and his weight is good–everything's fine. We're very happy with how he's coming into the race. There's a lot of speed and we wish the race was a little longer, but he'll run well and should be even better in races here at a mile and an eighth or a mile and a quarter–this isn't his perfect distance.” 

Don Alberto will certainly be back in action next week at the sales, but with something like 130 head already on the farm, Heller noted, “The first time it was quality and quantity, now we need to be more selective.”