By Emma Berry
NEWMARKET, UK—For a consignor which has never had the numbers associated with some of the more major names in the business, it's hard to ignore the start made by Norris Bloodstock, which has consigned the top lot at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale in each of its first two years of trading.
The husband-and-wife team of Liam and Jenny Norris has of course had a long-running association with the sales circuit—Jenny as former manager of David Hardisty's Oaklands Farm and Clairemont Stud, and Liam as a former manager of Highclere Stud and the 'other half' of the Norris Huntingdon buying duo with William Huntingdon.
Through this latter partnership, the Oaks winner Dancing Rain was purchased as a yearling for Clairemont's owners Martin and Lee Taylor, and she provided the Norrises with their first taste of major sales-ring success, albeit under the Clairemont Stud banner, when sold in foal to Frankel (GB) for 4 millions gns at the December Sale of 2013.
The subsequent sale of Clairemont Stud itself saw the couple set up their own business with the intention of offering a bespoke consigning service.
Two years ago, a team of yearlings from Philippa Cooper's Normandie Stud, consigned in the inaugural Norris Bloodstock Book 1 draft, included the Dubawi (Ire) colt now named Glorious Journey (GB) and a dual Group 3 winner for Godolphin, who split the top honours in Book 1 with Emaraaty (GB), Meon Valley Stud's Dubawi colt out of Zee Zee Top (GB) (Zafonic).
Sheikh Mohammed returned last year to buy the 4 million gns Galileo (Ire) yearling daughter of James Wigan's Breeders' Cup winner Dank (GB) (Dansili {GB}), again putting the Norris Bloodstock draft of six in the spotlight.
“It's been absolutely amazing for us to have had such headline horses in the first two years of running our own business. It was a dream,” says Jenny Norris as she bustles to and fro at Tattersalls, marking cards for agents and ensuring that their Book 1 quintet are showing themselves off well ahead of their sales-ring appearances.
“We never thought we'd ever have anything like that—you always hope you'll have one nice horse to help you along but the support from some really good breeders has been terrific and of course the publicity has been really helpful.”
With success and publicity has of course come an increasing demand for their services, but Norris is keen to keep the draft at a manageable level.
She says, “We've tried to keep the numbers down and to have good quality horses. Liam and I are both very hands-on at home. It's not easy to find good staff but we're very lucky to have a great core team. When it's your own business you don't get any days off, and there's a lot of pressure but we love it—you wouldn't do it if you didn't. But I love coming to the sales and standing here looking at the horses and knowing that we've done our best. It's really important that we get it right as our main selling point is our horses, and I like to let them do the talking.”
A new client this year is the Norrises' former neighbour from their days at Clairemont Stud in Hampshire, Bridget Drew of Mildmay Bloodstock. Her trio of Book 1 horses sells today, starting with lot 30, a Kodiac (GB) first foal of the Kheleyf mare Perfect Blessings (Ire) from the family of this season's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Polydream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
“Bridget came to us late spring and asked if we could consign some horses for her and we were delighted to do it,” Norris says. “She's a good breeder and has had some fantastic results on the racecourse. For a small operation she does very well and a lot of thought and effort goes into her horses. Olly Nash manages her team at home and he does a great job.”
Immediately following the Kodiac filly is one of only two Pivotal colts in the catalogue (31), a half-brother to Drew's G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. winner Perfect Tribute (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), while later in the day is a Bated Breath (GB) (160) filly from a family with good updates this season courtesy of her dual-winning half-brother Nate The Great (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who was runner-up in the Chesham S., and also her dam's half-brother, the Greenham S. winner James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).
Norris adds, “It's nice to work with people who care so much about their families and Bridget has sent us some lovely horses for all three books.”
The five Book 1 yearlings from Norris Bloodstock are completed by lot 237, an Iffraaj filly pinhooked by Liam Norris on behalf of a new syndicate, and a colt from the first foal of Golden Horn (330) described as a “super first foal with a lovely mind on him” and bred, like Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), by Mickley Stud and Lady Caroline Lonsdale.
“The Kodiac filly is going down very well but we have something to suit everybody and so far they seem to have been well received,” says Norris, who, as soon as the mare and foal sales are complete will turn her mind to the next challenge. With the lease due to expire at Granham Farm in Marlborough at the end of December, the Norrises and their horses will have a new base from next January.
“We're moving at the end of the year and have found a property not far from us with some lovely fresh land. I'm pleased to be staying local as we have some very loyal clients who have been with us from when we first set up.”
The farm may change but it will be business as usual at Norris Bloodstock.
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