TDN Q&A With Matthew Prior

This is the third installment in an ongoing series where current trainees of Godolphin Flying Start sit down with graduates of the programme to discuss their career successes. In this third installment, first-year trainee Madison Scott catches up with Matthew Prior of the Tattersalls bloodstock team.

Matthew Prior has been a part of the Tattersalls bloodstock sales team since completing Godolphin Flying Start in 2012. From a riding background, Matthew gained experience in the sales side of the industry before joining Godolphin Flying Start. Matthew's role at Tattersalls spans from yearling selection to auctioneering. He is also the sale organizer for the recently completed December Sales.

MS: Could you talk about your background in the industry?

MP: I'm originally from an eventing and hunting background– ironically my best horse was prophetically called Political Trump, who carried me around both Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials. Once I turned my attention to the bloodstock industry, I initially worked for Hugo Lascelles at both the sales and at Lofts Hall Stud. I was then fortunate enough to join the Godolphin Flying Start, where I learnt not only the practical aspects of the industry, but also gained a formal business education. On completion of the course, I joined Tattersalls the very next day and have been here ever since.

MS: What does your role at Tattersalls entail?

MP: On a day-to-day basis, I am based in Newmarket as part of the bloodstock department, collecting entries and assisting with the compilation of the catalogues and organising two of our seven annual sales. I am part of the UK yearling inspection team and so spend quite a lot of time on the road in the spring, selecting yearlings for our October Yearling Sales. I also try to go racing as much as possible throughout the year, and assist when required at other sales under the Tattersalls 'group' banner. For the last three years I have been an auctioneer at Newmarket, working as part of a huge team effort to ensure the smooth running of the sales.

MS: How did you get involved with auctioneering?

MP: When the opportunity presented itself, I did my initial groundwork away from the bright lights of Park Paddocks. After listening to recordings of various auctioneers and practicing in an empty sale ring, I volunteered for various charity auctions, and assisted at local sales of general goods every Saturday. I have now been selling for the last three years in Newmarket, and have additionally assisted at sales in both Dubai and Jamaica. I really do enjoy it, and it's certainly a role in which you never stop learning.

MS: What does your role as sale organiser for the December Sales cover?

MP: In my role as a sale organiser, I am the point of contact when it comes to coordinating and collecting the entries for the December Yearling, Foal and Breeding Stock Sales. We open the entries in late July, and we work to strict deadlines in order to send the catalogue to the printers on time, at what is our busiest time of year. There is a large amount of administrative work, but we all take great pride in delivering a quality catalogue to the highest standard.

MS: The drop in the value of sterling helped contribute to big international competition at the sales this year. Could you discuss the potential up and downsides of this decline in sterling value to Tattersalls?

MP: In the short term, it has no doubt been an incentive to those traveling from countries such as America, Australia and the Middle East, with buyers getting more bang for their buck than they have in the past. Both the July and the Autumn Horses in Training Sale were great examples of this, where we saw frenzied bidding at all levels from a hugely international buying bench. In the long run one would certainly hope for greater stability, as the market adjusts to what has been a year of great change on both sides of Atlantic.

MS: How do you consistently draw top-class fillies and mares to the December Breeding Stock Sale and maintain quality across years?

MP: We are very fortunate that many of Europe's leading owners and breeders view us as their first choice when selling their racing and breeding stock. As a team we work throughout the year to attract good fillies off the track, whilst the marketing team travel the globe to recruit the buyers. The Tattersalls December Breeding Stock is like no other, in that it attracts a truly international cast of buyers to Park Paddocks every year, consistently producing the highest prices as a result. This is no doubt due to the continued global success of previous sale graduates, meaning that the sale is an event not to be missed.

MS: Reflecting on the 2016 sale season, do you have any comments on the current state of the market?

MP: Despite the global political and economic uncertainty this year, the sales at Tattersalls have remained buoyant throughout the year, with a record turnover for our annual yearling sales. With many of the best stallions in the world now based in Europe, along with the patronage of the leading owner- breeders, there has never been a greater demand for Europe's bloodlines. There are, however, well-documented concerns about the return of overproduction. In light of this, one can expect the market to be more selective, before no doubt it begins to correct itself.