ONE person who will not be auctioneering at the Inglis Great Southern Sale at Oaklands Junction (now scheduled for Sunday, July 4-5), is Melbournian Simon Vivian who retired after dedicating his working life to bloodstock auctioneering for 44 years.
"It (retirement) comes with some sadness, but there are things I wish to do (with wife Carleen) like jump in the car and go driving around Australia; and spend more time with the grand-kids," Simon said.
For people looking to begin a similar career, Simon suggested to get involved with an auction house.
"We have two major ones in Australia, and I have great respect for both," Simon said.
Resigning from Inglis in April, Simon landed at the Sydney headquartered Thoroughbred auctioneers in 2004 after long-time friend and retired Inglis auctioneer Peter Heagney, suggested he should come to work for the company. This culminated to Simon becoming Inglis' Victorian bloodstock manager in 2016.
Simon believes that a "fluke" pick of the winner of the 1964 Caulfield Cup sparked his interest in Thoroughbreds as an eight-year-old.
"Yangtze was ridden by young Adelaide apprentice John Stocker, and who became number one rider for (the late) Colin Hayes; and from that time, he was my absolute idol."
Simon's auctioneering career began in 1977 at Coles Brothers in Adelaide.
"One of the great lessons I received from David Coles was - the best way to do business with people is to first get your knees under your client's kitchen table, meaning that you have made progress from a business viewpoint, and it galvanizes a positive possibility for a future relationship."
"David Coles was a terrific teacher and instilled a great work ethic in me."
Based in Melbourne since 1999, Simon has experienced several working stints on both sides of the Tasman. "From Coles Brothers, I went to manage Goodwood Bloodstock in Perth, then moved back to Adelaide where I had my own private bloodstock business, before Ian Baxter asked me to work with QBBS in Brisbane where I managed its bloodstock."
He also was contracted to do some work for New Zealand Bloodstock at Karaka, as well as about spending three years with Magic Millions Bloodstock. Simon said that the highlight for me - or any auctioneer, is every time the hammer drops.
"As a collective (auctioneers), we want to see a horse sell, and we absolutely hate seeing a horse get passed-in."
"When you knock the hammer down whether it is $2000, 200,000, or $2 million, that is the biggest thrill; and with most horses having a reserve on them you want to at least reach that figure."
Simon said that it does not matter what the money is, but when that horse is sold that is the job done.
"It is still a thrill when a reserve maybe $5000, and that horse sells for $8000 or $10,000; or a horse has a reserve of 20,000, and it makes $120,000, those people are so appreciative to get such a return."
The 2002 AJC Australian Derby-G1 winner Don Eduardo is Simon's most memorable horse he auctioned. "It was in 2000 when doing work in New Zealand, and it was a time when no horse was making even close to $1m; but there were a couple of hoses that we (NZ auctioneers) thought could top the sale."
"One of these was Pure Theatre - which made $NZ750,000, while the other - Don Eduardo, fetched $NZ3.6m which was outrageous; it would be like selling one now at $10m."
While Pure Theatre was an Australian foaled son of champion sire Nureyev, Don Eduardo carried royal New Zealand blood being by Zabeel, from Our Diamond Lover.
Aussie flavour
IT was interesting to study the results of the Midsummer Sprint Stakes, a Listed race run at Cork racecourse near Mallow in southern Ireland last week.
The first three placegetters were by Australian bred stallions. The winner - Logo Hunter, is a gelding by Brazen Beau (in first crop by I Am Invincible), second was filly Dickiedooda by Starspangledbanner (Choisir), while third went to Erosandpsyche (Sepoy). Brazen Beau - which finished a nose second in England sprint Diamond Jubilee Stakes-G1 at Royal Ascot, Starspangledbanner and Golden Slipper winner Sepoy, all spent some northern hemisphere stud seasons in the UK.