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Phone numbers: (AUS): +61 409 899 448 (UK): +44 7446 687622
Follow Us:
Phone numbers: (AUS): +61 409 899 448 (UK): +44 7446 687622
James’s decision to set up his own agency in 2017 based in Sydney, Australia comes as no surprise to those that have seen him in the industry since the age of 12. He has worked with some of the best judges and operators throughout the world. Some would say he was bred to do it.
James is the son of Andrew and Georgie Ferguson who for the last ten years owned and operated Bell River Thoroughbreds, a successful breeding nursery in country New South Wales. Despite operating off relatively small numbers, the family farm sold four stakes winners from just 17 yearlings offered at Gold Coast Magic Millions sales between 2011 and 2017. While homebred and dual Group 1 winner, Extreme Choice was sold at the 2015 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale. The farm became the source of multiple high class performers where they bred the likes of multiple Group 1 performers Extreme Choice and Ace High followed by Group 3 winner and Group 1 place getter Faraway Town, 3x stakes winner Flippant, stakes winner Bidii Babe and Group 1 placed Denmagic, as well as black type performers I Am Excited and Nasdex. Much of his childhood and school holidays was spent assisting on the farm and gaining further experience working for Arrowfield Stud and Haunui Farm.
On completing school, James was working at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale for the family farm and, was wanting to gain international experience, where he approached the Queen’s Racing Manager John Warren who later offered him a job and hasn’t looked back since.
James spent time at the Warren’s family farm Highclere Stud, England, a world class stud that has been in operation for more than a century, where he learnt the English way of the thoroughbred industry. Whilst spending time at Highclere, James also assisted John at the sales who has purchased more than 100 plus group/stakes winners where he learnt the foundations of buying champion racehorses.
After his time with Highclere, James returned to the family farm and became the assistant manager to his parents. During the following Magic Millions yearling sale, John Warren introduced James to Johnny and Susie McKeever. The McKeevers, an internationally renowned bloodstock team, then offered James an opportunity to work for them both in Australia and England for ten months. Whilst abroad in Europe, James spent time assisting the team in finding horses for Australia and Hong Kong as well as short listing at all major European sales for the likes of internationally renowned bloodstock agent David Ingordo and well respected Irish breeder James Hanly. He also spent six months working with classic winning trainer Hugo Palmer in Newmarket. Ferguson then teamed up with McKeever Bloodstock for a year and a half, which was known as McKeever/Ferguson Bloodstock before operating solo in 2018.
Ferguson Bloodstock operates on a global scale, specialising in many aspects of the industry including –
The company acts for clients throughout the world including Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Hong Kong, Singapore, England, Ireland, Europe, UAE and U.S.A.