John Ferguson joined forces with one of Godolphin’s former senior execs as part of a new bloodstock venture, according to Mark Souster of the LONDON TIMES. Mark McStay spent 15 years with Sheikh Mohammed’s global racing operation, "rising to become bloodstock manager before leaving last week." Ferguson, who resigned as Goldlphin CEO in June, described McStay as "a walking encyclopaedia on pedigrees." Ferguson said, "The bloodstock industry is a fantastic game to be involved in. We worked very well together. The motive is very similar. We both love it and between the two of us we know most people in the world of bloodstock. It is a natural partnership to have." Ferguson and McStay will "each work on their own accounts as well as in partnership." They will operate at "every level of the market, not just with a focus on the top tier." Ferguson: “Mark’s greatest strength is his ability to identify mares and owners like nobody else." As the recent "record-breaking book-one sales showed," the top of the business is "recession-proof." Ferguson: "But book three was revealing. Horses costing upwards of £50,000 to produce were making £25-30,000. If you’re good enough to play in the Premier League, life is good. But if you’re playing for Dagenham it is not so good. It is the same in the bloodstock industry now" (LONDON TIMES, 10/23).
