“I was lucky enough to work at Alabar, which gave me a lot of confidence. I learned from an early age, which most people wouldn’t normally do. I feel quite confident in what I can do,” she said.
Graeme Henley and Wayne McNamara of Alabar had early confidence in Bartlett, but no favor was granted to her.
“I started there picking up stuff and doing all the horrible jobs. They both taught me that if I worked hard I could get somewhere and they’ve supported me ever since.”
Bartlett is stationed at Todd Macfarlane’s old stable in Patumahoe and is helped by her eighteen-year-old sister Kate.
“We have been working at Alabar for a while. She knows exactly what I like.”w
Jamie’s partner Oliver Milne also helps out in the mornings. Coincidentally, Oliver’s grandfather Brian, Murray Notman’s brother, owned the track and trained there.
Aside from the excellent education she receives at Alabar, Jamie is virtually self-taught.
“I’ve done a lot of show horse work so I knew how to make a horse stand out. I’d been to a lot of sales and by asking around I found out what buyers looked for. I left school at 15 to get work experience at Alabar and have been there ever since.”
She also buys and sells sport horses.
“I have a knack for finding horses cheaply that don’t look great when they’re younger, breaking them in and then selling them for a lot of money. That’s pretty much what I do now.”
Bartlett prepared eleven yearlings for Alabar at last year’s Karaka Sales, selling an Art Major – Albuquerque for $120,000 and an Art Major – Ember for $85,000.
A Captaintreacherous – Gina Grace sold for $175,000.
“We always had a sneaking suspicion that she would sell very well. She was quite a difficult horse during the preparation. She had a very tough attitude to crack. We ended up becoming friends, so we were very happy with how she came through.”
Recalling the moment, she said, “I led her in and it was slow for a while and I started to get a little worried because I had hoped she would go for over $100,000. As soon as the numbers started going up, the nerves went away and I had a little smile inside. That’s what you do it for.”
Although not overwhelmed by the task of preparing the yearlings, Jamie admits he had some nerves on sale day. And she prefers to lead them into the ring herself.
“I like to record most of them myself, but I do have to hire some extra staff to keep the day running smoothly. It’s mainly Kate and I who bring them in because we know them.”
Of the eighteen yearlings she is preparing for Sales in the coming months, eleven are for Alabar, three for Yabby Dam Farm, two for Mason Bloodstock and two for Harvey and Shelley Kaplan of Jordash Breeding. The trial started on 5e December.
“Every horse is an individual and they are all prepared in a very different way. Some are lighter built, some are big and lanky, so you have to take that into account in the feed. It is constantly changing in what you give them. Some may need more supplements, others may need more work to build their muscle.”
The yearlings are kept outside in the paddocks at night and are bought into the barn in the morning.
“They are fed, we check them over and make sure there are no injuries. Then they come out for brushing. Three days a week they go jogging. I’m lucky enough to have a running track at the back of the farm. A lot of it is a matter of hand walking and teaching good manners, getting them next to you and teaching them to stand. I put a lot of emphasis on them being a respectable horse so they are easy to train for whoever gets them next time.”
It is the first time she has prepared yearlings for Australian heavyweight Yabby Dam Farms.
“It really shows what a good reputation in the industry can do for you.”
Jamie is impressed with the Pebble Beach colt and all the trotting yearlings from Yabby Dam Farms.
“These Australian-bred trotters are much more like pacers. The fillies look a bit like colts. They are very nicely built and have beautiful heads.”
Lot 15 Tall Dark Stranger colt from Rodeo Beach
“He is someone who has come through the preparation well. He is on the small side, but he is very strong in the body he has and he has a very nice wide girth. He has a good amount of bone and you can see he will grow into a nice horse.”
Lot 25 Always B Miki filly from Sossusvlei
“She is a very nice big filly but light-footed. Typical for the Always B Miki’s. She is nice and straight.”
Buy 32 Always B Miki colt from Starlitart
“It’s a little smaller for a Miki, which is a good thing because people like to keep them compact. It has a beautiful natural character and is easy to do all kinds of things with.”
Lot 39 Captain Crunch colt from Time To Dream
“He is a very big colt who needs some time to grow into himself. He has a nice stride.”
Buy 44 Orlando Vici filly from Val Gardena
“She is a beautiful black filly who is strong through and through. She has a beautiful head. She immediately catches your attention.”
Lot 51 Huntsville colt from Virginontherocks
“He’s a colt that people will notice is behind everyone else. He was born in April in the American time frame. He’s such a big colt that he’s growing up all the time, so it’s going to take him a little longer to reach maturity. When you see him running, he’s got huge overage. In my eyes, he’ll be such a nice horse in a year or two.”
Lot 54 Always B Miki filly out of Weownthenight
“She is a beautiful filly and full of Kiss. She is typical of the foals the mare has had before, but probably has a bit more bone than both Kiss and Midnight Miki. She is a nice size.”
Lot 62 Captain Crunch colt out of Betty Grace
“He’s a big colt that fits his frame well. Typical of Captain Crunch, he’s just strong from start to finish. He’s got really good march.”
Lot 68 Art Major filly out of Callie’s Delight
“She is a neat, athletic filly with a very well-balanced and strong hind end. Compact in her frame, but completely correct, and she uses herself well when she moves.”
Lot 72 Bettor’s Wish filly out of Christanna
“A quality foal with a great appearance. She has a good size, is very correct and she has been straightforward and faultless during the preparation.”
Lot 76 Ready Cash colt from Continentallady
“He is a very athletic Ready Cash colt, light on his feet, with good balance and natural movement. He does have some attitude, but in a good way. He is not boring, he has presence and confidence, and once you ask him to do something he is eager to get on with his job. What I really like is how much he has improved through the preparation, both physically and mentally. He has become stronger, is nicely filled out behind and his attitude has come a long way. He has learned what was expected and has really took that on.
In terms of pedigree, Ready Cash speaks for itself, and with the Continental line underneath you get class and ruggedness. He feels like the kind of colt that keeps stepping forward as soon as he starts working. He is a January foal.”
Lot 80 Art Major colt from Cordella
“He has a bit more of an attitude than the rest and we had to spend a lot of extra hours dealing with him. He is super quiet now and we can do anything with him. He has a huge, big Roman nose on him, typical of the mares he comes from. Apart from the Roman nose, his body is exactly what you want. Perfect for the picture.”
Buy 86 American Ideal colt from Czanyi
“He’s a good doer, so we haven’t had to give him any extra feed. He has a little more attitude, but I think in some ways that’s a good thing for a colt.”
Lot 89 Always B Miki colt from Delightful Brigade
“A fairly simple colt at first glance, but there is a lot to enjoy when you get him out and about. Correct, athletic and the kind that can easily improve over time.”
Lot 95 Art Major filly from Ember
“She is a lot stronger than the colt I had last year. She is a big filly who can walk wonderfully and can stand up very well. We have high expectations of her.”
Lot 100 Captaintreacherous filly out of Gina Grace
“She’s exactly the same as her sister. She definitely has an attitude and is almost identical to the one we sold last year, but I just think she has a little more spirit. We have very high expectations for her and I think she will sell well.”
Lot 103 On A Streak filly out of Glenferrie Unixa
“She is one of my top choices among fillies. She is a wonderfully strong filly who looks like a colt. She has a beautiful head with a nice distance between the eyes. She wants to do everything well and wants to please. There is no fuss, she just gets on with her job.”
Lot 129 Pebble Beach colt out of Millie Sampson
“He’s a more sensitive little guy. He’s a smaller colt, compact and very proportioned. He has a nice strong shoulder. He has a beautiful bright brown color. We really appreciate him.”
And when pressed to name a top seller: “Lot 76.”
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
#Karaka #crackers