Benefits Of Smart Selecting
We handpick young horses that develop into true runners. To date Founder Leighton Howl has raced 27 horses, 16 of which have won races, 3 have been Group One Winners, and 3 Black Type winners. That’s a 68% strike rate.
Over the last 15 years, horses selected and purchased by Kingmakers Founder, Leighton Howl, have gone on to win $10 million in stakes for himself and 50 other owners. The average stakes return per horse is $375,026.
We believe if you do the work at the sales, buy right, and stick to a strong methodology, the results will come. Now the attention and dedication of Kingmakers is fully committed to seeing our new owners and their horses succeed.
Method in the sales madness
A thorough selection process is where it all starts
Kingmakers has a proven approach to selecting and buying horses that develop into the best racehorses, refined over 15 years by Founder Leighton Howl. He’s won big races on both sides of the Tasman, as well as sealing lucrative deals in Hong Kong. Hailing from the racing town of Matamata, he’s had a lifelong racing apprenticeship, growing to understand horse selection, pedigrees and active management, post the sales ring, to on-track success.
Leighton refers to his methodology as the Linear Effect. It’s a tried and tested approach he uses to select and then map out the perfect development plan for each racehorse. It cross references influences from pedigree, family performance data, and physical genetics to add science to the selection equation. Leading veterinarian Murray Gilmore adds his expertise to the process. Together, they work closely with our horses’ trainers, so their techniques match the yearling’s physical characteristics and probable growth trajectory.
The benefits of horses bred tough and healthy
We invest in tough horses, from tough families, with a pedigree to perform at 3 years of age - not earlier. This delayed start, with reduced early training pressure, means owners get a longer career from the racehorse they own and love. There’s also less potential physical damage while the horse is still young and maturing. Patience is required from every Kingmakers owner, but it pays.
At the sales, we spend plenty of time and big money with our vets, analysing the physicality and biomechanics of each yearling thoroughly. This includes multiple parades, independent viewing of x-rays, plus physical inspections in the box if required. We cross reference the overall style of the horse, and its pedigree, together with the appointed trainer’s approach. All this early work and expense saves owners money in the long run.
