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nick bradley racing - Owner Testimonials
I WOULDN'T BUY INTO JUVENILES WITH ANYONE ELSE
Overall my owner's experience with NBR has wildly surpassed my expectations. Thanks to everyone involved at NBR! To have a runner win at Royal Ascot, placed in a Classic, as well as numerous other Listed and Group winners has just been tremendous. Nick has done a superb job of adding value to his recruits across the board and making such a handsome profit on Dandalla and Mystery Angel, in particular, was brilliant. I wouldn't want to buy into juveniles with anyone else.
Wayne Finter
a fantastic and easy way to get into horse racing
A fantastic and easy way to get into horse racing. Never any difficulty in communicating with Nick. A bucket list experience to enter the pre parade ring, talk to the jockey in the parade ring. Nothing like watching your horse run then having the pleasure of being in the winner’s enclosure. You get the entertaining side of owning a horse without the complex side of race management to which Nick proves quite the expert.
Robert Holroyd
Easily best syndicate I've been involved with
Nick is a genius at what he does in regards to buying horses, getting the best of their ability out of them by running in races others possibly are not bold enough to try. My experience so far has been top class in that I was very fortunate to have 5% of Mystery Angel and the day at Epsom was beyond amazing. Overall easily best syndicate I've been involved with.
David Rich
The service has been second to none
I wouldn’t mind if it’s the only racing group I ever am involved with
The service has been second to none. Since moving from another syndicate who claim they boast the best results in and out, we have been treated with care, regular updates from Nick and the trainer regarding the horses, breaking in process shared with owners for yearlings, badges available upon request for your horses, best advice in the industry. The team at Nick Bradley racing are sure to prove far superior than any other syndicate managed operation in the country. Finally, Nick is not afraid to send horses overseas for increased prize values, meaning more chance of the horse paying for themselves. Jonathan Riley
the open day was exceptional
I wouldn’t mind if it’s the only racing group I ever am involved with
I wouldn’t mind if it’s the only racing group I ever am involved with
So far my experience has been fantastic (my first horse will be running this year). The updates (inc. pictures and videos) keep me informed on a regular basis. My first owner open day was exceptional - the way Nick shared his knowledge on the horses and why he purchased them was really engaging. Can't wait for the year ahead!
Andrew Bignell
I wouldn’t mind if it’s the only racing group I ever am involved with
I wouldn’t mind if it’s the only racing group I ever am involved with
I wouldn’t mind if it’s the only racing group I ever am involved with
Nick Bradley Racing was the first syndicate I got involved with in terms of horse ownership, and I can say that I very much wouldn’t mind if it’s the only racing group I ever am involved with. Frequent updates of all my current horses as well as new information about the racing group in general, with a great newsletter with lots of valuable information in.
Nathan Loosley
you get the full ownership experience
you get the full ownership experience
you get the full ownership experience
I’m a big fan of Nick and he clearly has a huge talent for buying the right horses at the right prices. I think the model is perfect for syndicated horses. You get the full ownership experience and the chance to have a really good horse without breaking yourself financially.
James Lincoln
Are you wanting to become a racehorse owner ?
it has been absolutely brilliant
I have been wanting to get into Racehorse ownership for a while and decided to take a share in a breeze up purchase (Mystery Angel) by Nick Bradley. I can honestly say it has been absolutely brilliant. Nick is always willing to answer any questions you have and involves you in everything that’s going on with your horse and all the sales he attends and treats you with the upmost respect. I have been to visit my horse at George’s Yard on numerous occasions and my family are made to feel so welcome. During this hard time to get tickets, Nick Bradley Racing have gone to every length to try and get Owners tickets also. I have now purchased more shares in yearlings and can’t wait to follow all the yearlings’ next flat season.
Gavin, Nichola & Eddie Hanna
nothing comes close to NBR
Mystery Angel is my first ownership experience with NBR, I am very lucky to have been involved with her, and what a star she has been, another excellent buy by Nick.
What an amazing experience to be at Newmarket when she won and drinking champagne in the Royal box. I have been in quite a few syndicates and racing clubs over the years, but nothing comes close to NBR; very well run, professional, loads of fun, nothing too much trouble, would recommend to anyone, a fantastic experience.
Glen Bicker
I can't recommend NBR highly enough
The whole NBR team are friendly and approachable
Thanks for another brilliant season with NBR. This has been my third season as one of Zihaam's owners and the most successful with him, winning 3 more times to add to his previous 4 victories. I can't recommend NBR highly enough with excellent communications and a price range to suit every pocket. I've tried other clubs and syndicates but with Nick your guaranteed the full ownership experience regardless of whether you have 1% or 50% and I'm sure I'll remain involved with NBR for many years to come.
Lee Pearce
The whole NBR team are friendly and approachable
The whole NBR team are friendly and approachable
If you're looking to dip your toe into racehorse ownership, then Nick Bradley Racing is the place for you. Nick is extremely knowledgeable, easy to talk to and he's passionate about creating an affordable and exciting experience for his owners, as well as a great environment for his horses. Nick is very hands on and extremely generous with his time. He shares his expertise willingly, providing regular updates, pictures and videos of your horses. With shares in three racehorses and two of the NBR breeding projects, we're coming to the end of our first year with NBR. We were lucky enough to see all our racehorses win at least once, and despite the Covid 19 restrictions, we have never had as much fun going racing. Being there as an owner puts going to the races on a whole new level and, as well as seeing our horses run, we've met some fantastic likeminded people. We've had no hesitation in investing in several of his new yearling purchases and we're looking forward to another exciting year watching and being involved with our horses as they progress as 2-year olds. The whole NBR team are friendly and approachable - nothing is too much trouble and we would highly recommend NBR to both new and existing investors. Tony & Sue
My experience with NBR in my first year has been excellent
My experience with NBR in my first year has been excellent. The way Nick operates means that a race enthusiast who could never be an owner can get involved. I bought a share in Zihaam and was able to get badges to see him run a few times this season. Zihaam was the 10F specialist at Beverley in 2020 winning 3 times over course and distance and going into Beverley's record books. To be able to watch racing on course this year has felt a real privilege.
Nick and his team are great at keeping you informed by email and Zoom meetings. As a consequence, I have bought a small stake in a couple of yearling fillies (a Mastercraftsman and a Brazen Beau) who will race next year.
In my opinion, Nicks methods work; he researchers his purchases thoroughly, and finds value. I expect he will work with the trainers he has selected to place the two fillies I have bought shares in astutely and develop plans to maximise their success as he did with the likes of Dandalla and Fev Rover this year.
Peter Walling
you cannot really ask for more!
2020 was my second season of ownership with Nick Bradley Racing following a successful first season in 2019 with Yolo Again who won twice and finished a creditable fourth in the 3-Year-Old All-Weather Championships.
My first yearling purchased with Nick, along with my dad Bill and partner Angela was Samara Bay. We had been to see Samara Bay at Richard Fahey’s yard in late January 2020 and was looking forward to seeing her running during the coming season. Obviously after this visit the world changed somewhat and her debut like many others was put on hold. Samara Bay didn’t really perform on the first run but gradually race by race began to know her job and crossed the winning line first on the fourth start at Catterick with her victory celebrated on Zoom with other owners who were not able to attend. She returned to Catterick during August, myself and dad were fortunate to attend and see her win very handsomely. We received a winning photograph of Samara Bay and Billy alongside fellow owners which was very special indeed given by dad Bill, passed away in early September. The winners photograph alongside one of Samara Bay in action and my dad’s ‘owners’ badge’ hang proudly on my kitchen wall.
A somewhat strange year and racing season but Samara Bay, under Nick’s guidance, has proved a good purchase for very little outlay providing two wins, you cannot really ask for more!
Stuart Goodwin
Communication is excellent
I am proud to be part of the NBR syndicate family
This is what dreams are made of
I have been involved in 2 horses so far but can say that all owners are treated the same irrespective of share size. Communication is excellent. Nick gives an honest appraisal of a horse and its prospects. Stable visits are well organised. Can definitely recommend.
Peter Sweeting
This is what dreams are made of
I am proud to be part of the NBR syndicate family
This is what dreams are made of
I joined NBR for the first time ahead of the 2020 flat season. I got involved in 3 horses and the experience has been truly amazing! Zihaam won 3 times, Samara Bay won twice and ...most importantly of all, Dandalla won 3 times, twice at Group level including a coveted Royal Ascot victory. This is what dreams are made of and I confidently recommend this syndicate to anybody looking for quality, affordable Racehorse ownership.
Tony Marlow
I am proud to be part of the NBR syndicate family
I am proud to be part of the NBR syndicate family
Nick is very knowledgeable and is a very shrewd buyer
Joining NBR with Forever Grateful has been exciting, informative, enjoyable, and fulfilling. The regular features from Nick and Russell are beyond my expectations and I am proud to be part of the NBR syndicate family. Thank you.
Paul Twells
Nick is very knowledgeable and is a very shrewd buyer
Nick is very knowledgeable and is a very shrewd buyer
We have been with Nick for about 5 years now and have gradually increased the number of horses we have shares in. This year it will be seven. Nick is very knowledgeable about horse racing and is a very shrewd buyer who looks for value at all times. Therefore, the horses he buys can be incredible value, we have shares in Dandalla and Fev Rover to prove the point! The communication from Nick and his team is really good and importantly honest.
We like the idea of owning a share in a horse, rather than being in a syndicate without ownership. We always get tickets to attend and the yard visits are always informative. Overall, our experience with Nick Bradley Racing has been very positive and although this year has been difficult with Covid 19 we look forward to 2021 with 4 new yearlings and perhaps one of them will be the next Dandalla or Fev Rover.
Jeff and Samantha
Although it has been a difficult year, overall, it was a great year for me as an owner
2020 was a strange and trying time to be a Syndicate Member and Owner of a racehorse. I have made the most of it by trying to attend the racecourse where my horse was running whenever it was possible. I have been fortunate to have two Black Type winners this year although I have not been able to see one of them run live due to the pandemic. This year has ironically turned out to be Nick Bradley Racings best year and is testament to Nicks hard work and expertise in buying good yearlings at the sales. Looking ahead to next year and trying to be positive about the situation, I went to Doncaster Yearling Sales where Nick and his team chaperoned me around the Sales. A very enjoyable experience, and of course, I bought into two yearlings for next year. Although it has been a difficult year, overall, it was a great year for me as an owner. I am now looking forward to the 2021 season and hoping things get back to normal for another great year with Nick Bradley Racing.
Jack Bowers
2020 with NBR is a year I’ll never forget
This year, bored at home in lockdown, I decided to push the boat out and bought a small lease share in Beverley stalwart Zihaam and, after that, small shares in four juveniles. Four of those five horses have won this year and although Covid restrictions meant I was unable to make it to the track, I’ve still enjoyed joining the Zoom meetings Nick has put on before the races during lockdown. Seeing Dandalla hack up in the Group 3 Albany at Royal Ascot was my highlight, as she had been 25-1 at the antepost stage and landed us a big gamble.
Mystery Angel has won two races for us. She, too, has proven an absolute bargain for her owners and was, like Dandalla, shrewdly recruited by Nick for a modest fee.
Owners are given regular updates (usually weekly) on their horses and everything is fully transparent - a breakdown of the prize money is sent at the end of the year so owners know where they stand. I’d recommend NBR to anyone looking to get into syndicate ownership - you can never guarantee you will make money with any horse purchase, but Nick’s record speaks for itself and he puts in hours of work ahead of the sales - efforts that have certainly bore fruit this year with my four juveniles winning six races between them. Wayne Finter
Do you fancy becoming a racehorse owner ?
To have her mentioned in the same breath as laurens is simply a dream come true - jeff kemp
We have had shares in horses with Nick for about 5 years now and because we are retired the main aim is to attend the races to watch them. Nick always gets tickets for owners and we have met some lovely people during our trips. We have had numerous winners and we found ourselves at the end of the last flat season with just 2 horses after others were sold. These are Geizy Teizy who won a Class 2 in December and Baronial Pride who is rated 86 after injury – both now 4. Therefore, we wanted a 2-year-old with Nick for 2020. We met Matt Brown through Baronial Pride and have become good friends albeit that he is far more knowledgeable than me! He recommended that we buy into a Gutaifan filly called Fev Rover. Therefore, in late January we bought a share in the horse, a recommendation from Matt is good enough for us! And so, we were sorted for the 2020 season having bought another chaser for the winter too to replace Duel at Dawn who ran at Cheltenham for us. We then went away on holiday as we were taking part in a documentary for French television in Borneo about the plight of orangutans.
Unknown to us a small number of shares in Dandalla became available while we were away and selling quickly. Matt is a fan of Dandy Man and was interested in getting involved and wondered if I might be too but he couldn’t get in touch with us. Therefore, he purchased a share for him and one for us on the chance that we would have it. When we got home, I clearly remember the discussion and ultimately, we agreed to take the share off him without any idea of her pedigree or how the horse looked. We still haven’t seen her. We then simply forgot about horses while the Covid crisis occupied our time.
It wasn’t until we started to get the reports from Karl that we thought we may have a decent horse; Karl is not known for getting excited for no reason about a horse. To have a horse mentioned in the same breath as Laurens is simply a dream come true. And the rest is history…
And so a big thank you to Matt for selling us his extra share in the favorite for next year’s 1000 Guineas, we will be forever grateful! I’m not sure he will think he did the right thing right now….
On the day of her Newcastle race we were quite nervous because while the reports were good no one knew anything about any of the horses in the field. The nerves changed to excitement around 2f out when Ben asked her to move forward and she shot clear to win easily. We then knew she was decent but what did she beat, no one knew, but at least she did it well and 7-1 looked a steal at the time. We celebrated with a prosecco and got on ante post for the Albany at 25-1. Having a Royal Ascot runner was a dream come too, just a shame we couldn’t attend. I remember thinking what a joy it would be to run to a place…..
Are you looking for shared ownership in a racehorse ?
wow - what a fairytale this is turning out to be! - wayne finter
I got involved in the Dandalla syndicate for a bit of fun really, not with any expectation of actually making a sound financial investment.
The last two horses I had an involvement with were Sandama in 2017 (with Nick Bradley Racing), in conjunction with a friend, and then Midas Maggie, in a private syndicate with a group of seven other friends, in 2018. For all we had some enjoyable days at the races with both fillies, neither of them proved successful on track. Despite this, I craved that 'winning owner' feeling and thoroughly enjoyed the social experience.
I got married in 2019 so took a break from syndicate ownership last season, but after the wedding was paid off, I decided to get involved again for 2020.
One of the horses I bought into was Zihaam when Nick ran an offer on Roger Fell's gelding just before Christmas. Although Sandama had struggled for NBR previously, I admired Nick's honesty and that he had sold her at the end of her juvenile season - rather than keeping her in training for another year - as some others in the game might have done. When you are buying on a budget, they cannot all win races, but you hand your money over and take your chance.
After buying into Zihaam I was then on Nick's e-mailing list, and when the opportunity later came around to buy into Dandalla with Karl Burke, I couldn't resist.
My friend had held a share in Melesina, who Nick bought for 22,000gns in 2015 and sold for 400,000gns two years later after she had won a Group 3 for Richard Fahey, so I knew Nick had a good eye for a bargain. I work in the racing industry, so I was also well aware of Nick's previous success in his time buying horses at Middleham Racing too.
I must admit, though, when the Covid pandemic struck in the spring and racing was suspended in the UK, I was mortified. You buy into horses to watch them race. Obviously, it was mitigating circumstances stopping racing at the time, though, and not any fault of NBR or the Burke team. The enforced break did make actually seeing her race (albeit through the TV) even more special once racing did resume, however.
For someone who gets a buzz out of watching and betting on racing most days, and whose livelihood depends on the sport, not having any racing taking place in the UK was very tough to take. Home schooling the kids isn't easy in the blazing summer temperatures, and with no football, or indeed any other sport on offer in the UK during the 'lockdown' period either, I must admit, I was utterly fed up. Zoom quizzes and Netflix only kill the boredom for so long. Admittedly, the country did have bigger issues to worry about at the time, but still......
Behind the scenes, though, the show went on in the racing industry throughout lockdown. Karl and his team were still working and Dandalla was being ridden out daily. Nick and his team were also working hard and continued to send regular updates, including several videos per week, of her working at home. That gave owners like me, utterly fed up during lockdown, something to get excited about, and the eagerness to see her get to the track heightened when the reports started to come though - "Karl thinks she is as good as any other juvenile filly he has" etc.
I have always been a big fan of Karl - after what he has done with Laurens and Quiet Reflection, as well as having a good record with his juveniles - so when we heard Karl was very confident ahead of her racecourse debut at Newcastle I backed her on raceday morning at 4/1. I couldn't believe she drifted to 7/1 after the show and when she won, I was absolutely buzzing. I'd told all of the lads at work and loads of my pals at home to back her. My phone nearly melted when she crossed the line.
She had looked so professional at Newcastle that we immediately started dreaming about Royal Ascot - especially since the meeting was only a few weeks away this year and she'd laid down an early marker on the second day of the new UK season. I nibbled a bit of the 25/1 for the Albany after Karl's comments about her going up in trip after Newcastle, though there was still the danger she may end up going for the Queen Mary, so it wasn't until Royal Ascot week itself I properly topped up.
The day the final declarations came in her odds had been cut to 16/1 to 12/1, though some firms were then offering four places each-way. I began backing her in each-way multiples with everything I fancied at Royal Ascot. I was left with egg on my face after blanking in every race on the Tuesday, but when Russian Emperor, Dark Vision and Tactical all won on the Wednesday, I then had some tasty little wagers rolling up for Friday.
On Thursday evening I started to check several speed figure websites to see how she fared in the ratings ahead of the Albany. Although not all of my sources had rated Wes Ward's American raider or Aidan O'Brien's Irish challenger, it seemed Dandalla came out strongly among the home contingent so I was hopeful we might at least nick a place.
I backed her again in a double with Tim Easterby's Art Power, who was favourite for the opening sprint handicap on Friday off a mark of 97 but had been one I'd been waiting to bang since seeing him win at York the previous season.
It was a funny feeling counting down the hours to the race on Friday. We should have all been heading down to Ascot in our top hats, of course, but such are the times...... (to be honest, I hate all the hats and pomp at Ascot anyway so, in that respect, being able to roar her home in my scruff was a blessing in disguise)!
I was working all day and Friday, so had a nice distraction to pass the time in the morning, but the excitement started to hit me about 1.30 pm, even though I was too busy to join the other owners on the Zoom chat.
My home schooling lesson for the kids that morning had been 'art' - they drew pictures of Dandalla winning at Newcastle (please find attached - the one with the jockey on is by my 10 year old and the other is by the 7 yo!) and were excited for the race as I was. Their afternoon assignment was 'media studies & rocket science' - watching Dandalla take-off up the Ascot straight and blast off into orbit!
When the race itself was underway, when the field congregated down the middle of the track, with us having been drawn on the flank, I wasn't quite sure how it was going to pan out. Thankfully Ben Curtis managed to tuck in and get some cover. The moment that really got me off my seat was 2f out when the camera panned out and showed a head-on view of the field, rather than side-on view we'd seen mid-race. We saw Ben moving stylishly through a gap, while most of his rivals started to come off the bridle. I was trying to explain to the kids that when a jockey's arms aren't moving in a Group race it is because they are riding a classy horse, and it was, at that moment I realised myself, "Christ, we have a nice one". Goosebumps stuff.
It was always at the back of our minds, stepping up from 6f and trying softer ground, that she might not have seen out the extra furlong in the Albany, but Karl had been confident she'd stay it, and that was good enough for me before the race. When Ben asked her to go and win, she just kept pulling further clear. To win the Albany like that was absolutely scintillating.
In terms of my experience in horse racing, everything peaked right there for me. We'd just watched a 22,000-euro recruit hand out a six-length beating to the leading 6f fillies in the country. We knew she had been attracting interest from the big boys before the race.....we can only imagine the level of interest there is going to be in her now.
Who knows what the future holds with the exciting daughter of Dandy Man? A Royal Ascot victory and now talk of Group Ones, potential trips to France and the 1000 Guineas seems rather crazy. It is the sort of stuff every owner dreams about, yet it is happening with Dandalla!
Being involved with NBR in Dandalla has certainly given me more excitement than the 0.2 % interest rate on my ISA has done.
