TBV member story: Brad Thomas from X-Factor Pedigrees

Above: Brad Thomas after Dalradian won the Inglis Banner.

Brad Thomas from X-Factor Pedigrees celebrated another top-rated pedigree match as Tradewind upset the punters with an impressive victory in the VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade on Ballarat Cup day. This success is by no means a stroke of luck as his knowledge as a talented pedigree consultant is well known in the industry.

As is often the case, Brad’s first experience in the industry was joining a group of friends in ownership twelve years ago. It didn’t take long for Brad to find his passion where he decided to pursue opportunities for ownership on his own. After a move from Melbourne to Ballarat, Brad opted to support local trainers and became involved in none other than Trust in a Gust. “The fire gets well a truly lit being in with a good horse.’

Above: Brad with Trust in a Gust in the the stalls

‘After this experience I became more entrenched in the industry and knew I wanted to be more involved somehow although I was not quite sure how or what I could do.’ Trust in a Gust was bred by Swettenham Stud, who later purchased the sire after his racing career, and through this connection Brad started conversations with Adam Sangster. ‘This was a big turning point for me, as Adam put me in touch with Brian Messner to discuss pedigree analysis, a very narrow, niche area of the industry that turned out to be perfectly suited to how my brain works!’

After a visit to Hahndorf in South Australia to meet Brian, Brad commenced his journey into pedigree analysis. He spent a few years learning a different approach to pedigrees and gaining valuable experience prior to setting up X-Factor Pedigrees. ‘Meeting with Brian made me change the way I look at pedigrees. I was fascinated by how deep bloodlines go while still being influential, as well as the genetics and science behind it got me really excited.’ For Brad, learning from Brian couldn’t be more appropriate as his system is based on science, biology, chromosome transferral, and what is and isn’t still active in pedigrees, are all factors to take into consideration.

X-Factor Pedigrees is still in its infancy after being set up by Brad two years ago. Already with a large number of clients ranging from those needing one-off assistance at the yearling sales, to others requiring assistance with matings, X-Factor Pedigrees work with clients on the full circle of the breeding process. ‘My core business is mare analysis for matings and matching them to stallions. The breeding is my passion, to produce an athletic thoroughbred and get racetrack results is very difficult but I love the challenge.’  Brad has achieved strong results from yearling selections that are now starting to come through with Latenighttoughguy, Money in my Pocket who came 4^th in a Group 3 to Swat’s That and more recently Tradewind. Brad’s first X Factor matings are now yearlings and have sold up to $800,000 for an Almazor colt for clients Sunlight Trust.

Brad’s support for the Victorian Breeding industry is quite remarkable, sending his client’s mares to seventeen Victorian stallions. ‘I feel strongly about supporting Victoria as a breeding network, with the support and investment of Yulong Investments, Spendthrift bringing out new and exciting stallions, also Rosemont stud and Leneva Park who are stepping up in the industry. I am loyal to my home state and like to focus on Victorian stallions.’ As a relative newcomer on the scene, Brad is enthused by the synergy of work of the different stallion farms. Brad has developed very good relationships with the different farms across Victoria and explains that Victoria has a supportive family feel to the industry.

When Brad was asked if he has a favourite horse, it is no surprise that without hesitation it is of course, Trust in a Gust. Not only as a racehorse was he hugely successful, Brad is now enjoying the success of his progeny with the likes of Tradewind making a name for himself on the racetrack. ‘There was something about him that took me, I was obsessed with him, I use to watch the sire cam video on Inglis Sires multiple times a day. There was something about him, I thought he was just amazing physically, it was on type more than anything. Trust in a Gust was actually a mating by Brian Messner who did some work for Swettenham Stud, so it is a lovely link and adds some romance to the story!’

Brad can be contacted via email if you would like more information – brad@xfactorpedigrees.com.au