Authentic Aussie Murphy the maestro behind Kentucky Derby success of S F Bloodstock
Field heaps praise on partner after Baffert colt causes Churchill Downs upset
Henry Field has lauded the “extraordinary” Gavin Murphy, an under-the-radar country boy from central Queensland who prefers to keep a low profile, for the Australian investor’s role in S F Bloodstock’s second Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 1m2f) victory in three years.
The remarkable feat, which came in the relative afterglow of S F Bloodstock’s record-breaking success in 2018 with US Triple Crown champion Justify (Scat Daddy), was achieved early yesterday when three-year-old colt Authentic (Into Mischief) caused a boilover in the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
It led to a jubilant Newgate Farm managing director Field, one third of the team who manages the S F Bloodstock operation alongside Murphy and Tom Ryan, passing the accolades to his US-based partners for the result.
“Any time you win a Kentucky Derby, or one of the world’s great races … it’s an extraordinary thing but it’s quite an amazing thing with … how fortunate we’ve been in that race and how S F Bloodstock has been as a group.
“The team works tirelessly to try and make good decisions on a daily basis and it’s wonderful when the rewards follow.
“Tom Ryan has acted as the racing manager of the horse in the States and he’s done a wonderful job working with Bob Baffert.”
But it was Murphy, a New York-based tax counsel to hedge fund tycoon George Soros, who Field reserved special praise for in the hours after Authentic upset short-priced favourite Tiz The Law (Constitution) in the US$3 million race.
“I can absolutely tell you that if it wasn’t for him this result wouldn’t have happened today and nor would S F Bloodstock and Newgate,” Field told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“He is a behind-the-scenes guy, but I can tell you in all sincerity I am not sure there would be many people with a brain for bloodstock like Gavin.
“On a global basis – and it doesn’t matter if it’s this (Australian) market, the US market or any market – he knows the bloodstock markets intricately and he is the quarterback that makes S F Bloodstock what it is.
“Gavin has got no arrogance, no hubris, he’s just a straight shooter and there’s no man that I know with greater integrity.
“I can tell you that he has mentored myself and Tom Ryan over the past ten years. He is hugely successful in the financial industry, but I think he is one of the greatest bloodstock minds certainly that I have ever encountered … and he is the most extraordinary partner to have in Newgate.”
Murphy’s demeanour and desire to stay out of the limelight, Field says, should not take away from the significant impact that he has had on the world bloodstock market which includes a shareholding in Hunter Valley farm Amarina which is operated by Craig Anderson.
Field unashamedly admits that he consults Ryan and Murphy, as well as fellow Newgate Farm partner Matthew Sandblom, almost daily about the inner workings of the large-scale stallion and breeding operation.
That advice had been pivotal in making calm and calculated decisions, particularly during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“Gavin has the leadership traits to tell us to be brave when we should be brave and to be conservative when we should be conservative and to make tough decisions, but to make them with the greatest of integrity,” he revealed.
“He does it with the most balanced state of mind and he does it all with no ego or arrogance. He is a phenomenal person.
“To think he’s the guy who left Rockhampton 30 years ago and has quietly built one of the greatest bloodstock empires on the planet is quite extraordinary and anyone who knows Gavin will know that his brain works like a computer.”
Field was at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sales where in consultation with Ryan, Murphy and agent Donato Lanni, S F Bloodstock secured the colt for US350,000 in partnership with Jack Wolf’s Starlight West.
Two years later – and four months after the Kentucky Derby is normally run – Authentic became Hall Of Famer Baffert’s sixth winner of the historic race. He also prepared Justify for S F Bloodstock, China Horse Club and WinStar Farm, and oversaw the racecourse career of American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile).
“Bob said to us all, Tom Ryan, Gavin Murphy and the whole team, ‘now if we can buy the fast milers I will stretch them out to win a Kentucky Derby’ and that’s exactly what he did,” Field recalled.
“He was a horse the whole team liked very much, but Donato Lanni really liked him and Gavin Murphy made it very clear that we weren’t going home without the horse.”
In June, Spendthrift Farm purchased a majority stake in Authentic, which came after the son of Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday) had won his first three starts including two at Graded level, and principal B. Wayne Hughes then partnered with MyRacehorse.com to sell 4200 micro shares in the exciting colt.
“I am not certain what their plans are, but they have bought a horse that has got a huge amount of speed and a huge amount of class. I am sure if they do decide to bring the horse to Australia, he’s got the hallmarks of a horse … who could succeed,” he said.
“B. Wayne is such an extraordinarily successful guy in his own right and it’s wonderful from our team’s point of view that he has made a big investment in Australia.
“He has surrounded himself with good people and we’re as happy for him and the whole Spendthrift team.”
Authentic’s crowning victory adds to his success in the Haskell Stakes (Gr 1, 9f), his lead-up to the Derby. He has had six starts for five wins and US$2,871,200 in prize-money, with his only defeat coming when runner-up to Honor A. P. (Honor Code) in the Santa Anita Derby (Gr 1, 9f) in June.