British raider Blond Me has climaxed a huge month for JJ Gordon Bloodstock (FBAA) with a Group 1 victory in the E.P Taylor Stakes (2000m) at Woodbine.

The Andrew Balding-trained mare was purchased by Moonee Valley-based agent Jeffrey Gordon for 65,000gns (AUD 116,255) at the 2013 Tattersalls October yearling sale.  She collected the bulk of a $500,000 purse in Canada and will round off her career in the G1 Hong Kong Vase or G1 Hong Kong Cup in December.

“I think she deserved it,” Balding reflected.  “She won two Group 2 races at home and was second in the G1 Nassau Stakes.  She retires at the end of the season and will probably have one last go in Hong Kong.”

Blond Me (Tamayuz) had an Australian connection when targeted by Gordon at Tattersalls – she’s a half-sister to English import Glass Harmonium who won the G1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington in 2011.

Gordon (pictured with Grangemore Stud’s Guy O’Callaghan) returned to the Tattersalls October yearling sale earlier this month – just days before Blond Me’s career-high victory.

He purchased fillies by Dark Angel (2), Kingman, Speightstown and Kodiac for a total spend of 1.62 million guineas (AUD 2.86 million) during Books 1 and 2.

The first Dark Angel cost 400,000gns and is from Soxy Doxy (Hawk Wing), a half-sister to trans-Atlantic stakes winner Millennium Dragon (G3 Appleton Hcp & LR King Charles II Stakes).

The other Book 1 buy also made 400,000gns.  A half-sister to Pearl Secret (G2 Temple Stakes), she is by Juddmonte stallion Kingman (Invincible Spirit) who beat Toronado in the G1 Sussex Stakes.

Gordon had a family background in racing when commencing work as a pedigree clerk at Coles Bloodstock in the 1970s.  “It was all done manually and meant you absorbed something about every horse researched,” he recalled.  “It has stayed with me ever since.”

Gordon relocated to Dalgety’s Melbourne office broadening his knowledge of the industry as an auctioneer, bid spotter and inspector of yearlings.  During that time he travelled to Singapore where his uncle John Murray was stable jockey for world-class trainer Ivan Allan.  It provided a unique insight into the various racing jurisdictions in South-East Asia.

Gordon also worked with FBAA member Tony Cavanagh at A G Cavanagh & Co before establishing JJ Gordon Bloodstock Consultants with the support of his wife Debbie.  He was one of the first agents in Australia to develop the unraced – trial horse market in Hong Kong.

Backing his judgement in the 1990s, Gordon relocated his family to Singapore to join Mick Kent as operations manager and the stable quickly became a major force on the Kranji – Malaysian circuit.

In an industry that is constantly evolving, Gordon’s vision to be ahead of the game went to another level in 2010 when he developed a system to evaluate and purchase European horses for both Australia and Hong Kong.

“I chose to do the legwork myself and semi-relocated to France,” he said.  “I was introduced to Wayne Mitchell and Tony McEvoy and they recognised a unique opportunity.”

Sysmo (Fr) was the first horse purchased under the new system after a maiden win at Clairefontaine.  He won the LR Seymour Cup and earned black-type at Flemington, Eagle Farm and Morphettville.  Other stayers targeted for Mitchell and McEvoy included Big Memory (G2 Herbert Power Stakes), Le Roi (G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes) and Mouro (G3 Eclipse Stakes).

Gordon has also sourced several Hong Kong stars in Europe.  He spotted Akeed Mofeed, Gold Fun and Giant Treasure in maiden company and all three developed into Group 1 winners for owner Sutong Pan.

Akeed Mofeed (Dubawi) stands at Mr Pan’s Goldin Farms in South Australia and his first crop are ready to embark on their racing careers with prominent racing stables in South Australia, Victoria and NSW.

Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia (FBAA) was formed in 1988 to maintain, improve and develop the standards, status and services of bloodstock agents throughout Australia. Its members operate with the utmost integrity and professionalism and are bound by the strict Industry Code of Conduct.

The list of FBAA members can be viewed at: www.bloodstockagents.com.au