'When young people ask me where to go in Ireland, my answer is always the same: Corduff Stud' - meet Auctav's new agent

Given your family has no connection to the sport, where did your interest come from and who provided your first break?

I've always loved horses since I was very young. My father took me every Saturday morning to ride ponies. Until I was 15 years old I did competitions like cross-country and showjumping. I had reached a point where my parents wanted me to continue with school, especially university. However, later on I decided to leave my studies and that's when I met a gentleman through an agricultural organisation, Aldo Chiocchetti. 

I worked for Aldo and his family for almost three years. They taught me the work ethic in the world of the thoroughbred. When they could, they took me to the races, at Varese and Milan especially. I remember that every day we spent almost two hours looking at pedigrees and stallion statistics.

Aldo and his father Piero were my first employers. They have always supported me since the first day I went through their door; if I hadn't had the Chiocchetti family to support me professionally I don't think I would be here doing an interview with the Racing Post today. 

You travelled around the world in gaining experience; where did you go and what did you learn?

I left my homeland, Italy, in 2012 to go to work in France, in Normandy precisely, for Patrick Chedeville at Haras du Petit Tellier, where I worked for two years. I will always be grateful to Mr Chedeville and Antoinette Tamagni because they gave me the opportunity to gain experience and leave for New Zealand and Haunui Farm, where I stayed for six months. It was my dad's dream to go to New Zealand and when he learned I had the job, he left with me for a little holiday. 

Soon after, I did a year at Lane's End in Kentucky. When people talk about the American dream, in some sense it really was for me; America had been my dream since I was a child, when I spent hours and hours watching Seabiscuit or even Secretariat on the television. The United States, for me, is the elite in the world of the thoroughbred. 

After a year in America I left for Ireland to work for Corduff Stud, for the Egan family, for a year. I loved working for this family farm, they have a work culture like few others, and a very convivial environment. Nowadays when young people ask me for tips on going to Ireland, my answer is always the same: go for a tour of Corduff Stud. 

I left Ireland to go to Australia, namely Arrowfield, where I worked for almost two years. Once I returned to Europe, I worked for many consigners. One was Philipp Stauffenberg, for whom I worked for several years at BBAG and Tattersalls auctions. I did one sale for the Elite Sales team; their founding partner Bradley Weisbord is a genius. He understands the business better than anyone else, he knows how to talk to people, and is just on another level. Plus the team behind him is unbelievable. While I spent just a week with them, I had the time of my life. I thought to myself, I would love to go back to America right now!'

Bradley Weisbord: 'He understand the business better than anyone else'Credit: Keeneland photo

I also did two seasons of yearling preparation for Ecurie de Monceaux and seven seasons at Haras de Bouquetot as a stallion man. 

The fact I went around the world was a personal choice. My goal has always been to observe and learn. My mother always told me that the eyes can teach you 50 per cent of your work. In every place I've been, I've learned different techniques and I've always learned something. One thing I've always loved about my job is that I learn something new every day. 

How did your new job with Auctav come about, and what duties will you perform?

An old acquaintance at the time of Bouquetot, Sebastien Bloyet – of Haras de Beaufay nowadays – told me about the Auctav project, referring me to the general manager, Arnaud Angeliaume. So I had a good contact into him, he explained the project to me and I said to myself, 'It's the opportunity of a lifetime.' Opportunities like this nowadays don't often materialise. 

My main occupation will be to recruit horses for sales and discuss broodmares with breeders. Having spent years on the sales circuit, there are two categories of breeders today: those who like to sell horses and those who like to keep youngstock to put into training. 

Today, if you go to the sales you have to go with produce that the market wants and requires, and you have to follow fashion. If not, it is really really hard to sell for good money. 

If you want to keep your youngstock to put into training, that’s a completely different story. 

Simone Faccarello describes the opening with Auctav as 'the opportunity of a lifetime'Credit: Elise Fossard Photography/Auctav

One thing I'd like to say is that French breeders should try to sell more foals at the sales; I’m not sure that keeping every yearling is a good idea. There is a very strong trade for well-bred and/or a very good physical foal.

What are Auctav’s ambitions within the sphere of Flat racing?

Auctav is a young entity. We have a dynamic, cohesive team and an excellent database platform. Auctav's goal is to stage auctions with a good average of horses sold. What we are mainly looking for in our system, especially with yearlings, is a horse who can walk well and has a good physical; if he or she also has the pedigree, that would be five stars.

What are you most looking forward to in 2025 with Auctav?

I want breeders, trainers and bloodstock agents to start talking about us. It's up to us to do a good job and convince people to sell and buy in Auctav. The structure is perfect: spacious boxes, and excellent areas to present a horse properly. Rome was not built in a day, of course; we have time to make a name for ourselves. We're doing it and will continue to do so – we want to make the Auctav brand known to the whole world, and when I say the whole world, I mean the whole world.

Dana White: long admired by Simone-FaccarelloCredit: Getty Images

It has nothing to do with racehorses but one person I've looked at for years with admiration is the big boss of the UFC, Dana White. He understood the business a long time ago. He started from nothing and built an empire; he went to every part of the world to advertise the entity. When you believe in yourself, anything is possible.

Do you have any favourite racehorses, sires or broodmares, past or present, and what made them special to you?

Regarding racehorses, Sea The Stars and Frankel made me fall in love with racing. Two of the very best in the world. 

Another horse I loved was Toronado, and I was lucky enough to look after him as a stallion. In my eyes, he was the most special horse I've had through my hands. I took care of him for five seasons. He was a special horse from every point of view: a unique character, physically a monster of power – he was the stallion who made me want to be a stallion man. I remember the day he left for Australia, it was July 6, 2022. That day, I knew it would be the last time I would take care of him.

I would add that I had a very good connection with Armor too. He's a very funny horse, with lots of character but in the right way. A son of the champion No Nay Never out of a High Chaparral mare, he was very fast and precious as a two-year-old, trained by Richard Hannon. I think he has all of the credentials to be a very useful sire in France. Breeders seem to love him. 

Read this next:

'He leaves behind a legacy as a true legend of the Irish stallion ranks' - Rathbarry stalwart Acclamation dies at 25