Racing Post Wednesday, February 1, 2012 15 WORLD A brief encounter with Sophia Loren taught jetsetting agent the importance of location HE deal that saw life. As does Loren. During a Sarafina join Teruya movie festival, the actor’s car Yoshida’s broodmare WEDNESDAY FOCUS parked directly in front of a band in a private Amanda Duckworth talks to charismatic young Colombo, who was T purchase from the bloodstock figure Eugenio Colombo, who sitting on the lower board of a Aga Khan was handled by brokered the sale of Sarafina to Japan barricade. According to Italian-born, Florida-based Colombo, when Loren emerged agent Eugenio Colombo. His wearing a dress, he caught a list of clients is like an Pattern-race winners, among Gran Premio di Milano for Mr glimpse of her underwear and international ‘who’s who’ of them Tony Bin, Falbrav, Yoshida. It was very lucky. He learned the value of ‘location, the thoroughbred world. Bob Back and Rakti. was a fantastic man. I don’t location, location’. Beyond the Yoshida family Colombo started his consider that family as clients. Passion is something that and the Aga Khan, other bloodstock agency in Italy in They are friends, and we work drives Colombo’s life and he notables include, but by no 1969. That year he took his together.” feels it is also the key to means are limited to, John first trip to the United States, having success in racing. Messara, the Wildenstein and that experience eventually FTER moving to “Buy horses if you enjoy the family, the Wertheimer family, led him to relocate in 1978. America, Colombo game,” he says. “All the great Frank Stronach and Three “I fell in love with America worked for owners of my generation and Chimneys Farm. right away,” he says. “I started Fasig-Tipton and the generation before mine Colombo, who has worked to go back and forth. Anytime A organised the 1987 were riders. They have natural with both parties in the there was a cargo plane ‘Night of the Stars’. The passion and they understood Sarafina deal for decades, coming from Italy to New York, evening has been reformatted how to respect the horse. says: “I bought Elusive Kate I asked the shipping company and now exists as the one- “Now my hardest task is to [for Yoshida] before the to be an attendant so I would session November select sale. explain to the new generation Breeders’ Cup, so I spent the have a free ticket. The 60s and “It is very difficult to keep a of owners that horses are not week of the Breeders’ Cup in 70s were the golden era of US top executive [interested in machines. It’s a game for Kentucky. I fell in love with breeding and racing.” buying horses] for three or sportsmen and for people who Sarafina’s conformation at In the course of building his four days, so I thought why love and enjoy horses.” Eugenio Colombo: “I fell in love with America right away” Churchill Downs. And it is a bloodstock business, Colombo don’t we put together one good pedigree too because of met Zenya Yoshida (Teruya’s night, and we will give him the the Aga Khan.” late father) while at Tattersalls greatest show on earth?” The charismatic 67-year-old during a December sale. Their Colombo recalls. “That was the has built quite a portfolio relationship got off to a idea of the Night of the Stars, during his time as a bloodstock fantastic beginning when the and it was very successful.” agent, which is the profession first horse Colombo bought for The easiest way to ATTENTION! he turned to in order to stay Yoshida won a Group 1 understand the depth of connected with horses. contest. Colombo’s passion for horses is “I used to be a gentleman “I was able to buy Sortingo to bring up his favourite TRAINERS, OWNERS rider in Italy,” Colombo says. and it was a very lucky start,” runner, Ribot. He can tell you “One morning I fell from a says Colombo. “A month after in charming detail about the horse. I went back the next we bought him, he won the champion’s colourful life. day to the same horse that I “Ribot is the horse of my AGENTS, BREEDERS... was afraid of, and I fell for the heart,” says Colombo. “He was second day in a row. I said a very intelligent horse. He ‘Stop, no more!’ When you are was the boss, he was the afraid to ride, that is when you leader. He’s such a legend. I get hurt. So, my only option if grew up with two great idols: ...of 2-year-olds of 2012 I wanted to stay in the horse Ribot and Fausto Coppi. They business was to become a were the heroes of my bloodstock agent.” childhood. The hero of my sired by USA based Stallions It proved to be a smart puberty was Sophia Loren.” move, as Colombo has been Italy’s Coppi was one of the involved in the sale of 29 greatest cyclists the world has ARE THEY champions and/or Classic Sophia Loren: a hero of known, and cycling still holds winners as well as countless Colombo’s adolescence a special place in Colombo’s EBF NOMINATED? SELLING AT TATTERSALLS NEWMARKET Thursday 2nd February 2012, at approx 4pm. CHECK NOW byringing from HEATH HOUSE STABLES, NEWMARKET Cheryl Caves, Candy Wight Vendors of top class fillies SERPENTARIA, VEILED, TENBY LADY etc. or Susan Carroll on 01638 667960 Lot 167 - APPEAL (IRE) (4 g.f.Selkirk(USA)xAmenixa(FR)) Cost of Nomination: $3,000 by Afinebigscopeyfilly,shedidnotraceat2years,buthaswonthreeofherlastfourstarts(from11th February 15th 2012 November 2011 to latest win 6th January 2012) at up to 1m6f. She is still improving rapidly and her current Timeform Rating is 84. DON’T RESTRICT THEIR OPPORTUNITIES A200,000gnsyearlingandhalfsistertotopclassZINZIBERINE(USA);shehasconsiderablevalueas abroodmareandissoldwithcurrentbreedingcertificateetc.Sheis,however,thoughtlikelytocontinue European Breeders' Fund, winning more races on the flat and has the size, scope, limbs and temperament to go hurdling. Stanstead House, The Avenue, Newmarket, She is open to any examination prior to sale, at Heath House, Moulton Rd, Suffolk CB8 9AA Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8DU Tel: 01638 667960. Fax: 01638 667270. Email: [email protected] All enquiries to: Sir Mark Prescott, Bt. Tel: 01638-662117 Fax: 01638-666572 Website: ebfhorseracing.com