The Bloodstock Agents’ Federation of New Zealand (BAFNZ) is the leading professional body representing accredited bloodstock agents across the country.
This series takes an in-depth look at the varying backgrounds of BAFNZ members and their work within the thoroughbred industry.
Chris Rutten established his bloodstock agency after more than three decades operating a successful breaking-in and pre-training operation.
It proved to be a seamless transition and from limited budgets can boast an excellent strike rate with his purchases, including top-flight winners Vespa and Yourdeel who were both awarded champion New Zealand juvenile status.
Vespa triumphed in the G1 Diamond Stakes off the back of claiming the Listed Karaka Millions 2YO Classic while Yourdeel won both the G1 Diamond Stakes and G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and finished runner-up in the Karaka Millions.
Scott Base was another major success story who landed the thick end of the stake in the Karaka Millions 3YO Classic and was a multiple Group 2 winner.
Born and schooled on the Kapiti Coast, Rutten hasn’t strayed far from his roots.
“I’m still here and it’s a beautiful property, we’ve got 110 acres and we love the lifestyle,” he said.
Rutten isn’t from a racing family but was quicky hooked from an early age.
“I did pony club and was showjumping and doing equestrian to a good level with a few national titles,” he said.
“I didn’t go overseas and decided to make a career here when I started working with thoroughbreds.
“I became very good friends with John Norwood, I was working his horses and he asked me to set up a pre-training and breaking-in establishment, so I did that for about 10 years.”
Rutten subsequently gained an insight into the movie world before resuming his thoroughbred career.
“I got approached to train the horses for the Lord Of The Rings movie and did that for two and a-half year or three years,” he said.
“I got back into racing after that and got busy with it straight away. There were a lot more horses in the Central Districts then, we had Murray Baker, Bruce Marsh and Noel Eales and they all had big stables.
“Bruce was a major client and one of my first, I spent a lot of time with him and picked up a lot from him and those guys along the way.”
He made the decision around 2010 to pursue a different path in the industry and subsequently established Chris Rutten Bloodstock and quickly earned a reputation as a respected judge of yearlings.
“I’ve pre-trained and broken in an awful lot of horses over 33 years, it was a big operation and always had around 65 or 70 horses here,” he said.
“About 15 years ago, I decided to get the numbers down, it was time to back my own judgment and buy, sell and trade horses and specialise that way.
“I didn’t want to be so busy all the time, it was time to take things a bit easier and looking at and selecting horses is something I really, really enjoy.
“It’s what I’ve been doing all my life really, when you’re riding and working them, you’re looking at them all the time and seeing all the different types of horses and pick up on it all.”
Rutten has also forged a successful association with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, with G3 Gloaming Stakes winner Raf Attack among his purchases for their Sydney stable.
He attends all New Zealand sales and international sales on request and buys across all budgets.
“I’ve had a lot of clients over the years and made a lot of contacts in the game,” Rutten said.
“I like to look at nearly every horse and if I like it, then look at the breeding, weighing up the stallions and dams on the pedigree page and black type performers in the family.
“I can be forgiving at times if I really like the horse and can see it’s not going to be an issue in the future.”
Q & A
Do you have any sale day superstitions?
“No, certainly not, not into any of that.”
Best horse(s) you’ve ever bought or being associated with?
“Vespa ($34,000), Yourdeel ($100,000) and Scott Base ($70,000). I’ve worked with and broken in a lot of very good horses, including Jimmysstar (multiple Group 1 winner of more than A$6 million).”
Gai Waterhouse Raf Attack
Best value for money purchase(s)?
“Probably have to be Vespa who ended up winning more than $970,000.”
Do you have a favourite nick/cross when sourcing yearlings?
“Not as such, I do look at type first and then assess the pedigree. We all know that good horses can come from anywhere.”
Favourite current sire and of yesteryear?
“Savabeel is one of the best, Satono Aladdin’s doing a good job and Sword Of State and Noverre among the younger ones, we’ve got a good group of competitive stallions here. Dundeel was, and still is, a very good sire.”
Most memorable day at the races?
“John (Norwood) and I raced Touche and when he ran third in the Karaka Million and it was like winning it to us. Vespa did win it the following year, so that was obviously a huge thrill.”
