Bevan’s Story

Bevan is a third generation horseman following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. His love horses is in his blood and he has grown into his passion and work.

Born at Trelawney Stud, Bevan was around horses from day dot. At the age of three the Smith family moved to Japan where Chris (father) managed a private thoroughbred operation in Hokkiado called Yamazaki Bokujo.

Upon returning to New Zealand Chris turned his hand to training a small number of horses in Cambridge and then Te Aroha. Bevan was always around helping out, be it mucking out or going down to the track in the mornings.

Racing always appealed to Bevan and took every chance to get to the races. He also followed his father around sales when he was actively buying. Bevan and his brother Mitch bought their first horse in 2003 for just $1000 from the now extinct Cambridge Lodge Sale, using money earned from raising calves. The horse was called Iron Dook and won at Rotorua before being sent to Singapore.

Sales always appealed to Bevan and he would follow his father around at Karaka whenever he was looking to purchase. The first year the Karaka Million was introduced, Chris got his family together with a plan to buy a horse to set for the race. He went to Karaka and purchased Maureen Dorothy who would finish second in the inaugural Karaka Million – throwing the race away as she shied at the whip.

A yearling preparation at Waikato Stud was completed before he went to Massey University to study a Bachelor of Business with a double major in Marketing and Sport Management.

Massey University was selected as the Sport Management course offered a practicum with a position at Awapuni Racing available each year. It was great experience in the business side of the industry for Bevan.

Once finished at uni, Bevan moved over to Australia, originally for six months of yearling preparation that dragged out over two and half years. Starting at Eliza Park Stud, then freelancing for various farms before stints at Woodside Park Stud and as the yearling manager at Musk Creek Farm, gave Bevan a great basis of knowledge of young stock and development of horses.

Returning home to New Zealand, Bevan took up a position at New Zealand Bloodstock as Marketing Assistant. Responsible for producing press releases, statistics and sale research among many jobs. A keen desire to work in bloodstock was quickly established as well. Bevan also took on the role of managing Gavelhouse when NZB purchased the company, and building the current auction platform as it operates currently.

Next on the journey was the Sunline Management Scholarship that took him to Cheveley Park Stud in the UK, Coolmore Ireland and Taylor Made Sales, expanding his experience, knowledge and importantly relationships around the world.

Then in 2016 Bevan started working Mulcaster Bloodstock with tasks including shortlisting at sales, private purchases of racehorses and breeding stock, analyzing form from New Zealand, Australia and Europe, management of horses, stallion management including selling shares, etc. gaining valuable experience from one of the best in the business.

That leads us to the current day where Bevan has launched Bevan Smith Bloodstock. In its infancy, BSB has already garnered the support of highly valued and respected clients.

Integrity

Bevan Smith Bloodstock holds itself to the highest standard of integrity. Transparency and diligence are paramount and clients will always be told the truth and updated.

“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.”
― Oprah Winfrey

Passion

A life devoted to horses, they are Bevan’s passion, not his work. A dedication to doing the best by his clients and by horses around him. The horses needs will always come first and that leads to doing the best for clients.

“Doing right by the client by doing right by the horse.”

Innovation

A determination to always be better has seen Bevan search for and embrace best practices for purchasing horses. His work with DataTrack International is example of using data and technology to buy horses with confidence.

“If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.”
– Peter F. Drucker

Reliability

Always available and ready to work for you, Bevan will go out of his way to get the best result for you. All of the cliches apply - ‘no stone left unturned’ - ‘my door is always open’ - ‘move heaven and earth’. They all apply, you can rely on Bevan to do his best for you.

“A man who lacks reliability is utterly useless.”
- Confucius