He possesses most people's idea of an impeccable racing pedigree. Sire and dam: the training grandees William and Maureen Haggas. Grandsire: 11 times champion jockey Lester Piggott. From the moment of his birth Sam Haggas's destiny was laid out for him. A life in racing was almost an inevitability. As he reflects: "I've just grown up with it all my life, with horses quite literally out the back door."
And though he has fully grasped the opportunity, this 30-year-old has never strived for a career under the spotlight accorded a celebrated trainer like his father or legend of the saddle like his grandfather, but in the integral, though often forgotten, role of a bloodstock agent.
In just over four years, since establishing his own bloodstock agency in Newmarket, and his endeavours for Godolphin and Avenue Bloodstock before that, Haggas has already demonstrated his acumen as an astute assessor of horses in training, and their capacity for improvement.
It is a decidedly rarified world he inhabits; one in which he spends countless hours behind a computer screen studiously evaluating pedigrees and viewing race videos before his arrival at Tattersalls in Newmarket where we talk during the July Sales.
Away from the capacious sale ring and the auctioneers' barking exhortations demanding that would-be buyers assess the quality of the models on this equine catwalk the 30-year-old discusses his own swift progress and, just as pertinently, his flourishing business relationship with the Classic-winning Newmarket trainer George Boughey - a man very much in the ascendant since launching his own career four years ago at the age of 27.
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
Graham Buddry pays fresh tribute to track legend Sea The Stars - surely one of the greatest ever
IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton