Enterprising Eisele

With a name to be trusted and an eye for a bargain, the future of BBA Germany looks rosy under Dirk Eisele’s guidance

DIRK EISELE is one of Germany's leading bloodstock agents. Pocessing an enterprising nature, he is present at all major sales in Europe and has built up a solid reputation with a large number of clients.

His father, Hansjoerg Eisele, was the first major agent in Germany. He was instrumental in founding BBA Germany, which developed into a highly successful company and his son is carrying on his father's work.

Born in Cologne on December 29, 1965, Dirk left school to work in the business departement of the Deutscher Sportverlag, the publisher of the German racing paper Sport Welt. In the early nineties, he joined his father at BBA Germany and increasingly began to assist his father at sales and in the office.

His first major venture in the thoroughbred business was the planning and organizing of the Hoppegarten Yearling and Mixed Sale from 1992 through to the late nineties.

In 1994, Dirk worked at the traditional Gestut Graditz during the entire breeding season to gain further practical experience. He then spent some time with the BBA (British Bloodstock Agency), attending all major sales, spotting horses, working mainly with, and for, the late Joss Collins and Stanley D. Petter, jr. Dirk states: "I learnt a lot about the horse as an individual and the industry from these great people. The late champion trainer Bruno Schutz also gave me some sound advice in selecting yearlings,and he was most successful in this field."

Having officially joined his father at BBA Germany, he gradually took more responsibility in the day-today running of the agency, extending the number of clients, and even though the budget was limited, he still
managed to buy quite a few Stakes winners for small money.

The unbeaten juvenile filly Arenea Diadema (Digamist) cost a mere 1,000gns as yearling, Australian Dreams (Magic Ring) was secured for 7,000gns, while the fillies Elegant Ridge (Indian Ridge) and Ingeburg (Hector Protector) were knocked down to 10,000gns and 15,000gns respectively.

With the domestic market rather limited, he ventured to the East of Europe, where his first major deal was the sale of the multiple Gr.1 champion Caitano (Niniski) as a sire to Russia. A strong relationship has since developed between the BBA Germany and Russian owners and breeders, leading a new market for the German bloodstock industry.

In the past few years, Dirk has become increasingly prominent buyer at the leading sales at home and abroad.

This season 2009 was crowned with the Gr.1 Preis der Diana victory of Night Magic (Sholokhov), whom Dirk had bought for €43,000 at the 2007 BBAG September Yearling Sale.

Same day on the card was the Gr.2 Henkel Trophy. This went to the Diesis threeyear-old King of Sydney, who had been led out unsold at last year's Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, but was later a private purchase by BBA Germany, and is trained by Mario Hofer for Stephan Hoffmeister and Guido Schmidt.

The agent is enjoying a particularly successful season, having also picked up the Gr.2 German 1,000 Guineas runner-up Fabiana (Ashkalani) for just 1,000gns as a Tattersalls foal, while last month's Frankfurt Gr.3 winner Sehrezad (Titus Livius) was a 14,000gns Tattersalls December sales yearling, as was the triple Listed scorer Magic Eye (Nayef), bought for 22,000gns.

Dirk snapped up Mood Music (Kyllachy) for 55,000gns at Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale at the end of his twoyear-old season, and he has since won a Gr.3 and three Listed contests.

At the BBAG September Yearling Sale 2008 he selected for Mohamed Jaber from Dubai a son of first season sire Country Real who won 2 races in 3 starts this season including a L. race!

Poseidon Adventure (Sadler's Wells) has won a Listed race this season too. Before this he has been placed in eight Pattern events, including seconds in the 2007 and 2008 Gr.1 Preis von Europa, since Dirk bought him privately out of Aidan O'Brien's stable.

He also purchased Marie Rheinberg for just €7,500 at Baden-Baden as a two-year old in 2004, and she went on to produce this season's Gr.1 Prix du Jockey-Club victor Le Havre.

With vast theoretical and practical experience, the 43-year-old has installed a great amount of trust in his clients, firmly establishing himself as an agent with a strong international interest. But this is only the beginning. We are likely to hear a lot more of Dirk Eisele.