Meet Our Team
ANDY AUGUSTINE
SALES & BLOODSTOCK DIRECTOR
Andy has raced horses over the last twenty years and has set up syndicates for family and friends with horses he has personally selected. The biggest success to date is Mrs Snippets syndicate Andy established which raced a 10% share in Gotta Kiss (purchased for $150,000, 2nd in the Group 1 JJ Atkins 2020 and sold for $800,000). Gotta Kiss ran in both the Magic Millions Classic and Magic Millions Guineas.
2021 yearling purchases include Hoofs Don’t Lie, a very promising sprinter trained by Lindsay Park purchased out of the paddock, Arugamama purchased at the Adelaide Magic Millions, she was purchased to be an Oaks filly and that is her target in the Autumn of 2023 after two outstanding spring runs which saw her place at Morphetville. Another horse purchased in 2021 is Queen of Nations, winner on debut at Geelong in April. Her spring was derailed by an injury on route to her spring target the Gr 1 Thousand Guineas. Whistler Girl was another purchase and she won at Pakenham.
From the first 7 horses to race from the first two batches of yearlings purchased by Andy and his bloodstock team at Snippets 4 have won, 5 have placed and two are stakes placed including Chilled (see feature story below in ANZ News on 8th of May) and Arugamama.
Andy in his childhood spent many a weekend on the family property and attending the races with his father. He then spent his gap year between uni studies gaining valuable hands on experience as a stud and yearling groom on the acclaimed Trans Media Park stud now Twin Hills Stud at Cootamundra. Andy was employed as the Sales & Communications Manager at MAKYBE Racing and Breeding for 2 years and was responsible for representing the stud at yearling sales as well as marketing the stud’s stallions.
“I have spent many years attending sales and inspecting yearlings with some very good judges and each time learning something different . Currently, I work closely at the sales with Peter Morgan who gives me a trainer’s perspective of the horse and we together create a shortlist for veterinary examination. If the horse is assessed as low risk on its X-rays and has a good scope it passes our veterinary and we try and buy the horse. Sometimes we will partner with a trainer prior to the sale if we learn we have a mutual interest in the horse or in other cases Snippets Racing will buy the horse and then source a trainer we think will be best suited to the horse.”
Andy is a full-time on Snippets Racing following his passion for the thoroughbred industry leaving behind his corporate marketing career with senior marketing roles with Baker’s Delight, Y&R ANZ (formerly George Patterson Advertising) and APCO Service Stations. “The number one rule that a career in marketing taught me which translates to my approach to everything at Snippets Racing is my customers come first, “ says Andy.
Andy has established many strong industry contacts including at the Magic Millions where he was instrumental in orchestrating the Magic Millions sprint race to be renamed the Magic Millions Snippets in honor of Snippets winner of the inaugural Magic Millions.
Andy’s focus at SRS is bloodstock selection, sales and communication with our clients and trainers.
Peter Morgan and Andy inspecting our 2022 yearling buys together.
JADE AUGUSTINE
CLIENT ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR
Jade’s passion for thoroughbred racing flourished through her grandfather, Alex Blackney, a prominent owner in Victoria’s western district in the 70s and 80s.
As a university student Jade identified a need for young people to experience the thrill of racing and pitched the idea of the Geelong Colts & Fillies to the Board of the Geelong Racing Club (GRC). They bought into her vision and the Geelong Colts & Fillies was born. At the height of her leadership this group had over 700 members all aged under 25 and all engaged with the GRC through Jade’s initiatives.
The success of the Colts & Fillies led to a role at Country Racing Victoria. After two years at CRV she joined Lion Nathan to leverage their racing sponsorship investment in Victoria. On leaving Lion Nathan she then continued her career in the thoroughbred breeding industry as Marketing Manager for MAKYBE Racing and Breeding and assisted in their corporate hospitality and client relations.
Jade also marketed and promoted the Camperdown Cup. Whilst at MAKYBE and marketing the Camperdown Cup she was asked to join the Board of the Geelong Racing Club.
Jade quickly asserted herself on the committee with her passion and knowledge of the industry. She served five years on the board with three of those years as the first female Vice President in the GRC’s history. The Board identified Jade’s talents were required on a day to day basis and she was asked to fulfil the vacant role as the Club’s Sales and Marketing Manager.
Jade is also a racehorse owner in her own right. She is syndicate Manager of Mrs Snippets, a syndicate of girlfriends with whom she shares the thrill of racehorse ownership.
Jade recently left the GRC to focus on the day to day operations at SRS and raising three children.
MILLY AUGUSTINE
DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Milly is Jade and Andy’s teenage daughter. Milly already has a strong passion for the racing industry. She helps out with the digital and social media side of the business (we would be lost without her!) and her ambition is to one day work in the racing industry.