Month: January 2021

A solid day of trading on Day Three of Book 1 has concluded New Zealand Bloodstock’s 95th National Yearling Sales Series with encouraging results for the New Zealand industry.  The turnover reached $50,998,000, representing an average of $123,184 for 414 horses sold. The median closed at $95,000, with the clearance rate climbing to an impressive 81%. The conclusion of Book 1 brought a feeling of optimism to the domestic thoroughbred industry moving forward. NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was heartened by the strong clearance rate, buyer participation and vendors willingness to…

Masterton Bloodstock agent Bruce Perry has been a constant presence on the buyer’s sheets throughout the three days of the Book 1 sale at Karaka this year, but he left his biggest hit until the 11th hour. Lot 578, the Almanzor colt, who is a half-brother to Australian Group Two winner Subpoenaed, was the last horse through the auction ring on Tuesday and despite his position in the catalogue, had plenty of heavy hitters’ keen on him. The auction ring action boiled down to a slugfest between Perry and former…

A determination to buy a special son of the Group One racehorse and successful sire that she bred, came to fruition for Henrietta, the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, at Karaka on Tuesday. Montjeu colt Tavistock was bred at Bloomsbury Stud NZ back in 2005 and after being purchased out of the 2007 Select sale at Karaka by trainer Andrew Campbell, went on to win twice at Group One level in New Zealand before being sold to stand at Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud. Success followed as Tavistock produced quality gallopers…

There was a bit of nostalgia at Karaka on Tuesday for Bruce Harvey. The Hong Kong Jockey Club representative topped day three of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale when he purchased lot 520, the Savabeel colt out of Group Three performer Lovetessa, from Cambridge Stud’s draft for $720,000. His third dam is dual Group One winner and broodmare gem Tristalove, one of Harvey’s all-time favourite horses. “We broke in Tristalove way back when she was a yearling and she was one of my favourite horses we have ever had,”…

Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson had a smile a mile wide, mid-way through day three at Karaka on Tuesday. He had just seen a tremendous bidding duel settled in favour of Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore stables, who purchased Lot 451, the Satono Aladdin colt out of O’Reilly mare Inthespotlight for $360,000. Satono Aladdin, a son of Japanese sire sensation Deep Impact, has his first crop of yearlings on offer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling sale this year, a nerve-wracking time for any studmaster as they wait to…

The progeny of Almanzor, who shuttles to Cambridge Stud, have proven popular at Karaka this week and bloodstock agent Bruce Perry has been one of his biggest supporters. Perry has purchased a handful of yearlings by the multiple Group One winner and he believes his latest purchase by the sire is one of the picks of the sale. He went to $420,000 on day three of the sale to secure lot 416, the colt out of Savabeel mare Genius, from Waikato Stud’s draft. Perry first saw the colt at Waikato…

The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) has given Tony Pike plenty to smile about over the last few years and he is hoping his half-sibling will be able to bring him and her new connections half the pleasure. The Cambridge horseman secured lot 474 for $420,000, the Almanzor filly out of Keepa Cheval (NZ) (Keeper), the dam of The Bostonian and a half-sister to nine-time Group One winner Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire), from the draft of Waikato Stud. Pike was commissioned by The Oaks Stud principal Dick Karreman to purchase his pick…

Ruakaka trainer Chris Gibbs is welcoming the wet weather forecast ahead of the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday. Gibbs will line-up Dragon Storm (NZ) in the two-mile feature and said the son of Shocking will appreciate any give in the ground. The six-year-old gelding was met by a Good3 track at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day where he finished 13th in the Gr.3 City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) and while slightly disappointed, Gibbs said the conditions just didn’t suit his charge.…