Lib Petagna’s Elsdon Park will offer its third draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka later this month, and the Matamata nursery has upped the ante, with their consignment nearly doubling their previous offerings.
“We are taking up 29 (yearlings) and it’s a big job, especially stepping up from the number we had last year (15),” Elsdon Park General Manager Kerrie Cox said.
“This is our third yearling draft for Karaka. We are expanding and it’s exciting to be a part of.
“The calibre of horses that we have got as types and on pedigree is high, and there are some really exciting young sires in there as well.
“We have got some really nice types, they look like racehorses to me, they have been really well educated and raised on beautiful, hilly country.
“We have got such experienced people looking after these horses and they look fantastic, they have done a great job.”
Elsdon Park will be looking to build on last year’s success where they were crowned leading vendor by average after selling 14 of their 15 yearlings for an average of $271,429, highlighted by their top lot, the Zoustar colt out of Group One performer Evalina, who was purchased by Jamie Richards and Andrew Williams for $725,000.
“The fact that we were leading vendor by average across the sale was exciting because it showed people valued the stock that we brought to the market,” Cox said.
Elsdon Park’s main theme in this year’s draft is Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan, with Elsdon set to offer 10 of his progeny in Book 1.
“I think there are 15 Ardrossans in Book 1 and we have 10 of them. We 100 percent believe in the stallion and we think he is going to end up being a good stallion,” Cox said.
“What he is doing at the moment is off very limited numbers and probably not the top-end mares as well, whereas the last couple of books that he has bred he has bred well over 100 mares.
“We sent some really nice mares to him. They are pedigrees that can match it in Book 1, and he produces such a good type, and that is why we have got the numbers we have in there.
“You are really proud when you pull one of those horses out in front of people because they look like athletes.”
Elsdon Park will offer full brothers to stakes winner Beau Dazzler and Karaka Millions 2YO contender Toretto (lot 228), and stakes performer Yaldi (lot 90), and Cox said they both should garner plenty of attention from prospective buyers.
“Yaldi is a really big horse, he is tall. This boy is probably not going to be as monstrous as Yaldi, but he is still a big colt,” Cox said.
“He has got a gorgeous head, just like his Dad. A big jowl and is a strong, good-looking horse with plenty of length. He is a really nice horse and he should sell well.
“The Pwerfect colt (lot 228) is medium-sized, really well-balanced and put together, and is the spitting image of Beau Dazzler and Toretto. Toretto is in the Karaka Millions so hopefully he can run really well and be another highlight for the mare.”
Another Ardrossan yearling Cox is particularly excited to see go through the ring is lot 468, who is out of Baby Shacks, a sister to Group One performer Vigor and Group Two winner Joey Massino.
“She is quite a cool horse,” Cox said. “The staff have ownership of her so they will be excited when she goes through the ring.
“She is a great type with amazing movement and has been very well handled. She probably gets more food and handling than anything else.”
Sofia Rosa recorded plenty of highlights for Lib Petagna in her racing career, including winning the 2016 edition of the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) for trainer Stephen Marsh, and Cox is looking forward to seeing her Almanzor colt (lot 308) go through the ring.
“He is lovely,” Cox said. “She was a very good racehorse and one of Lib’s pride and joys. Almanzor leaves such beautiful stock, and he is her best progeny to date. He is really nice and he should find a good home.”
Cox also has a high opinion of the farm’s other Almanzor offering, lot 266, the filly out of Group Three performer Santa Catarina.
“I haven’t heard anyone say a bad word about her, she is a very nice filly. I am looking forward to her going through the ring,” she said.
Eldson Park have three yearlings in their draft by Champion New Zealand sire Savabeel, including lot 602, who is the first foal out of Zoustar mare Fall on a Star.
“He is a first foal and he is just gorgeous,” Cox said. “He has got such a good brain on him that I think you can keep him a colt, he is such a cruisy horse.
“I think he is a star on looks and he has got a tidy pedigree page behind him as well.”
Cox is looking forward to building on Elsdon Park’s success at Karaka, with the sale kicking off on Sunday, January 26.
“Lib has got a really gorgeous foundation of broodmares and every year we are building on that,” Cox said.
“We produce really good types, which is our goal. You have got to have a horse that looks like they are going to be an athlete. They have got to look like they are going to run, they have got to be sound and have a really good start at life, and I think we do that really well.”
