A productive week of shopping at Karaka has helped to put up-and-coming horseman Nick Kneebone on a path towards New Zealand’s training ranks.
Kneebone made eight purchases under the Patella Bloodstock banner during New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
He secured five yearlings from Book 1, including a Capitalist colt for $460,000, a Satono Aladdin colt for $400,000 and a St Mark’s Basilica colt for $360,000. He followed that up with another three Book 2 yearlings, signing off with a $125,000 colt by Shamexpress late on Thursday afternoon.
Patella Bloodstock’s total spend was $1,680,000 across the five days of the sale.
“It’s been really good,” Kneebone said. “We’ve managed to secure eight horses, seven colts and a filly, and we’re really happy with what we’ve come away with.
“The plan now is to take them down to Cambridge and get them ready, either to be traded on to overseas or to go into training here.”
Photo: Megan Liefting
That is a part of the thoroughbred world that Kneebone himself is keen to become immersed in. The 27-year-old is a son of long-time auctioneer and NZB’s director of business development Mike Kneebone, but he has also gained valuable experience in stables across the Tasman.
“I spent seven years at Randwick with John Sargent, and then had a stint with Jim and Greg Lee as well.
“I’m happy to come here now and give it a crack at a time when it looks like New Zealand racing is on the up. The prize-money increases have been great news for the industry here in recent times and I’m very keen to be a part of it.”
Kneebone’s initial target is to prepare some horses for the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November.
“To kick things off, I think it’s a good idea to trade a few horses,” he said. “I’ll get them ready for the Ready to Run Sale, see how that goes and then take it from there.
“I’m hoping to have a property in Cambridge locked in soon, ideally around late March, when the horses are getting broken in and we’ll be looking to start getting them up and running.” – NZ Racing Desk
