A half-brother to multiple Group One winner Mo’unga will remain in New Zealand after his purchase by Stephen Marsh at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Sale on Sunday.
The Cambridge trainer went to $380,000 to secure lot 91, the Super Seth colt, out of Waikato Stud’s draft, and he is hoping he can live up to his pedigree.
Standing alongside American bloodstock agents Mike McMahon and Jamie Hill, in addition to Ken Smole and local agent Dylan Johnson, Marsh and his clients saw off keen interest for the colt.
“We were rapt to secure him at the price we did,” Marsh said.
“Bourbon Lane and Dennis Foster will be major shareholders and we will syndicate out the rest in New Zealand.”
Foster heads the Bourbon Lane partnership and began his association with Marsh a few years ago, with their success including the like of Bourbonaire (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who was runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1600m), and Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) prior to his sale to Hong Kong.
Foster is a former pilot and corporate chief executive and has owned thoroughbred farms in Florida and Kentucky and been involved in the horse business since 1973.
His passion for New Zealand has grown with his daughter Shaune and son-in-law David Blackwell, who reside in Auckland.
Photo: Trish Dunell
“We teamed up (with Dennis Foster and the Bourbon Lane partnership) three or four years ago,” Marsh said.
“They are right in behind us, whatever we buy at the sales they like to take a share in a majority of them. This one was earmarked as one of our bigger colts that they would take a chunk in.
“It is great to have them onboard and it is always nice to come to Karaka with the confidence that you have got a bit of backing behind you.”
While Marsh was a fan of the colt’s pedigree, he said he was also taken by his physical type.
“We always look at type first, but it is always nice when you are a half to a great Group One winner like Mo’unga. It makes it a lot easier,” he said.
The colt is from the first crop of yearlings offered for sale by Super Seth and Marsh said the Waikato Stud stallion has made a great start. “They sold remarkably well on the Gold Coast, they are very popular,” he said. “He was a great racehorse and we were always going to try and buy this one.”