The legacy of the late Peter Setchell had a fitting final flourish on Wednesday night, producing the sale-topping lot in the 2023 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Group Three-winning mare Ticket To Ride was the final horse to ever be sold from the estate of the respected breeder, who bred a remarkable number of top-line performers including Australian Horse of the Year Red Anchor and fellow multiple Group One winner Oopik.
Offered in foal to this season’s leading New Zealand sire Proisir, Ticket To Ride, a daughter of Shocking, was bought by Robert Stewart for $102,500.
“This brings to a close the breeding career of Peter Setchell, who bred an unusually high number of quality horses over the years, headed by the likes of Red Anchor,” Don Crawford said recently.
“He enjoyed outstanding success as a small breeder during what would have to be classed as a golden age of New Zealand thoroughbred breeding.
Photo: Race Images Christchurch
“This is the last horse to be sold from his estate, so it brings the curtain down on a highly distinguished breeding career.”
The winner of nine races including the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Ticket To Ride was one of two stakes-performed mares bought by Stewart from Wednesday evening’s sale.
He also went to $46,000 to secure Le Sablier, a daughter of Tavistock who won seven races and was runner-up in this season’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m).
“I got the two mares that I really wanted from this sale, so I’m very pleased about that, and I was pretty happy with the prices as well,” Stewart said.
“What really stood out to me with these two mares was that they’re good young mares who earned black-type in their own right.
“In addition to that, the first two foals out of Ticket To Ride have sold very well. The Proisir colt went for $120,000 and the Ardrossan filly – who was only a weanling – made $115,000. That’s good going for the first couple of foals out of a mare. Hopefully she can carry on with it from here.
“I have some shares in Rich Hill Stud stallions, so I wanted to add a couple more mares to my broodmare band for the upcoming season. I’ve got some other mares too, but I reduced a couple down a bit earlier in the year, so I needed to replace them. I’m very happy that I’ve managed to do that today.
“One of them will definitely go to Proisir this season, he’s one of the stallions that I’ve got a share in. But I’ll just give it a bit of thought over the next few weeks and try to work out what will suit them best and give them the best chance.”
Stakes-performed mares were in demand during the National Online Breeding Stock Sale, with the Listed-placed Cool Change selling for $50,000, while the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) winner Elizabeth Rose was knocked down for $41,000.