Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham was on hand on the Gold Coast on Wednesday to watch Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park), a product of his Waikato farm, sell for A$3.1 million to the bid of Yulong Investments.
Cunningham bred the daughter of Ocean Park who went on to win eight of her 30 starts, four at Group One level, and more than A$3.6 million in prizemoney.
“It has been a great thrill to see her on the sale grounds,” Cunningham said.
“She was beautifully presented and looked her magnificent self. It was great to see her quality and performance acknowledged in the sale ring today.
“The result is a great credit to (trainers) Mike Moroney, Pam Gerard and all their team at Ballymore for all they achieved with her, and that she retired sound.”
Cunningham said it was instinctual that he should put Tofane in work, rather than sell her as a yearling.
“It is a game of chance,” he said.
“I loved her pedigree and we have raised enough good horses to know that with a bit of luck she might be good.
“When she showed good ability initially and attracted a lot of interest, I was delighted that she could be retained by Ballymore to race in the colours of Rupert Legh and give him and his friends so many incredible thrills over her long career.”
Cunningham said the sale of Tofane yet again showcases the quality bloodstock bred and raised in New Zealand.
“On every farm in New Zealand there are good horses, as we see here (racing in Australia) month after month, year after year,” he said. “New Zealand has always been regarded as a nursery for producing great racehorses and I am proud that it was acknowledged again here today.”
