An
attractive colt from the last crop of champion sire O'Reilly was the subject of
spirited bidding on Day 2 of the New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling, Broodmare and
Mixed Bloodstock Sale, eventually falling to the bid of bloodstock agent Dean
Hawthorne.
Acting on behalf of Queensland's Aquis Farm, Hawthorne went to $185,000 for the
colt, seeing off stiff competition from Rider Horse NZ.
Presented by Hallmark Stud, the colt is out of the Volksraad mare Mexican Rose,
a star two and three-year-old filly in Singapore.
"He's been purchased on behalf of Aquis Farm," Hawthorne said. "Kacy Fogden,
the Racehorse and Sales Manager for Aquis, came over and she selected him. We
both thought he was the best type of colt in the sale by a proven sire and they
don't make any more O'Reillys. I think he's a great colt."
Hawthorne was unsure whether the colt would be seen back through a sale in
future or join the Aquis racing team.
"I'm not sure what Kacy will decide to do with him. They buy a fair few
weanlings and they do turn a few over and retain some to race," Hawthorne said.
Aquis Farm is wholly-owned by the Hong Kong-based Fung family and boasts
thoroughbred breeding and training facilities in Canungra, Queensland.
Aquis controls a range of tourism, property and education focussed assets
including a number of high profile development sites on the Gold Coast. – NZ
Racing Desk.