Under their Waikato Bloodstock banner the duo purchased Lot 2 for $130,000, a
colt by the US Breeder' Cup Juvenile winner Uncle Mo from Japanese mare Uno
Sayuri. The colt breezed up in a comfortable 10.92 for the 200 metre journey
and was offered through the Curraghmore draft."He is a lovely colt and we thought he would be a difficult one to buy," admitted Bryce Tankard.
"We loved his breeze up and the underlying strength of his family pedigree. The tough nature of Japanese racing is well known and the performance of his extended family in that environment makes him an attractive proposition."
Bought for a local client, Tankard is keen to see how the colt develops before any further plans are made for him.
"He will go home now and we'll bring him along with a view to getting him to the trial stage in the autumn, he said.
"Once we see how he is progressing we will make some firmer plans for him then."
Te Akau Racing supremo David Ellis was another local to make an early splash in the market when he outlaid $280,000 for a Savabeel colt from the O'Reilly mare Ahna. Offered by Leighton Van Dyk's Prima Park, the colt features a host of well credentialed performers in his extended pedigree including outstanding racemare Marquise, the half sister to multiple Group One winners Octagonal, Diamond Lover, Kaapstad and Mouawad.
Ellis later went to $230,000 for Lot 72, the Chestnut Rip Van Winkle colt from the Lyndhurst Farm draft.
The colt hails from the family of Gr. 1 Easter Handicap winner Pondarosa Miss and her Group One placed brother Ecuador. Ecuador races out of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable in Sydney who were the underbidders on the Ellis purchase. – NZ Racing Desk
