Trainer Ricky Yiu added to his three purchases from day one when he outlaid $240,000 for Lot 298, a Denman colt from the Diamond Lodge draft while compatriot Dennis Yip struck with a $325,000 bid for Lot 309, a Tavistock colt, also from Diamond Lodge.
Not to be outdone, regular Karaka sale attendee Michael Chang added to his
tally when he successfully bid $350,000 for an athletic Fastnet Rock colt from
Pretty Proud (USA), Lot 426 from the Ohaupo based Riversley Park operation. Chang had been active on day one outlaying $160,000 for Lot 78, an Animal Kingdom colt while earlier on day two he went to $200,000 to secure Lot 373, an All Too Hard colt from the Ohukia Loge Ltd draft.
Chang was pleased to come out on top of a prolonged bidding duel as he signed for the Fastnet Rock colt, who had breezed up in a swift 10.45 seconds for the 200 metre dash.
"He is a very athletic colt with a nice pedigree on the catalogue page," he said. "Fastnet Rock is an outstanding sire who leaves some quality horses.
"I think this horse is in the mould of a nice miler to middle distance type once he fully matures. If he can deliver on what he has shown in his breeze up, I can see him becoming a classic contender back at home."
Chang will leave the colt in New Zealand for six months to complete the next stage of his development before sending him to Hong Kong for the commencement of the new season there. – NZ Racing Desk
Footnote: The Fastnet Rock colt from Pretty Proud was a successful pinhook, bought for $200,000 at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale from the Curraghmore Stud draft.
