Southern-based sires compose the majority of the 121-lot catalogue at New Zealand Bloodstock's upcoming South Island Sale with the vendors offering a wide selection of the region's best stock. The progeny of 44 sires, including seven first season sires, will be available for buyers to inspect.
A Group 2-winning son of Fastnet Rock,Highly Recommended has gotten off to a flying start having sired stakes performers at two and three – Group 2 winnerSumstreetsumwhere(NZ), dual stakes winnerWaldorf(NZ), Group 1 placedJoyfilly(NZ) and stakes placedPipiana(NZ).
With his eldest progeny three, they are not only turning heads in New Zealand but also in Australia and Hong Kong. Sumstreetsumwhere and Waldorf have both subsequently been sold to Hong Kong while Joyfilly has headed to Australia under new trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
With three southern drafts to be sold, this year's South Island Sale will offer15 yearlingsby the sire whose exciting future will see him stand at Cambridge Stud next season following the relocation from Berkley Stud.
A Stud that flows with 75 years of history is making new history with an imported son of the great Dansili,Zacinto. Inglewood Stud's South Island sire has already produced 28 winners and with the eldest now four his leading graduates include Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas winnerUgo Foscolo(NZ), stakes winner and Group 1 performerOdeon(NZ) and the stakes-winningZigwig(NZ).
The sire with winners in New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong will be represented byseven yearlingsat the Sale.
The South Island have also welcomed newcomers to the breeding scene with the likes of White Robe Lodge's Group winningGhibellinesand Willow Glen Stud's Group 1 Windsor Park Plate winnerPure Champion. Both sires had a 100% clearance rate from their first crop yearlings at Karaka 2018 with Ghibellines selling five lots from Book's 1 and 2 for an average of $74,600 – includingLot 179for $115,000, and Pure Champion selling three lots from Book 3 for an average of $24,000 – includingLot 1222for $43,000.
Ghibellines offers the largest crop at the Sale with19 yearlingscatalogued and there will besix Pure Champion yearlingson offer.
While the Southern breeders are holding their own, the Sale will also have an injection of North Island flavour.
Sacred Fallsjoined the stallion roster at Waikato Stud and his first crop yearlings were well received at Karaka 2018 with 46 lots sold at an average of $113,891. His highest price came atLot 572when the son of stakes-performing Zabeel mare Sheezababe was knocked down for $300,000. The Windsor Park Stud newcomerCharm Spiritwas also presented by a large draft selling 39 yearlings averaging $96,103 each. His draft was topped at $400,000 (Lot 319) for the daughter of multiple Group winner Lady Kipling (Savabeel) – the highest price paid at Karaka 2018 for a yearling by a first season sire.
The South Island Sale will see Sacred Falls represented by a half-sister (Lot 92) to Hong Kong stakes winnerTop Act(NZ) (O'Reilly) and Charm Spirit represented bytwo yearlings, includingLot 108who is a half-sister to multiple stakes performersThe Solitaire(NZ) (O'Reilly) andThe Sparkle(NZ) (Darci Brahma).
In addition to the new blood, buyers will also be able to inspect the progeny of emerging and proven sires who continue to make headlines.
Haunui Farm's international Group 1 sireIffraajhas produced 58 stakes winners to date. This season he has sired Group 1 winners in both hemispheres withGingernuts(NZ) scoring the Windsor Park Plate in New Zealand andRibchesterclaiming the Chantilly Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in Europe, along with a handful of stakes-winning two-year-olds including his current star juvenile and Group 3 winnerMelt(NZ). The Iffraaj filly,Lot 96, will be on offer at the Sale.
The popularShowcasing, who stands alongside Iffraaj, consistently leaves early runners and has 23 stakes winners to his name in all of New Zealand's largest export markets. This seasons Group-winning two-year-olds include Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winnerXpression(NZ) and Group 3 Taranaki 2YO Classic winnerBit Lippy(NZ). He will be represented at the Sale bythree yearlings.
The Oaks Stud stallionDarci Brahmahas proved popular in Singapore having retained the Champion Sire crown for four of the last five years. An all-round sire, his progeny have also performed to the highest level in New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong with a total of 35 stakes winners around the globe including current Group 1 winnersD B Pin(NZ) andDevise(NZ). There will betwo yearlingsby Darci Brahma on offer.
Waikato Stud'sPinshas sired 75 stakes winners in seven different countries with his leading progeny including Hong Kong Champion SprinterAerovelocity(NZ) and four-time Group 1 winnerEl Segundo(NZ). He will be represented by a filly (Lot 29).
Waikato Stud will also have representation of their five-time Group 1-winning sireOcean Parkwith a colt atLot 9set to go through the ring.
Champion First and Second Season Sire, the Little Avondale Stud residentPer Incantois an in demand young sire. He has produced Group 1 Diamond Stakes winnerDal Cielo(NZ) along with seven other stakes winners. There will betwo of his progenyon offer at the Sale includingLot 25who is a half-brother to stakes performersSeize the Moment(NZ) (Pins),Savour the Moment(NZ) (Savabeel) andStriptease(NZ) (Danasinga).
Reliable Manhas had his name in lights with Australian stakes winnerMain Stage(NZ), and Group 1 performersSully(NZ) andBelle du Nord(NZ). With three international stakes winners from two racing crops, he will be represented at the Sale by a colt atLot 89.
Hallmark Stud's son of Darci Brahma,Super Easy,sired star fillyProm Queen(NZ) from his first crop to win eight of her 11 starts, including four at stakes level. There will betwo colts and two fillies cataloguedby Super Easy.
Rich Hill Stud'sShockinghas passed his stamina on to his off spring siring six stakes winners.Fanatic(NZ) won the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks and this season's Group 2 Adelaide Cup whileChocante(NZ) won the Group 2 Brisbane Cup. There is a colt atLot 70by Shocking catalogued for the Sale.
With the bulk of the catalogue made up of yearlings, the South Island Sale also offers the added benefit of all yearlings purchased being eligible for a nomination into the lucrativeKaraka Million Serieswhich comprises of two $1 million races – the Karaka Million 2YO and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic – in addition to the $100,000 CollinsonForex Karaka Cup which they can contest for the duration of their career.
The Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch will host the Sale on Friday 20 April with selling commencing from 11am.
You canview the catalogue onlineor request a copy from Faye Hunt atreception@nzb.co.nz. For travel and accommodation information contact Harry King atHarry.King@nzb.co.nz.