Novara Park manager Ray Knight hopes lightning will strike twice when the first yearlings by Sweynesse go through the sale ring during Karaka 2019.
Knight, who manages the fledgling Cambridge
farm for Luigi Muollo, has fond memories of the 2017 edition of the sale.
Novara Park's ill-fated foundation stallion Jakkalberry was a headline act with
his first crop, selling 12 yearlings for a total of more than $950,000
including a $440,000 price tag for a half-brother to Efficient.
"I don't know if we'll be able to hit those sorts of heights again, but I guess you never know," Knight said. "We didn't really expect to have those results with Jakkalberry's first yearlings either."
Sweynesse is by Lonhro out of the Singspiel mare Swansea, making him a half-brother to the Group Three winner and Group One-placed Rimraam.
Carrying the all-blue colours of Godolphin, Sweynesse won four of his 13 starts including the Gr. 3 Gloaming Stakes and Spring Stakes. He also ran second in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and third in the Gr.3 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
"It's always an exciting time when a stallion has his first yearlings going through the ring," Knight said. "Sweynesse is a lovely horse. He was a very good racehorse who we never saw the best of, and historically New Zealand breeders have done very well with this sort of horse."
There are five yearlings in the Karaka Book 1 catalogue, with 10 in Book 2 and eight in Book 3.
Novara Park will offer just four of those, with Sweynesse yearlings also featuring in the drafts of Windsor Park Stud, Wentwood Grange, Nala Park, Leanach Lodge, Kilgravin Lodge, Ralph Thoroughbreds, Mapperley Stud, Brighthill Farm, Bradbury Park, Highfield Grange, Westend Partnership, Cambria Park, Sedgmere Farm and Grangewilliam Stud.
"The feedback from other vendors has been terrific, and that's how it's been every step of the way with this stallion," Knight said. "It dates right back to when his first foals arrived.
"He's had consistently strong support and good books of mares, and many of those are mares who have returned to him after breeders have seen the quality of foals he's produced. It's very encouraging."
Overall, Knight is upbeat in the countdown to Karaka 2019, although he acknowledges the industry uncertainty that was clearly felt by vendors at the recent Ready to Run Sale.
"It's always an exciting time of year, and with a quality draft of yearlings heading towards the sale we have good reason to be excited," he said.
"But on the other hand, there's a bit of apprehension as we all wait to see what happens with the New Zealand industry.
"I think that what the industry really needs is confidence. Once a few things are in place and we see some signs of positive change, I'm sure everything will rebound quite quickly." – The Informant
