After a 20-year hiatus from the Karaka sale ring, Oxford-based breeder Ross Marwick was thrilled with his return at Karaka 2019.
Marwick's Lot 1172 was the highest priced filly by Highly Recommended (Fastnet Rock) sold in Book 3 this year, "We secured her dam Sandra in foal to Highly Recommended off gavelhouse.com for $1,800 and sold the subsequent yearling for $22,000 so we are ecstatic with the result," he said.
"I bought the mare as a semi-retirement hobby/project after having been out of the breeding game for the last 20-odd years."
"The filly was an outstanding type, very athletic with a great walk and was commented on favourably by many people before being knocked down to RJ Bothwell."
"Long Acres Stud had her for six weeks leading up to Karaka and she sold through their draft, they did a great job with her."
Sandra visited Long Acres first season sire Verdi (Zabeel) in 2017 and has a colt by him at foot "We now have the mare and foal at home with us at Five Oaks Farm and he is a nice, strong individual."
Bred by C K Phua, Sandra (King's Chapel) is a half to multiple stakes-winner Daniel (Guillotine) and raced successfully for his Oscar Racing Stables in Singapore where she won over 1,400m. To date Sandra has produced a dual winner in Mr Colin (Falkirk) while the yearling filly's full sister Roses for Me, who sold for $1,000 on gavelhouse.com, is racing in Malaysia from Kevin Coetzee's stable and ran fourth over 1,400m last month.
Such was Highly Recommended's success from his early crops to race, he has moved north from Berkley Stud and now stands at Cambridge Stud.
The latest gavelhouse.com Australia auction is online now with horses from the likes of Chris Waller, Mick Price, Darren Weir and Freedman Racing on offer. Bidding is set to close from 7pm AEDT Monday.
Entries for the next gavelhouse.com New Zealand auction at due online at 7pm on Monday 11 February.