By Garrick Knight
The dispersal of a breeding syndicate helped the bottom line at what was an otherwise modest all aged sale in Christchurch on Monday.
The first foal, a yearling filly, out of four-time Group 1-winning mare Fight For Glory was the clear standout in the 68-horse catalogue and was ultimately one of only six lots to make ‘double figures’ in the ring.
The daughter of Bettor’s Delight went for $50,000 to Peace Bloodstock – the company of her co-breeders Diane and Noel Cournane, who effectively used the sale as a means to buy out their two partners in the blueblood filly.
Just six of 17 broodmares sold, including Onebeachsomewhere, out of broodmare gem T K Swift, who sold in foal to Sweet Lou for $10,000 to Andrew Grierson of Woodlands Stud in Auckland.
The clearance rate shot through the roof for the yearling segment, with 24 of 28 selling, buyers with plenty to chose from given 17 different sires were represented.
Peter Kett from Invercargill has had good success, through his Tricode Racing Syndicate, with the progeny of broodmare Blah Blah Blah.
Her first two foals, Soapbox and Please Shuddup, have both been multiple race winners from the stable of Murray Brown and the team went back to the well again, outlaying $14,000 for her A Rocknroll Dance colt called Talkin Unowhat.
Other active trainers on the yearling buyers’ bench were Greg Hope, Brent White, Brad Mowbray, Terry Chmiel, Greg Payne, Joe Clementson, John Hay, Geoff Dunn and Alister Kyle.
There was marginal demand for the 10 weanlings on offer, six selling with a price range of $300 to $4000.
All bar two of the remaining 13 horses sold, including Melton Reactor, a race-winner for Michael House this season, which sold for $4,500 to Alan Edge.
The harness catalogue was offered on the same day as New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island thoroughbred consignment, the dual code sale the first of its kind for the company.
Interestingly, a number of harness identities were active on the ‘other side of the fence’, signing on for thoroughbred youngsters.
David Butt went to $55,000 for a yearling colt by Mongolian Khan while Gavin Smith purchased a Jimmy Choux yearling filly and both Jack Harrington and Graeme Anderson purchased two apiece.
In the wash-up, the harness sales clearance rate sat at 71 percent – though that was likely to rise – with an average of $5,174.
“The Sale has been well supported with a large number of buyers here looking to acquire stock from notable consignors,” said James Jennings, a Director of New Zealand Bloodstock and head of their standardbred division.
“We’re satisfied with the results for our second-ever standardbred Sale and continue to be pleased by the markets response to our foray into standardbred auctions.
“Today’s results were encouraging and we look forward to the second session of the All Aged Sale at Karaka in a week’s time.”
The Auckland sale, which is always exceedingly more popular due to the huge number of weanlings offered by Woodlands Stud and Alabar Stud, will take place next Monday.
Over 130 lots will go through the ring, including 10 in-foal broodmares and 115 weanlings.
Among the throng of sires represented are Bettor’s Delight, Captaintreacherous, Sweet Lou, Art Major, Pegasus Spur, Majestic Son and rookie sires Vincent, Always B Miki and Racing Hill.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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