After a week-long reconnaissance mission in November, and seven days at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling sale last week, we are proud to be coming home with four really nice yearlings.
With a group already in mind and a budget of $100k, we purchased a filly from the very last crop of one of New Zealand’s greatest sires, O’REILLY.
She is out of the Fastnet Rock mare FAST LOVE, a winner of four races in her 17 start career including a Listed event in her three-year-old season.
She is bred on the same O’REILLY / DANEHILL cross as one of O’Reilly’s best performers, SACRED FALLS. She is from a very young family hailing from HEAVENLY CALM (third dam), so the best is yet to come. Especially considering her older half-sister was sold for NZ$425k at the 2016 NZB Premier Sale.
Purchased for NZD70k from the Blandford Lodge draft, we thought she was particularly good value. We hope to see her running as a late two-year-old then improve into her three and four year-old seasons.
Again working on behalf of an ownership group, we were particularly taken by a colt by exciting first season sire DAWN APPROACH. He was nothing short of superstar in Europe, crowned Champion 2yo and Champion 3yo Miler.
This colt is from the family of another Champion European, FAME AND GLORY. Whilst his family suggests he will be a middle-distancer performer, he looks very much like his sire Dawn Approach and his grandsire New Approach. His chestnut colour, white markings, length and athleticism make us think he will take more after his sireline and be more precocious than some of his family members. But with time, he may develop into a great middle-distance / staying prospect.
He was purchased for NZD140k from Valachi Downs.
This year we received fantastic support from clients and new clients. So much so that we were able to purchase a third yearling, a stylish, fluent moving colt by second season sire OCEAN PARK out of the Centaine mare LOWLAND.
We had a number of Ocean Park’s on our shortlist after seeing many of them at Waikato Stud in November. It was clear early on in the sale that their prices were realistic and not over the top, despite many of them being fantastic types. None more so that this great colt that moved nicely when parading both in November and at the sale complex. A nice cool customer.
He is bred on the same Thorn Park / Centaine cross as JIMMY CHOUX, and is a descendent of the very good mare RIVERLETTE. She is the matriarch of 12 stakes-winners (11% of runners) including Group One winners SIXTY SECONDS (half-sister to LOWLAND), XTRAVAGANT and LEGS.
He was purchased for NZD180k from Waikato Stud.
Last but not least, we stayed on for the Select session to try and secure one or two more yearlings. We suspected this Select session would offer a good buying opportunity for the right type of horse, with perhaps weaker pedigree pages. Lot 646 was no exception to this, a strong colt by little known sire FULLY FLEDGED.
This colt is a brother to the highly talented race filly SHEES FLAWLESS. Before being struck by lightning in the paddock, she won four of her 11 race starts, including her first race start as a two-year-old and the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes at her second to last race start.
Purchased on type and on the strength of his sister, we were delighted to keep within budget and purchase this colt for NZD80k from the Cambridge Stud draft.
We have limited room available in the ownership of the Fully Fledged colt. He lands in Melbourne this week, so please view his web page and enquire via the online form. A detailed Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) will be provided.