After spending countless hours inspecting the 1100 strong catalogue of yearlings up for sale at the NZB Karaka Premier and Select Sales over the last week, I’m extremely pleased to report we were able to secure four yearlings – three colts and a filly. New Zealand has long been synonymous with producing quality stayers and whilst there has been a slight shift in recent times towards standing more speed influenced stallions at stud, there’s no denying the kiwi’s ability to breed and develop a quality stayer, something we have traditionally struggled with in Australia. There’s also been a shift in the mentality of NZ breeder’s with a far greater prevalence of stud masters sending their mares over to Australia to be covered before bringing them back to NZ to foal down. The resulting progeny are then put through the sales ring at Karaka, giving buyers a greater cross section of pedigrees and types.
This year saw the emergence of quality first season stallion prospects the like of Rock ‘n’ Pop, Ocean Park, Reliable Man and Super Easy who were all well received whilst last year’s freshmen that have managed to put the score on the board at this early stage of the two-year-old season in Pour Moi and Jimmy Choux were also keenly sought after. Evergreen stallions Savabeel, Pins, O’Reilly and Pentire have continued to get results on the track and in the ring however young gun Tavistock looks likely to supersede them in coming years if his sales results over the last week are to be believed, off the back of the deeds of his sons Tarzino, Volkstok’n’barrell and Werther.
I took the approach that the nice Tavistock’s were far too hard (read expensive) to buy this year and are now overpriced, and hence tried to skirt around the edges a bit and focus on the tried and true proven stallions. As such I was able to purchase two of the nicest colts in the sale – a ripping Pentire that happens to be a brother to this year’s Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance ($200k NZ), and a Bernardini colt that is equally well related and a cut of horse you’d go a long way to find better than ($175k NZ). I was also able to find a lovely middle distance/staying type of filly by Rock ‘n’ Pop, out of a really good producing black type family ($65k NZ) and a nice, neat Pins colt who was a bit backward due to being a late-November foal but who I’d expect to grow and develop into a fine specimen if given the requisite time ($60k NZ).
Each of the four purchases will remain in New Zealand at Hallmark Stud, Te Kauwhata to grow and develop before being flown back to Australia mid-year to commence their breaking in and first preparations. The quartet will not be rushed to get to the races with each of them expected to make their debut as a late two-year-old / early three-year-old around mid-2017.
If you have any interest in being involved in these yearlings, or require further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with either:
Myself – henry@henrydwyer.com.au / 0488 001 787,
or Matt Shannon – matt@henrydwyer.com.au / 0407 530 514.