At A Glance
>> A strong New Zealand pedigree saw a Dundeel colt from Glastonbury Farms' draft sold to the Auckland-based Chief Executive of the New Zealand Chinese Jockey Club Alan Fu in association with the Taniwha Horse Group for $250,000.
>> Ampulla Lodge goes to $240,000 to secure Aquis’ Exceed And Excel colt out of a well-related Zabeel (NZ) mare.
>> A son of Zoustar is secured by the Redwall Syndicate for $230,000 out of the consignment of Blue Gum Farm.
>> Aquis again to the fore when its son of Sebring was knocked down to leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees for $170,000.
>> A son of first season sire Capitalist was popular and was bought out of the Burnewang draft by IDK Racing for $155,000.
>> The opening day’s trading saw 172 weanlings gross $5,921,000 at an average of $34,424 and a clearance rate of 76 per cent.
Glee for Glastonbury
Presented by Glastonbury Farms as Lot 198, the opening day sale-topping weanling son of the multiple Group 1 winner and producer Dundeel (NZ) was signed for by the Auckland-based Chief Executive of the New Zealand Chinese Jockey Club Alan Fu, in association with the Taniwha Horse Group for $250,000.
The club was formed in 2017 to attract interest in New Zealand thoroughbreds from owners in China and those resident in New Zealand.
“He was the colt of the sale and we were pretty keen on him,” Fu said. “I’m really passionate about New Zealand thoroughbreds and promoting the New Zealand racing industry.
Alan Fu (right) with Lot 198
”I’m more than happy to keep him, but at this stage we’ll probably on-sell him as a yearling. He’s got a very strong New Zealand pedigree.
“There’s obviously a lot of Dundeel in him and he’s also got a lot of the traits of High Chaparral – we call it the High Chaparral walk.
“I’m more than happy to keep him, but at this stage we’ll probably on-sell him as a yearling. He’s got a very strong New Zealand pedigree.” – Alan Fu.
“We’ll probably put him on a plane to New Zealand and he’ll be on the farm for three months. We got 10 weanlings from Australia this year and we’ll parade them on the farm in Cambridge on June 30 for investors.”
The club’s thoroughbred interests are based at the property of the Taylor family, who operate under their Koru Thoroughbreds banner.
The club’s purchase of the Dundeel youngster capped a good weekend for the Club as they are part-owners of Dragon Storm (NZ) (Shocking), who won for the third time in his short career at Ruakaka on Saturday.
Lot 198 Dundeel (NZ) x Impossibly colt
The Dundeel colt is the first foal of the unraced Choisir mare Impossibly, who is a half-sister to the dam of the two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year and multiple top-flight winner Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
Also featuring on a deep pedigree page is the G1 Zabeel Classic and G1 New Zealand Derby winner St Reims (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and his G1 Mackinnon S. winning sister Champagne (NZ), the dam of the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Charmont (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Aquis exceeds
A son of Exceed And Excel was presented by Aquis Farm and was top of Ampulla Lodge’s shopping list and the Victorian operation duly landed Lot 8 for $240,000, a price that neatly matched its pre-auction valuation.
“We thought he was probably the best colt in the sale and we went all out to get him,” Ampulla’s Steve Jostlear said. “We had a bit left, we thought he would be a $250,000 colt.
Ampulla plans to re-offer the popular youngster to the market next year.
Lot 8 Exceed And Excel x Zenaida (NZ) colt
“We’ll probably end up taking him to Easter, he’s more of an Easter colt I’d say. We’ll see how he goes in the paddock and how he comes up.”
“We’ll probably end up taking him to Easter, he’s more of an Easter colt I’d say.” - Steve Jostlear.
Ampulla will be looking to add a weanling or two more before the sale comes to a conclusion, but within a strict buying policy.
“We’ve got a few lined up, not many, but a few nice horses to have a go at,” Jostlear said. “It’s all about putting a price on them and then walking away if they go over that price.”
The Exceed And Excel colt is out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Zenaida (NZ), who is a half-sister to Vosne Romanee (NZ) (Electronic Zone {USA}), a three-time Group 1 winner of the Zabeel Classic, Kelt Capital S. and the New Zealand S.
Further back in the pedigree is another triple top-flight winner in Allegro (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}), who claimed top honours in the G1 Captain Cook S., Waikato Stud Sprint and the Otaki Maori WFA.
Star colt
A well-related Zoustar colt, Lot 216, from the consignment of Blue Gum Farm was well sought after and was sold to the Redwall Syndicate for $230,000.
He is a son of the winning Manhattan Rain mare Kiss In The Rain with the second dam First Date (Flying Spur) a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner and leading sire Not A Single Doubt.
It is also the family of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Oohood (I Am Invincible) and the former champion 2-year-old and sire Zizou.
Lot 216 Zoustar x Kiss In The Rain colt
Laceby triumphs
Laceby Lodge Stud won a spirited bidding duel for a chestnut son of the late Sebring, Lot 175, out of Aquis’ draft.
The colt sold for $170,000 and is a son of Gwenella (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), who is a half-sister to the G1 Queensland Oaks winner Allow (Rahy {USA}).
There is a strong international flavour to the pedigree with the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Fragrant Mix (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}) and his G1 Prix Jean Romanet winning sister Alpine Rose (Fr) among a host of European stakes winners in the family ranks.
Lot 175 Sebring x Gwenella (Ire)
Capitalist popular
A colt from the first crop of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Capitalist was well sought after before IDK Racing got the final blow in at $155,000.
Offered by Burnewang North Pastoral as Lot 140, the colt is out of the Not A Single Doubt mare Feeling Positive and she is a half-sister to the Listed winners Mistraad (Northern Meteor) and Combat Kitty (General Nediym).
The pedigree page also includes the G3 Waikato Guineas winner and G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas runner-up Governor’s Bay (NZ) (Zephyr Bay) and his Group 1 placed brother Heavenly View (NZ).
Lot 140 Capitalist x Feeling Positive colt
Soon after, Newgate’s Capitalist filly, Lot 145, was sold for $100,000 to Sledmere and Cangon Studs. She is the first foal of Fine Mist (Good Journey {USA}), who was successful seven times and was stakes placed.
Family double
Cornerstone Stud could be set for a lucrative double after selling a Dundeel colt, Lot 229, for $150,000 to Maluka Thoroughbreds.
The colt is a half-brother top the multiple winner and Group 3 performer Shalmaneser (Teofilo {Ire}) and their dam Lady Nikolay (Stravinsky {USA}) will be sold as Lot 664 during the broodmare division of the sale later in the week.
Lady Nikolay was unraced and is a daughter of the G1 Queensland Oaks runner-up Arboretum (Woodman {USA}) with her dam Mariton (Marscay) who was placed in the G1 Flight S.
Lot 229 Dundeel (NZ) x Lady Nikolay
Another son of Dundeel hit $150,000 when Diamond Park Breeding and Racing’s colt, Lot 251, was sold to Lyndhurst Farm
He is out of Lodore Falls (Redoute’s Choice), who has left two winners, and is a half-sister to the G2 Crystal Mile winner Sonic Quest (Quest For Fame {GB}).
Rupert a winner
First season sire Winning Rupert also made an impact when his daughter, Lot 87, was sold by Princess Park Thoroughbred Farm for $145,000.
The filly was purchased by Hall of Fame Bloodstock and is out of the Duporth mare Cottesmore, who is a half-sister to the G2 Centrebet S. winner Lonhspresso (Lonhro).
The G1 BTC Cup winner Duporth also makes an appearance further back in the pedigree, as does the former champion South African 2-year-old colt and G1 Gold Medallion S. winner and sire Delago Deluxe.
Lot 87 Winning Rupert x Cottesmore filly
Ben chimes in
Hong Kong buyer Ben Kwok went to $130,000 to take home Burnewang’s son of Vancouver, Lot 42, out of the former Singapore star Better Life (Smarty Jones {USA}).
The dam was a multiple stakes winner and champion Singapore Miler and Stayer and is a grand-daughter of the former champion North American 2-year-old and dual Group 1 winner Storm Song (USA) (Summer Squall {USA}).
The international pedigree also includes the three-time Group 1 European winner Order Of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Lot 42 Vancouver x Better Life colt
Top start
Inglis’ Victorian Bloodstock Manger Simon Vivian was pleased with the first day of the sale.
“There was outstanding competition on many lots,” he said. “The average is currently up 41 per cent on the sale last year, while the median has jumped 67 per cent.
“These are significant increases on 2018, which in its own right was a strong sale. There are many factors in that, notably the support of the vendors and many select yearling sale-quality weanlings being offered.
“Overall, it is really pleasing to see the upgraded facilities enjoyed by so many and the results in the ring that follow on.”
Leaderboards
Top lots
| 198 | C | Dundeel (NZ) | Impossibly | Glastonbury Farms | A Fu | $250,000 |
| 8 | C | Exceed And Excel | Zenaide (NZ) | Aquis Farm Operations | Ampulla Lodge | $240,000 |
| 216 | C | Zoustar | Kiss in the Rain | Blue Gum Farm | Redwall Syndicate Ltd | $230,000 |
| 175 | C | Sebring | Gwenella (Ire) | Aquis Farm Operations | Laceby Lodge Stud Pty Ltd | $170,000 |
| 140 | C | Capitalist | Feeling Positive | Burnewang North Pastoral | IDK Racing | $155,000 |
| 229 | C | Dundeel (NZ) | Lady Nikolay | Cornerstone Stud | Maluka Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | $150,000 |
| 251 | C | Dundeel (NZ) | Lodore Falls | Diamond Park Breeding and Racing | Lyndhurst Farm | $150,000 |
| 87 | F | Winning Rupert | Cottesmore | Princess Park Thoroughbred Farm | Hall of Fame Bloodstock Pty Ltd | $145,000 |
| 42 | C | Vancouver | Better Life | Burnewang North Pastoral | B Kwok | $130,000 |
| 145 | F | Capitalist | Fine Mist | Newgate | Sledmere Stud and Cangon Stud | $100,000 |
Top buyers
| Maluka Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | 4 | $347,000 | $86,750 | $150,000 |
| Ampulla Lodge | 2 | $305,000 | $152,500 | $240,000 |
| Neerim Lodge | 6 | $260,000 | $43,333 | $60,000 |
| A Fu | 1 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| Lyndhurst Farm | 2 | $235,000 | $117,500 | $150,000 |
| Redwall Syndicate Ltd | 1 | $230,000 | $230,000 | $230,000 |
| IDK Racing | 2 | $215,000 | $107,500 | $155,000 |
| Karl Brown Bloodstock | 3 | $202,000 | $67,333 | $85,000 |
| B Kwok | 3 | $192,000 | $64,000 | $130,000 |
| Laceby Lodge Stud Pty Ltd | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| Dundeel (NZ) | 3 | $550,000 | $183,333 | $250,000 |
| Sebring | 3 | $285,000 | $95,000 | $170,000 |
| Winning Rupert | 5 | $284,000 | $56,800 | $145,000 |
| Zoustar | 2 | $275,000 | $137,500 | $230,000 |
| Capitalist | 2 | $255,000 | $127,500 | $155,000 |
| Exceed And Excel | 1 | $240,000 | $240,000 | $240,000 |
| Hinchinbrook | 2 | $175,000 | $87,500 | $90,000 |
| No Nay Never (USA) | 3 | $165,000 | $55,000 | $85,000 |
| Dissident | 5 | $165,000 | $33,000 | $60,000 |
| Palentino | 5 | $160,000 | $32,100 | $67,500 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Aquis Farm Operations | 7 | $512,000 | $73,143 | $240,000 |
| Burnewang North Pastoral | 9 | $500,000 | $55,556 | $155,000 |
| Glastonbury Farms | 4 | $362,000 | $90,500 | $250,000 |
| Blue Gum Farm | 7 | $343,500 | $49,071 | $230,000 |
| Ponderosa Park | 7 | $303,000 | $43,286 | $95,000 |
| Noorilim Park | 8 | $273,000 | $34,125 | $75,000 |
| Cornerstone Stud | 11 | $262,500 | $23,864 | $150,000 |
| Tyreel Stud | 4 | $225,000 | $56,250 | $85,000 |
| Phoenix Broodmare Farm | 3 | $195,000 | $65,000 | $85,000 |
| Newgate Consignment | 3 | $194,000 | $64,667 | $100,000 |
