TDN AusNZ courted the opinions of several buyers and bloodstock agents on the Kiwi-based first season sires leading into Karaka 2020 and the Group 1 winner Vadamos has made quite an impression, with Waikato Stud’s Tivaci and Windsor Park Stud’s Turn Me Loose (NZ) also high on wish lists.
The country’s leading buyer of yearlings is David Ellis and he was firmly in the corner of Vadamos, a son of the influential Monsun (Ger) who has received strong support since his retirement to Rich Hill.
“Vadamos has really taken my eye. He has left a number of exciting young horses, very classy,” the Te Akau principal said. “Turn Me Loose is also leaving some very athletic types and those two along with Tivaci and three pretty exciting stallions heading into the future.”
"Vadamos has really taken my eye. He has left a number of exciting young horses, very classy.” - David Ellis
Ellis is expecting competition at the top end of the market at Karaka to be as strong as ever.
“I would say we have had a very good growing season in New Zealand with quite a mild winter. The yearlings are looking as good as I’ve ever seen them so I think it will be a strong sale.”
Watch: No Limits (NZ) as a yearling
Ellis has been the leading buyer at Karaka for the last 14 years and purchased 42 yearlings at the 2019 National Sale, spending NZ$7,995,000 with his top lot a Savabeel colt out of Make A Wish (NZ) (Pins) bought for NZ$1.4 million out of Waikato Stud’s draft.
Named No Limits (NZ), the colt has won and placed in his two trial appearances for Te Akau head trainer Jamie Richards.
“He pulled a muscle and is out spelling, but he’s a very, very good horse. He’ll be ready to run in March or April and we’ll probably take him to Brisbane in the winter for the Group 1 (JJ Atkins S.) there,” Ellis said.
Hale won over
Cambridge-based bloodstock agent Stuart Hale is firmly in the camp of Vadamos.
“He’s leaving some great sorts and I think him and Tivaci will probably fight out the first season sires’ title,” he said. “The Vadamos colt, Lot 429, is one of the best I’ve seen.
“Preferment might not quite have the numbers of the other two, but he’s got some lovely types as well.”
Watch: Lot 189 - American Pharoah (USA) x Posavina (colt) parading
Hale has also been impressed with a number of first crop representatives of Australian-based stallions and in particular American Pharoah (USA).
“Lot 189 from Pencarrow Stud is the best colt I’ve seen out of the 800-odd yearlings I’ve inspected,” Hale said. “He’s well-balanced and just a beautiful horse.
“Lot 189 from Pencarrow Stud is the best colt I’ve seen out of the 800-odd yearlings I’ve inspected." - Stuart Hale
“The Asterns I’ve seen look very good and Maurice has a couple of cracking types in the sale as well.”
Hale hosts a week-long annual Auckland-Waikato yearling tour, this year inspecting more than 750 youngsters from more than 30 farms.
“It’s always a popular tour, but what I was quite perturbed about that there’s less and less New Zealand buyers,” he said. “However, I think the top level of the sale will be very strong and good horses sell no matter what sale it is.”
Stuart Hale
Hale’s top buy 12 months ago was a Savabeel colt sourced from Waikato Stud’s draft for NZ$500,000 on behalf of Hong Kong interests and is with trainer Keith Hawtin.
“Everyone loves him, he’s a sensation. He’s a half-brother to Regency Legend, who won his first four starts in Hong Kong,” he said.
Cataldo’s head turned
Agent Phill Cataldo is very much in the camp of the three-time Group 1 winner Turn Me Loose.
“He’s leaving big, scopey horses, perhaps more 3-year-old types and they are good movers,” he said. “Tivaci and Vadamos are leaving really good, quality sorts and good movers as well. The Tarzino’s look like Guineas-Derby horses, which is what you’d be hoping they would be.
“There’s a good sprinkling of Australian sires to spice it all up and plenty of Tavistocks and Savabeels. Overall, the quality is good and I’m hoping all the vendors have big sales.”
Preferment (NZ) | Standing at Brighthill Farm
He also said the four-time Group 1 winner Preferment (NZ) had passed on his quality to his first crop yearlings.
Cataldo’s most expensive purchase 12 months ago was Comanche Brave (NZ), a son of Savabeel bought for NZ$240,000 out of Cambridge Stud’s consignment.
“He’s going along well and is with Julius Sandhu, a new trainer on the block at Cranbourne and he’s a friend of Mick Price, who I do a lot of business with,” Cataldo said.
Impressed with quality
Bevan Smith has been taken by the quality on show from a number of stallion newcomers.
“There is a really good crop of first season sires, half a dozen or more are well-credentialled,” the Cambridge agent said. “Tivaci is leaving big, strong, forward types and there’s plenty to like about them.
“I’ve been impressed by Preferment. He looks like he’s leaving good staying 3-year-old types with class and the style of horses that will keep improving.
Turn Me Loose (NZ) | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
“Turn Me Loose is another one I’ve been impressed with. They’ve got plenty of strength and scope, some really nice types.
“Yearlings by all these new season sires are exciting and people want to come out and they are the types of horses the market wants to look at.”
Smith is expecting stiff competition again at the higher end with depth in the buying ranks.
“At most sales the top 20 per cent look after themselves and relatively easy ones for sellers to move on. I’m optimistic the middle market will be stronger than previous years.”
Bevan Smith
Fabulous four
Michael Stedman also singled out Turn Me Loose, Tivaci, Vadamos and Preferment as the top quartet of newcomers.
“They’ve got the numbers and from what I’ve seen they are all top class Group 1 winners and they’re leaving a lot of athletic horses. Some big, some small but the bulk of them are good athletes,” the Matamata agent said.
“Top class stallions will leave good 2-year-olds. They stamp their progeny and you’d like to see them with Sires’ Produce or Sistema runners at the back end of the season.
“Top class stallions will leave good 2-year-olds. They stamp their progeny." - Michael Stedman
“The new stallions inject a lot of interest in the whole scenario. It’s very interesting and everyone is looking for the new kids on the block.”
Stedman believed one external factor could impact on the sale.
“The Chinese New Year is the day before the sale and that could affect the Hong Kong attendance at the sale,” he said. “It may be a bit softer than normal.”
