Cover image | Race Images – Peter Rubery
Written by Paul Vettise
Buyers in the market for potential middle distance prospects at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale would have had their interest piqued by the outcome of the G3 Wellington Cup at Trentham.
The finish of the 3200 metre contest was dominated by Rich Hill Stud graduates Soleseifei (NZ) (Shocking) and The Good Fight (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and the farm will offer half-siblings to the pair during Book 2 at Karaka.
“Hopefully, there’s an Oaks filly and a Cups’ horse there so the timing was perfect for us,” Rich Hill’s John Thompson said.
“It’s great for the farm to breed these tough and sound horses that can still be running around winning a Group race as a 7-year-old.”
A NZ$26,000 yearling, Soleseifei is a daughter of the unraced Van Nistelrooy (USA) mare Evaline (NZ) who was purchased on Thompson’s behalf at the Inglis Sydney Easter Broodmare Sale by John Chalmers Bloodstock out of Shearbrook’s draft for $42,000.
“It’s the Solveig family the Moore family had and Soleseifei is the first foal we bred. She’s got a Shocking colt at foot and she went to Satono Aladdin last season,” Thompson said.
"She’s got a Shocking colt at foot and she went to Satono Aladdin last season." - John Thompson
Evaline, whose Vadamos (Fr) filly will be presented as Lot 1100 at Karaka, is a half-sister to the G1 Sydney Cup winner Gallic (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and the third dam is the three-time Group 1 winner Solveig (NZ) (Imposing).
The former New Zealand Filly of the Year also produced the dam of the G1 Australian Derby winner Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Lot 1100 - Vadamos (Fr) x Evaline (NZ) (filly)
The Good Fight is a son of the G2 Taranaki Cup and G1 New Zealand Oaks runner-up Pravda (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who is a sister to the G1 Adelaide Cup winner Cronus (NZ) and to the dam of the former champion Australian filly and multiple Group 1 winner Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice).
“He was a beautiful yearling and Shaune Ritchie paid NZ$300,000 for him,” Thompson said. “Pravda is in the retirement paddock here with Arletty and a few others,” Thompson said.
Pravda’s last foal is a Reliable Man (GB) colt, who will be offered at Karaka as Lot 794.
Lot 794 - Reliable Man (GB) x Pravda (NZ) (colt)
New blood on show
Vadamos’ first crop will be showcased at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale and Thompson said the number of quality new season sires added much-needed depth and excitement to the catalogue.
“There’s a lot of new and genuine Group 1 horses. We haven’t had a bunch of stallions like this for probably more than 20 years so it’s exciting for the industry and the buyers. It should be a major attraction.
Vadamos (Fr) | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
“I think everybody is a little bit guarded after the great sale at the Gold Coast, but this is a different market, there were people who couldn’t afford to buy when the average is $250,000.
“The strength of the New Zealand market has been that NZ$80,000 to NZ$250,000 market and Australians can come over and buy a really nice type.
“With our service fee structure most people are happy to sell at that level. The top end will look after itself, as it always does, and the middle market is where the traditional good buying is.”
