Cover image courtesy of Inglis
Last year's draft was the first for the new entity that was Riverstone Lodge and they announced their arrival in fine style, achieving the sale's second highest aggregate with an average of over $50,000 (overall sale was $42,551) and a top price of $260,000.
Taylor was “aggressive” in chasing the sort of horses to garner those results, concentrating on that sale. But 12 months down the track he has widened his approach, kept busy selling (and buying) weanlings, yearlings and broodmares at different sales.
Such as at this year's January sale at the Gold Coast where Riverstone sold six horses for an average $255,833; up to $500,000.
The Inglis Classic was another success story for Riverstone with 12 yearlings averaging over $109,000 and fetching up to $260,000.
It was Riverstone's first drafts at the major sales and Taylor was delighted with the results.
Competitive with the big boys
“It was really good in a harder market, we fought hard and we were competitive with the big boys. It is good to know we can do that as a young farm.”
“It was really good in a harder market, we fought hard and we were competitive with the big boys. It is good to know we can do that as a young farm.” - Nick Taylor
“We've had more going on this year,” Taylor explained, “we have been trying to break things up a bit, not concentrating on the one sale.”
“Last year we did not have as much else on, this time I didn't want to overcommit but I wanted to still be at this sale and still do a good job.”
And so whilst Riverstone had a 29 strong draft last year, next weekend seems them take seven horses to the Gold Coast. He has been pleased with their progress, doing a good job with their preparation with the set-backs of challenging weather conditions.
“It has been extremely wet and you don't really want horses out in that for long. But we just try to get them into a routine and I am very happy with them.”
Nick Taylor | Image courtesy of Riverstone Lodge
“They are even bunch with 2-year-old speed, they are sharp types who buyers will not have to wait too long for.”
Whilst Taylor enjoys taking horses to the bigger sales, he also appreciates the extra time to prepare a draft for June.
“These yearlings have a nice little eight week preparation. You don't need to push them at this time of year, they can grow out more naturally.”
“These yearlings have a nice little eight week preparation. You don't need to push them at this time of year, they can grow out more naturally.” - Nick Taylor
“And it is good for the late foals and those who have just had a little hiccup or setback. Or just those who have needed that little bit more time.”
With members of last year's draft in such capable hands as Bjorn Baker, Kris Lees, Ciaron Maher, Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young and Matthew Dunn, Taylor has much to look forward to with several already displaying talent.
Such as the $110,000 colt War King (Pierata) who was third in a Warwick Farm trial last week an the $100,000 colt Waverley Road (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who ran on well at Randwick debut last spring.
Gallery: Nick Taylor's talent prospects , images courtesy of Magic Millions
Noverre colt a highlight
Taylor highlights Lot 1187 as his likely best seller. “He is probably my nicest horse, he has come over from New Zealand by a stallion whose first yearlings having been selling very well.”
That horse being the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Noverre (NZ) and this colt has a pedigree with plenty of successful crosses; his sire Savabeel combining so well with strains of O'Reilly (NZ), Pins And Centaine.
Noverre (NZ) | Standing at Waikato Stud
They are this colt's first, second and third dam sires and the statistics of the Savabeel combinations with them read well; with O'Reilly 73 per cent winners-to-runners (52 stakes winners amongst the 330 winners), with Pins 73.5 per cent (23 stakes winners, 160 winners) and with Centaine 72.6 per cent (36 stakes winners, 257 winners).
A three-quarter-brother to two time Moonee Valley winner Raetihi (NZ) (Savabeel), he is out of the metropolitan winner Lego (NZ) (O'Reilly) whose dam Legs (NZ) (Pins) won the G1 New Zealand Oaks and the G1 Kelt Capital Stakes.
Lot 1416 is another Taylor is confident will prove popular with buyers, the bright chestnut daughter of Capitalist being a half-sister to the Group 3 placed Drisana (Merchant Navy) out of the Group 3 winning mare Broadband (Sebring).
Lot 1416 - Capitalist x Broadband | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“The mare has done a very good job and this is a big pedigree,” Taylor said of the filly who can boast amongst her relations the big race winners Anamoe, Anamato (Redoute's Choice), Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), Grand Armee (Hennessy {USA}), Drum (Marauding {NZ}) and Absolute Champion (Marauding).
“She has x-rayed up well and I think she will sell well.”
Presenting a nice draft
Taylor is also looking forward to showcasing a couple of yearlings by Coolmore Stud's popular young horse Acrobat; Lot 1155 out of a half-sister to the Listed winner Pretty In Pink (Sebring) from an in-form family and Lot 1168 out of a daughter of the champion Let's Elope (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}).
Lot 1300 meanwhile is a daughter of Written Tycoon and an imported daughter of the German and Italian Champion Older Mare Sortilege (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}) whilst Lot 1335 is a filly by the exciting up-and-comer Farnan out of a Fastnet Rock mare whose dam is the classy race and broodmare Soneva (USA) (Cherokee Run {USA}). And Lot 1236 by Trapeze Artist is out of an All Too Hard mare whose dam is the G1 New Zealand Oaks and G1 Queensland Oaks winner Scarlett Lady (NZ) (Savabeel).
“We like to come to this sale and present a nice draft,” Taylor said, heading to the auction in an optimistic but realistic frame of mind, ready to meet the market.
“We like to come to this sale and present a nice draft.” - Nick Taylor
“Coming from Newgate where they are really big on clearance rates, I always have that in mind. I want to have a reputation as a seller, I want people to know that they can buy from me without silly reserves. I am goin to be realistic, to always be guided by the market whether that be good or bad.”
