Trainers duke it out in Karaka sales ring for colts by Vadamos during opening Book 2 session
Rich Hill Stud stallion Vadamos (Monsun) provided two of the star turns during the opening day of the Book 2 session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka yesterday.
With the oldest New Zealand crop of the son of internationally acclaimed sire Monsun (Konigsstuhl) just three-year-olds and featuring horses of the calibre of multiple stakes winner and New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) runner-up La Crique, the progeny of Vadamos are well in demand as evidenced by his results at Karaka so far this week.
Respected bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo went to $260,000 to secure a filly from the Rich Hill Stud draft for trainer Mick Price during Book 1 while trainers Roger James and Lance O’Sullivan were involved in two of the biggest battles yesterday as they duelled for a pair of Vadamos colts.
James came out on top for Lot 756, out of Call Me Blondie (Gold Mine) when he outlaid the day’s top price of $180,000 to purchase the athletic brown colt from the Haunui Farm draft.
O’Sullivan was the underbidder on that individual but got his due reward when he went to $110,000 for Lot 796, out of Direct Star (Sir Percy) to secure her from Rich Hill Stud.
James admitted he was at the end of his resources for his purchase who is from the famous “Heights” family with stakes performers such as Mapperley Heights (Sir Tristram), Sky Heights (Zabeel), Royal Heights (Sir Tristram) and Rising Heights (Stark South) on the pedigree page.
“We’d tried on a couple earlier in the day, but this was our first successful bid today,” James said.
“We had seen him at the stud (Haunui Farm) some time ago and he carried a little injury at the time, but when I went out and saw him again it didn’t bother me, although we had him vetted to make sure.
“He is by one of the sires of the moment in Vadamos, a young sire who is just doing everything right and out of a tried-and-true staying family.
“I think that is where New Zealand excels, breeding stayers and to me he looks like a sharp stayer who should be operative at a mile and further.
“I also like a medium-sized horse as I think they are easier to keep sound.
“We’ve bought him to syndicate so hopefully we can get that done fairly quickly.”
Haunui Farm principal Mark Chitty was delighted to see the colt head to a top local stable, while also thrilled for his clients.
“He was a lovely colt, a nice medium size, a good mover who had a great temperament,” he said.
“He had had a bit of a paddock mishap back in October and it was great that his x-rays and scope gave the buyers confidence in him.
“I think the timing of this sale in March also helped him from that perspective.
“This is also fantastic for my clients Christine Wilkinson and Craig Gray, who have been strong supporters of Haunui Farm and it is tremendous to get a great result for them.”
O’Sullivan and Scott, who had secured six individuals during Book 1, in addition to a Wrote (High Chaparral) colt earlier in Book 2, had to wait until near the close of play to secure Lot 796 by Vadamos.
“He is a really nice horse who we hope will run a trip as a three-year-old,” O’Sullivan said.
“The stock of Vadamos are really sought after and at $110,000 I think he was pretty good value, as we were prepared to go a little higher.
“We had tried for one earlier in the day and weren’t so fortunate, but they are both nice horses and I would have been delighted to take either one back home to Wexford Stables.”
Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson admitted he had high expectations for his colt (Lot 796) and for the progeny of Vadamos throughout the sale.
“It wasn’t a surprise for that money, but you just never know and when they get to that level it tends to be last man standing,” he said.
“I’m stoked that Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have bought him as I’ve known them for years and they also bought a lovely Shocking colt (Lot 121) for $240,000 from us on day one of the sale.
“This colt is out of a Sir Percy mare, and of course Sir Percy won the English Derby, and this guy has a lovely bit of length to him, a great walk and a very smart brain.
“You could tell that by the way he just strolled around the outside parade ring and again in the ring, just cruised over there, got sold and cruised back to his stall.
“We’ve been delighted with how Vadamos has gone so far this year and his service fee for this crop was just $15,000 so he has been a very profitable stallion for those who have sold here.”
Regal Farm lands War Decree colt
Regal Farm principal Shane Crawford was also an active participant during the first three days of Karaka and yesterday he was at it again on the first day of the Book 2 sale.
Crawford, along with Bond Li of Legend Bloodstock and Ross Lao and Andy Lau of Upper Bloodstock, combined to secure Lot 686, the second crop colt by Inglewood Stud-based sire War Decree (War Front) out of Word Savvy (Savabeel) for $150,000 from the Ralph Thoroughbreds draft.
The colt comes from a family dear to the heart of the Ralph family with multiple Group 1 winner The Message (Gold And Ivory) and stakes winner Keep The Message (Keeper) appearing on the catalogue page.
“We knew he was going to sell well, there were some big boys, good judges on him and there was lots of vetting,” Dylan Ralph said.
“The colt is easy to work with and loves his work. He never turned a hair since got here and paraded really well.
“We bought his dam with him at foot. Poppa, my grandfather, John Ralph, raced a number of horses from this family and this mare is the only mare left from this line. I felt it was important for us to be involved again with the family.”
Crawford was pleased to secure the colt who he considered a standout at the sale.
“We liked the War Decrees and they sold well at the Ready To Run sale last year,” Crawford said.
“This colt was a standout today and we were pretty firm on him. Being out of a Savabeel mare, he ticked a few boxes for us. I saw him here for the first time and he jumped out at us as a cracking type.
“We’ll leave him here and let him grow out and then he could come back for the Ready To Run sale or maybe even go to Australia.”
Crawford, who secured a Darci Brahma (Danehill) colt from the Wentwood Grange draft for $90,000 and a Pierro (Lonhro) colt from the Milan Park draft for $160,000 during the Book 1 sale, is keen to purchase several more youngsters over the last two days of the Book 2 sale.
“We got two on the first three days of the sale and we would like a few more from this one,” he said.
“We have our eyes on two of three tomorrow (Friday) and we will see what happens on Saturday as well.
“We are trying to pinhook and turn them over so we’re just trying to get a bit of value for money.”
Moroney makes most of trip home
International bloodstock agent Paul Moroney was unable to attend last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in the flesh, but he was pleased to be back this year as the border opened up to Kiwis returning home.
After purchasing 11 yearlings out of Book 1, Moroney was active again in the Book 2 session, securing a handful of yearlings, including two six-figure purchases.
Moroney went to $110,000 to purchase Lot 690, the Time Test (Dubawi) colt out of HGT Bloodstock’s draft, for his brother Michael’s Ballymore Stables.
“My partner Catheryne (Bruggeman) did some of the Book 2 on video over the weekend while I was battling away looking at horses here and during the Book 1 sale,” Moroney said.
“She gave him the highest rating of any of the horses she did on video and when I got to him I could see why – he is a stunning, well-balanced, good moving colt.
“He had presence about him and strength. He has a stayer’s action, he is bred to stay and that is what he has been bought for – a potential three-year-old Derby horse.
“He had a lot of quality about him and to us he was one of the no-brainers.”
The colt will do his early education at Ballymore’s Matamata barn under the watchful eye of Michael Moroney’s co-trainer Pam Gerard and his future will be decided from there.
“He won’t be seen until probably early in his three-year-old career,” Moroney said.
“He will be educated in the Matamata stable and put through the process. Whether he is set for a Victoria Derby or New Zealand Derby, that will be in the lap of the gods.
“I believe Mike has bought him for his New Zealand stable. He is really wanting to keep that stable ticking over. They have had a good season and they have a number of owners that have come back to the stable as well as new owners supporting it.”
Moroney was also taken by Lot 737, the Rip Van Winkle (Galileo) colt out of Kilgravin Lodge’s draft, and went to $110,000 to secure the youngster, once again for Ballymore Stables.
“Both Mike and I thought he was one of the best walkers we have seen at the sale,” Moroney said.
“When I saw him at Kilgravin he had a lot of Zabeel about him. He is very fluent and powered off his hocks. He is a good-bodied horse, there is so much to like about him.
“I said to Mike that this was a top-class Rip Van Winkle colt, he looked at him online and watched his walk and said he was one of the best walking horses he had seen.”
Moroney said he has been pleased with the quality on offer at the sale and what he has been able to purchase to date.
“These horses that we are buying would match up to anything in Book 1,” he said.
“I have been impressed, the top of Book 2 has been very good quality. There are some really good horses here.”
Moroney said they have also been able to secure some nice horses at the bottom end of the market.
“We have done great buying today,” he said. “We have bought a couple of fillies today. We bought a Rip Van Winkle filly (Lot 693) from Little Avondale for $20,000 from a proper family. If she gets black type she is going to be worth a fortune.
“I can see her being a spring three-year-old and an Oaks filly without any doubt.”
With Book 2 continuing for the next two days, Moroney is expecting to continue to be active for his clients.
“I have had Australians looking today,” he said. “I bought one for Will Clarken – a Shamexpress filly (Lot 653) out of Mr Tiz’s family from Haunui.
“I have had others looking and I am sure over the next two days I will buy two or three more for Australian clients.”
Day five at Karaka will continue from 11am (NZ time) today.