Weanlings to sparkle at NZB sale
A compact-yet-quality catalogue of weanlings go under the hammer this Friday at NZB’s National Weanling Sale at Karaka – and on the back of some outstanding results across the Tasman, it will be no surprise to see some serious bidding for some quite tasty lots.
Perhaps the stand-out is Lot 1005, in the Valachi Downs dispersal section, a colt by Savabeel (Zabeel) from the Group 2 O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) mare Bohemian Lily.
This colt is a Book 1 colt through and through, bred on the magic Savabeel-O’Reilly cross and if he is not purchased by one of the syndicators, he may well be back at Karaka in January.
Bohemian Lily has already foaled the Group 2 performer Lily’s Lady (Contributer) while she, herself, is a sister to Australian Derby (Gr 1 2400m) winner Shamrocker (O’Reilly), as well as to the ever-brave Vernanme (O’Reilly), who racked up three successive Group 1 placings this past summer and autumn.
The two remaining lots by Savabeel (71 and 1018) will no doubt be very popular also. The former, offered by Little Avondale Stud, is a colt from a half-sister to three Group winners. The latter is a filly from a Volksraad (Green Desert), half-sister to Group 2 winner Capella (Rip Van Winkle).
Savabeel is still the king. All three will be among the leading lights and his barn-mate, new boy Super Seth (Dundeel), attracted many quality mares in his first season and three of his five representatives make this list.
Lot 5, from Curraghmore, is a filly from a winning Makfi (Dubawi) half-sister to top sprinter and triple Group 1 winner The Bostonian (Jimmy Choux).
Lot 7, from Little Avondale Stud, is an August 25th colt from dual Group 1 winner Xanadu (Elusive City), the equal-top filly of her crop who also recorded six Group 1 placings.
Lot 99, from Jamieson Park, is their colt from Secret Allure (Zacinto), the winner of two Group 3 races (one as a two-year-old) and two Listed races (also one at two).
Rich Hill Stud’s Proisir (Choisir) has had a banner year and Lot 20, being offered by HGT Bloodstock, is the half-brother to fine racemare Nicoletta (Savabeel), whose five wins included the 2019 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m), a race in which she also finished third in 2018.
Of the six lots by Ocean Park (Thorn Park), Lot 85, from Curraghmore, has much appeal on paper being from a stakes-place Zoustar (Northern Meteor), daughter of dual Listed winner Kakakakatie (Zeditave). The next dam is a half-sister to three Group 1 winners.
The Valachi Downs dispersal has led to a total of 10 lots being offered by US Navy Flag (War Front), who made a substantial impression with his first crop of yearlings back in March.
Of those, Lot 35, from Cambria Park, has much to recommend him. His half-brother, The Holy One (Tavistock), won the Bill Stutt Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) at Moonee Valley, while his dam is a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Zilzie (Generous). Their dam was a stakes winner at Canada’s premier track, Woodbine.
Equally, Lot 1001, the first of the Valachi Downs lots, will attract a good level of attention as he is from a Fastnet Rock (Danehill) half-sister to the champion filly and mare Silent Achiever (O’Reilly). She won the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) and was a star in Sydney where she took out Group 1s at Randwick and Rosehill.
Ace High (High Chaparral) also caught the attention of yearling buyers and of the seven lots for sale this week, Lot 58, from Curraghmore, will be popular. His dam is Lady Zafira (Iffraaj), a speedy mare who won the Pegasus Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Riccarton, one of five wins.
The remaining four lots on this list were foaled in New Zealand, but conceived in Australia, including Lot 33, from Cambridge Stud, a very nicely bred filly by Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) from a three-quarter sister to dual Group 3 winner Platinum Warrior (Galileo). The filly’s granddam was a Group 2 winner at Chantilly. There is plenty of residual value here.
Also from Cambridge Stud is Lot 38, a colt by American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile), a half-brother to Scott Base (Dalghar), winner of two Group 2s, as well as the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Listed, 1600m).
Curraghmore is due to offer Lot 66, the half-brother to recent Group 3-placed Wairau Cove (Darci Brahma). This colt by Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry) is from a Sydney winning half-sister to four stakes winners, including New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma).
Too Darn Hot (Dubawi), whose oldest are foals, is represented by two lots and both are being offered by Jamieson Park. Lot 42 is a two-for-one package because she has a really nice pedigree to back her up when she is finished racing, being out of the Listed winner Grazia (Savabeel). This makes her dam a sister to Flemington dual Group 1 winner Shillelagh (Savabeel) and to Brisbane Cup (Gr 2, 2400m) winner Tullamore (Savabeel).
Ten Sovereigns (No Nay Never), who stood just the one season in New Zealand, has seven lots (six in the Valachi Downs dispersal) for sale. These are his first foals and it will be interesting to see how they are received. The results may lead to one of the studs attempting to get him back here. Clearly, he was a talented racehorse, winning at the elite level at both two and three years old.