By Michael Cox
Bruce Perry is only ever looking for select lots but the successful Kiwi agent has obviously seen plenty that he likes over the first two days at Karaka.
"If we come to a sale and don't like anything, we won't buy," Perry said. "We have had a bit of luck here though, and we have got every horse we have wanted so far."
"If we come to a sale and don't like anything, we won't buy." - Bruce Perry
A $300,000 I Am Invincible colt (Lot 238) was one of seven lots Perry bought on day two after another two at the opening session on Sunday, for a total of nine at an average of $165,555.
"We usually try and buy an autumn 2-year-old that you will develop into a middle-distance 3-year-old," he said.
Lot 238 I Am Invincible x More Beautiful
Perry's previous success stories include G1 Queen Elizabeth S. winner Lucia Valentina (NZ)(Savabeel), G1 Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa (NZ)(Makfi {GB}), Humidor (Teofilo {Ire}), Ugo Foscolo (Zacinto {GB}) and two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon (NZ)(Pins).
A common characteristic among those stars is a propensity to improve with age, a result of Perry's patient philosophy and the types of horses he targets.
"We give them the opportunity and if they are natural enough to run as 2-year-olds we can let them," Perry said. "We will keep most of our horses here in New Zealand, and find the ones that will progress into 3-year-olds and send to Australia."
"We give them the opportunity and if they are natural enough to run as 2-year-olds we can let them." - Bruce Perry
"I think there is more awareness now with owners taking time with horses and if you do that you can have a horse that can train on at four, five and six."
Bruce Perry
Despite that patient approach, Perry couldn't resist Lot 238 by I Am Invincible, a sire that produced the winners of both Blue Diamond previews last weekend, which he bought for NZ$300,000.
"He was the best colt I saw here but I didn't see a better one at the Gold Coast either," said Perry, who bought the colt's half-sister by Deep Field for $220,000 last year.
The other big spend came early on day one when Perry paid $360,000 for a son of Savabeel (Lot 14) out of Etiquette (NZ)(O'Reilly {NZ}) a full-sister to Sacred Falls (NZ).
"He is a lovely horse, he's just a great mover, just what I want to see in a Savabeel. He is just such an athletic horse. I had a bit to do with the family, including Etiquette's dam Iguazu's Girl (Redoute's Choice)."
"We keep all of our horses in New Zealand to start with and then it is a case of them selecting themselves to go to Australia."
Perry bought back-to-back lots with fillies by Savabeel with Lot 125 for $80,000 and Lot 126 for $225,000.
Perry bought Lot 125's half-sister by Fastnet Rock at last year's sale for $225,000 now named Early Morning Rise (NZ) that trialled for the first time last week and was happy to pay NZ$80,000 for her half-sister by Savabeel.
"We really like Early Morning Rise, she is with Peter and Dawn Williams and this filly is similar. She isn't really a sales-like horse, and she has a couple of issues, but they are things we think we can manage. The other filly we just loved on type and from a good family."
