Written by Paul Vettise
An array of new stallion talent will be showcased at Karaka in the weanling section of New Zealand Bloodstock’s May Sale.
A host of exciting young sires will be represented, including the Group 1 winning Australian pair of Divine Prophet and Flying Artie, by members of their first crops.
“From that point of view, it’s probably the deepest selection on offer in quite a few years with 11 New Zealand-based stallions going to the market and nine of the group are Group 1 winners,” New Zealand Bloodstock Sales Manager Danny Rolston said.
Danny Rolston
“They are a deep bunch of very good quality first season stallions.”
“They are a deep bunch of very good quality first season stallions.” – Danny Rolston.
Among them, the auction will be the launching pad of Brighthill Farm’s popular Preferment (NZ).
The son of Zabeel and the Flying Spur mare Better Alternative was the four-time Group 1 winner of the BMW S., Australian Cup, Turnbull S. and the Victoria Derby. Preferment has 13 weanlings set to go under the hammer with Brighthill to offer five, three colts and a pair of fillies.
“Obviously, we wanted to use this opportunity to show them off,” studmaster Nick King said.
“They are a terrific line of horses and we targeted this group early as very good weanling options. The feedback in general has been very strong.
“They are a terrific line of horses and we targeted this group early as very good weanling options.” – Nick King.
“We always felt Preferment would really suit the market. He’s the quintessential New Zealand type of horse that went to Australia and did extremely well.
“To have his type of performance in Australia is perfect to take to the market and we think we’ll be very well rewarded. The Australian appeal is a big trump card. We’ve had so many Australian-owned mares rocking up to him.
“It’s exciting for all of us and another step along the way. Preferment is just such a grand type of horse and he’s passing that on.”
"Preferment is just such a grand type of horse and he’s passing that on.” – Nick King.
Other first season sires represented include Belardo (Ire), Puccini (NZ), Rageese, Tarzino (NZ), Telperion, Tivaci (NZ), Turn Me Loose (NZ), Vadamos (Fr) and Vanbrugh.
Preferment
Rolston also highlighted the returns available from the yearling division and the sale’s track record in terms of top-flight graduates and pin-hooking.
“There are 18 yearlings to be sold and they are all Karaka Million eligible,” he said. “The recent records of Group 1 winners from the sale are pretty good as well.
“The recent records of Group 1 winners from the sale are pretty good as well.” – Danny Rolston.
“Yourdeel was a NZ$30,000 weanling, Gingernuts was bought for NZ$5000 and I Am A Star was a NZ$12,000 weanling. There will also be plenty of pin-hooking opportunities. The highest returning pin-hooker at Karaka this year was a NZ$170,000 Written Tycoon that sold at the yearling sale for NZ$475,000.”
The May Sale has been reduced to one day of selling, on the 17th, in 2019.
“We are seeing the impact of our online subsidiary gavelhouse.com. It’s a new look and concentrated the quality,” Rolston said.
