BLOODSTOCK NEWS - Anzbloodstocknews.com

Thursday, April 7th, 2011 4
The parade ring KATRINA PARTRIDGE
Peter Moody. An audible groan arose from the crowd as bidding
stalled at $975,000, a seemingly endless minute passing before
the seven-figure mark was finally achieved. Another two bids –
including the successful firing shot of $1.025million – were
required to secure the colt.
Understandably the winners were then surrounded by the media
hack pack. Moody was left with a wry smile and the knowledge
that he will, at least, be putting the saddle on Black Caviar this
Saturday afternoon.
When asked if the Hawkes Team was expecting to pay that amount
of money Wayne responded: “We didn’t know how much we would
have to spend to get him to be honest. We didn’t really know. We
also couldn’t see who we were bidding against given where we
were standing. We didn’t know if it was Peter or someone else.
“We are very happy though that we secured the best colt in the
sale,” Wayne added, but declined to name names regarding the
colt’s ownership apart from saying, “a group of stable clients”.
“It seemed like $600,000 was going to do it, but the two boys
obviously wanted him. I’m thrilled to bits,” the colt’s breeder Ric
Jamieson said later.
The importance of the result was not lost on Patinack Farm
chairman Nathan Tinkler. “For Patinack Farm to play a part in
the first yearling in Australian history, by a first-crop sire, to have
made over $1million is a tremendous achievement,” Tinkler said.
“It really does speak volumes for the quality of mares Casino
Prince has seen visit him in his first three seasons at stud. We
are absolutely delighted with the result for both the owners and
Makybe for presenting him so well.”
While the spotlight was shining on Casino Prince, it was Redoute’s
Choice (Danehill) that continued to belt out the big sellers. So far
the Arrowfield stallion has seven of the top 10 sellers and is the
leading sire by average, his 26 lots sold averaging $461,154.
Underlining the strength of the market were the 23 horses that
have sold for $500,000 or more. They included the James Bester
and Demi O’Byrne purchase of the Redoute’s Choice colt out of
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champion mare Champagne (Zabeel) (Lot 184) that was knocked
down for $850,000.
James Bester confirmed that the colt would stay and race in
Australia, but said the owners had not yet decided on a trainer.
“He forms part of a stallion prospect fund which Coolmore and
some other clients have put together to identify early prospects,”
Bester explained. “He is by a champion sire out of a champion
weight-for-age mare. Some may say she has been disappointing
as a broodmare but I have seen every one of her yearlings and
all had front leg issues. This colt is flawless in every respect. He
looks like a stallion already. He has the most amazing hind leg
action.”
Bester and O’Byrne combined forces again later in the day to
secure the brother (Lot 252) to Group One winner Wanted (Fastnet
Rock) and a half brother to this season’s Group Three winner and
Group One performer Shrapnel (Charge Forward), paying $650,000
for the Highgrove consigned colt.
“I thought he was definitely worth that amount on physique and
pedigree,” said consignor Ron Gilbert whose Highgrove Stud has
enjoyed a sterling sale.
Gerard Larrieu from Chantilly Bloodstock paid $750,000 for Lot
191 – the Redoute’s Choice colt out of Group One New Zealand Two
Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Clean Sweep (End Sweep),
a colt described by Arrowfield Operations Manager Sam Fairgray as,
“a very typical Redoute’s Choice and one of our nicest colts.”
Mark Kavanagh went to $450,000 to secure the three-quarter
brother to his Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Shocking
(Street Cry) (Lot 341). The colt was offered for sale by Widden
Stud and is by Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 2000m) and Breeder’s Cup
Juvenile winner (Gr 1, 1800m), Street Sense (Street Cry), who
stands at Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud in the Hunter Valley.
“We liked the colt a lot and were prepared to buy him on spec,
without a specific order,” Kavanagh said. “Some good stable
clients watching the sale have already bought in and there are
still a few shares available.”
At the end of business yesterday, 254 lots had sold, grossing $61
million at an average of $240,157 and a median of $185,000
with a clearance rate of 77 per cent.
“To have an average up nearly 10 per cent is a very satisfying
result at this stage,” Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said
at sale end. “The clearance rate today was a little disappointing,
but as yesterday’s figures show, it can be expected to improve as
post-sale negotiations are completed.”
SALE STATISTICS - DAYS 1 & 2
2011 2010
Catalogued: 360 (-10%) 400
Offered: 330 (-9.1%) 363
Sold: 254 (77%) 295 (81%)
Aggregate: $61,000,000 (-4.2%) $63,695,000
Average: $240,157 (+8.9%) $220,519*
Median: $185,000 (+15.6%) $160,000*
Top Lot: $1,025,000 $1,875,000*
* overall sale
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