WS dominates Book 1 at Karaka

Repetition comes easily to Waikato Stud and once again the thoroughbred powerhouse is the leading Book 1 vendor at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.

The premier Matamata nursery reclaimed the Leading Vendor by Aggregate title, having sold 39 yearlings for a healthy $7,860,000 at an average of $201,538 and principal Mark Chittick was understandably delighted with the outcome.

“Achieving results like this in trying times has proved just how hard everybody on the farm has worked, but after seeing what has gone on this week, the time and effort that has gone into the sale by the NZB team and everybody on the grounds here at Karaka, it is quite incredible,” he said.

Highlighted on Day 1 by the brother to dual Group 1 winner Mo’unga realising $1 million, Waikato Stud enjoyed strong and steady trade on Day 2 and the closing session was most notable for the action on Lot 528, also a son of Savabeel.

While there was a price difference, the players were the same as it was the Queensland-based Kacy Fogden who signed the ticket at $850,000 on behalf of Tony Fung, as she had done when securing Mo’unga’s sibling on Monday.

Interest on the farm’s top lot of the final session opened at $100,000 and following a flurry of $50,000 bids from all around the auditorium, it was Fogden who had the final say.

The colt is a son of the O’Reilly mare Relentless Desire and is a three-quarter brother to the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner and Waikato Stud graduate Amarelinha.

The family also features another homebred in Metal Bender, a four-time winner at the highest level and the G3 Up & Coming S. winner and G1 Golden Rose S. runner-up North Pacific.

“It is a hell of a lot of money and it was spirited bidding from all angles. He is a lovely colt and with all the interest in him here we thought we may be in for a big sale,” Chittick said.

Meanwhile, Savabeel’s daughter offered as Lot 618 caught the eye of Te Akau’s David Ellis and his steely auction ring demeanour was again in play as he outstayed his opposition to land the filly for $525,000.

She is the first foal of the Iffraaj mare Style By Design, who won two races and was placed in the Listed Ryder S.

The second dam Chaparella was twice successful at Listed level and also produced the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ S. winner Riva Capri.

“She’s a really good-looking filly, medium sized, walked well and very correct. She’s a lovely rich colour and appears the type that we could break in early,” Ellis said.

“There is precocious speed in the family, a filly for the race (Karaka Million 2YO) and going into the Fillies Syndicate.

“She has class and presence and the first foal from a young mare, which has worked very well for us over the years. She has the pedigree and scope to train on as a 1000 Guineas filly at three.”

The Matamata farm concluded the auction with the last horse through the ring and Lot 636 sparked plenty of interest with an opening bid of $300,000 before he was secured by Queensland’s KPW Bloodstock for $475,000.

The son of Deep Field is out of the Savabeel mare Syrahbeel and she is a half-sister to the G1 Thorndon Mile winner A Touch Of Ruby and the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas heroine Loire.

The G1 Queensland Oaks winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Vouvray also features under the third dam Real Success, who won an edition of the G2 Dulcie S.

Meanwhile, the future of an attractive Savabeel colt, who was a popular individual both pre-auction and in the ring, lies offshore following the $220,000 sale of Lot 491.

Cambridge horseman Alex Oliveira beat off several other potential buyers to land the youngster, who is a son of the unraced Pins mare Pinata.

“I have bought him for a client and he will be heading up to Hong Kong as a 3-year-old,” he said.

“I saw him on the farm and here at Karaka. He is a strong horse with a lovely walk and a very good temperament.”

The colt’s dam is a sister to Mackintosh, successful in the G2 Theo Marks S. and placed in the G1 Epsom H. for champion trainer Chris Waller.

She is also a three-quarter sister to the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner and G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. placegetter Viennetta, dam of the G3 McNeil S. winner Golden Archer.

Tivaci enjoyed two more good results in double quick time when Lot 572 was knocked down to the $220,000 bid of Victorian trainer Henry Dwyer and then Lot 573 was purchased by David Archer for $200,000.

The former is a half-brother to the G1 Vinery Stud S. runner-up Impecunious with their dam the stakes performed Zabeel mare Shezababe and the latter is a son of the Savabeel mare Shellac and the family of the $850,000 headline act, Lot 528.

Waikato Stud’s final day of trade got away to a brisk start with leading Cambridge trainer Tony Pike going to $165,000 to take home Lot 455.

The Ocean Park colt is out of the unraced O’Reilly mare Oahu and she is a three-quarter sister to the multiple top-flight winner and Group 1 producer Alamosa.

The pedigree isn’t short on elite level winners with Lights Of Heaven, who claimed an edition of the Schweppes Oaks, and Diamond S. winner Dal Cielo members of this family.