O’Reilly Colt Top Sale Lot

Champion sire O’Reilly provided the star turn at New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale today. The two-year-old realised the top price of the auction when he was knocked down for $145,000.

Offered by Berkley Stud, the colt is a brother to the triple stakes winning filly and 2006 NZ Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Ombre Rose and half-brother to 10-time Australian winner Crabs (Danasinga). The hammer came down to the bid of Mr NC Chan, of Hong Kong, and the strength of the dam side was one of the features that drew him to the two-year-old.

“I liked this colt because the dam line is very strong and his sire O’Reilly is a very successful stallion in Hong Kong,” he said. “He will be pre-trained in New Zealand for a year but I haven’t decided where yet and, depending on how he develops, I intend to send him to Hong Kong. I will be my first season with a permit in Hong Kong so I have come here to buy a few horses and I will take the best up to Hong Kong next year.”