NZ Bloodstock’s South Island Sale produces horses that go on to perform locally as well as overseas and there’s more of the same this Friday.
The 2011 South Island Sale will be held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch and there are over 150 lots in the catalogue.
Last year’s NZB Sale saw a new record price paid for an O’Reilly colt from Berkley Stud. Now named Miami Provocateur, he was knocked down to trainer John Bell for $220,000. “He’s a very athletic colt and a great mover,” Bell said. “He has won both of his trials and is a horse with a lot of potential.”
Bell purchases from the South Island Sale to race in Asia and currently has horses in training in Hong Kong and Singapore headed by Pizzazz (Bertolini) and Boy (Istidaad).
“I saw Boy at the South Island Sale in 2008 and really liked him, he was a good type and he had the pedigree to match and I am also a big fan of his sire Istidaad.
“I have sent Boy to Singapore to Stephen Gray’s stable and he has been racing nicely. We were looking at running him in the Singapore Derby but decided that it was in the horse’s interests to give him a break.
“The Singapore Cup later in the year is a race we are looking to target with him, it is a handicap race so he would get a nice weight so all going to plan, that race will be his target.”
Last season’s graduates from the South Island Sale include G3 Metropolitan Trophy winner Blood Brotha (Danzighill), G3 Canterbury Gold Cup winner Inferno (Yamanin Vital), Macau G2 winner St Peters Gift (St. Petersburg) and the dual stakes winner Milo (Coats Choice).
Older graduates include the G1 Caulfield Cup winner Master O’Reilly (O’Reilly), Champion Hong Kong Stayer Super Kid (Gaius), G1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner Hustler (Al Akbar) and G1 VRC Derby winner Second Coming (Oak Ridge).
“Horses offered at the South Island Sale are strong, sound and hardy types,” bell added. “And I find that when you bring them up north to a warmer climate and give them a bit of time to acclimatise and settle in, they really thrive and develop into nice horses.”
Entries for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready-to-Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds close this Friday 12 August. To request an entry form please contact New Zealand Bloodstock at reception@nzb.co.nz or call 0011 649 298 0055