The last five seasons have seen graduates of the sale record 116 stakes victories with 29 of those coming in Group 1 company. And it's an impressive list of horses racing well including the spring carnival success stories Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Hong Kong-bound after his runaway G1 Toorak H. victory and his strong-finishing G1 Champions Mile second, Antino was picked up by New Balance Racing for just NZ$27,000 in 2020. Meanwhile his conqueror at Flemington, Mr Brightside (also winner of the G1 Makybe S. this time in) didn't sell but his breeze-up was there for all to see!
Also racing in flying form over the spring was Ceolwulf, winner of the G1 Epsom H. and the G1 King Charles III S. With four wins from just 14 starts under his belt he is certainly a horse on the up for Joe Pride who purchased him for NZ$170,000 (he has already won over $4.75 million) in 2022.
He hasn't yet won a Group 1, but he went close when only just beaten in the G1 Caulfield Guineas; Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) a horse to follow in the autumn. The member of the prolific Eight Carat (GB) (Piece Of Eight {Ire}) was secured by McKeever Bloodstock and Sutton Racing for NZ$160,000 at last year's sale.
Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) ran well without a great deal of luck over the spring and we are bound to see him back in action over the autumn. The very easy G1 Queensland Derby winner was a NZ$165,000 purchase two years ago.
Plenty of very nice horses
It is hard to pinpoint who might top this sale but there has been strong word out about Lot 174 being sold by Kiltannon Stables as agent. His pedigree is hard to fault, his sire being I Am Invincible and his dam the dual Group 1-winning miler Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel).
“He is one of a number of horses who could sell very well,” Jones said. “There are plenty of very, very nice horses here.”
“There are plenty of very, very nice horses here.” - Kane Jones
And there are some lovely updates since the catalogue went live with Riverrock Farm bound to be delighted by the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas success recorded by Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) who hails from the same family as their Tagaloa colt (Lot 77) out of a daughter of the dual stakes winner La Lagune (Danehill {USA}).
Riversley Park also have a relation of a recent achiever with Lot 79, a gelding by Proisir from the family of Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) being out of a half-sister to the last-start Big Dance winner Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). Meanwhile another rich race, the Kosciuszko, was won by Far Too Easy (All Too Hard) whose brother is Lot 80 for Woburn Farm.
Gallery: Some of the well-related horses on offer, images courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Mehzebeen (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) has been in flying form, at his last two starts winning the Listed Metropolitan Trophy and the G3 New Zealand Cup. His dam's half-sister Navy Beach (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) is the dam of Lot 89, a King Of Comedy (Ire) gelding, member of the Phoenix Park draft.
Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn) has been racking up the wins in Malaysia. Beaten only once in a 10-start career, he has won his last two in Listed company which is a nice update for Lot 103, his brother being sold by Regal Farm.
Kilgravin Lodge would've been cheering on a couple of nice winners on W.S Cox Plate Day: the G3 Red Anchor S. winner Bittercreek (Snitzel) and the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic winner Double Market (Castelvecchio). They have Lot 169, a Capitalist filly closely related to the former and Lot 369, a full brother to the latter.
Kane Jones | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Proven stallions
Fans of the progeny of proven stallions are very well catered for with the likes of I Am Invincible, Snitzel, Written Tycoon, So You Think (NZ), Proisir, Savabeel, Almanzor (Fr), Ocean Park, All Too Hard, Shamexpress (NZ), Capitalist, Darci Brahma (NZ), Deep Field and Toronado (Ire) all represented by multiple lots.
Up-and-coming stallions such as Alabama Express, Harry Angel (Ire), Hello Youmzain (Fr), Super Seth and Too Darn Hot (GB) also make their mark on the catalogue as do a number of well credentialled first season stallions; amongst those being Bivouac, Farnan, Ghaiyyath (Ire), King's Legacy, Ole Kirk, Russian Camelot, Tagaloa and Wootton Bassett (GB).
Kane Jones noted how the times recorded by this sale's horses in the breeze-ups are not always indicative of how they sell.
“I am glad that our buyers are not obsessed with times,” he said. “They look at the athlete, the good mover.”
“I am glad that our buyers are not obsessed with times. A lot of our top graduates have been horses who have not run particularly fast times.” - Kane Jones
“A lot of our top graduates have been horses who have not run particularly fast times,” he said, pointing out Ceolwulf and this year's G2 Avondale Cup winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) as a couple of examples.
“And even a champion sprinter like Lucky Sweynesse, he didn't record an exceptionally quick time. I think our buyers are happy to see them run a nice even time, to see them do it easily within themselves.”
He attributes much of the sale's continuing success to the respect held worldwide for New Zealand horsemen and women.
Gallery: Some of the top sale graduates who have not run particularly fast breeze up times
“These horses are being educated and prepared by outstanding horse people who are second to none in what they do.
“They give their horses good grounding whilst still leaving a lot of improvement in them.”
