Sights Turn South for Annual Auction Showcase

Sights Turn South for Annual Auction Showcase

Catalogues are now out for New Zealand Bloodstock's 2008 South Island Sale.

The South Island's annual auction showcase - set for the 8 August - holds a unique place in the New Zealand Bloodstock sale calendar as the only sale dedicated to unraced two-year-olds. A regular feature since its first occurrence in 1968, the sale is growing in popularity as a source of opportunity and value.

Star graduate Master O'Reilly has most recently helped to thrust this sale into the spotlight. A South Islander born and raised, he is also the impressive winner of this season's Group 1 Caulfield Cup.

By Waikato Stud sire O'Reilly, Master O'Reilly is from the Bakharoff mare Without Remorse, and was bred by David and Pat Jones and sold through their Paritai Stud draft for $75,000 in 2004 - the highest price that year. Now trained by Danny O'Brien for owners Bill Sutcliffe, Mrs D Sutcliffe and Miss JF Mawer, the five-year-old is the winner of 8 of his 21 career starts, and has collected a shade off A$2 million in prize money for his connections - ample justification for the trip south.

With consistent growth year upon year, last year's sale was strong right from the outset, with the two-year-old offering setting a new record average of $14,430, up 16% from $12,483 the previous year.

This year's catalogue sees 213 horses catalogued for sale, 20 more than last year, including 173 unraced two-year-olds plus broodmares, yearlings and racehorses.

The pedigree selection is an appealing blend of some of the best families the South Island is famous for, with some North Island raiders and international stallions added to the mix.

Some of the highlights include:

• Leading New Zealand sires represented including O'REILLY, PENTIRE, PINS, VOLKSRAAD

• South Island stallions such as AL JADEED, BUNKER, DANSKE, DANZIGHILL, ELTAWAASUL, JUSTICE PREVAILS, LORD OF WARRIORS, MY HALO, RUBY'S JESTER, SANDTRAP, SEASONED STAR, SHINKO KING, SUMMER SUSPICION, SUNRAY and YAMANIN VITAL

• 2YOs by Australian-based sires CANNY LAD, CATCHER IN THE RYE, COUNTRY REEL, FANTASTIC LIGHT, FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND, HAWK WING, HOLD THAT TIGER, HONOURS LIST, REENACT, ROCK OF GIBRALTAR and UMATILLA

• Plus ALIGN, CAPE CROSS, BACHELOR DUKE, BERTOLINI, BLACK MINNALOUSHE, CAPTAIN RIO, CHIANTI, DANROAD, DEPUTY GOVERNOR, DON EDUARDO, GOLAN, HANDSOME RANSOM, HAWKEYE, HIGH CHAPARRAL, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, HOWBADDOUWANTIT, ISHIGURU, ISTIDAAD, JOHAR, KASHANI, KEEPER, KING'S CHAPEL, MAGIC RING, MALTESE CENTURY, NO EXCUSE NEEDED, OCCIDENTAL TOURIST, ONE COOL CAT, POSTPONED, PYRUS, RIVIERA, SENOR PETE, SKAGEN, STARK SOUTH, STORM CREEK, ST PETERSBURG, STRATEGIC IMAGE, THORN PARK, TOWKAY, TRADITIONALLY and VIKING RULER.

• Three yearlings by CASTLEDALE which are all eligible for the Castledale Challenge operated by Te Runga Stud, whereby fillies will compete for lucrative rewards over their two- and three-year-old seasons.

• A selection of broodmares (20), racehorses (6), and yearlings (14).

The Central South Island Racing Owners & Trainers Association has orgainsed a tour of a selection of studs and sales prepping facilities in the lead up to this year's Sale, on Saturday 26 July. It will include the opportunity to view some of the young horses on offer, together with a parade of local stallions D'Cash, Sunray and Saperavi. For enquiries contact Pam Trusttum (03 688 4991).

The 2008 South Island Sale of 2YOs & Mixed Bloodstock will be conducted by New Zealand Bloodstock at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch on Friday 8 August from 10am.

For catalogues or further information contact reception[at]nzb.co.nz or (09) 2980055.

ENDS

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