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Anthony Cummings pays $107,500 for colt online
A colt by Rich Hill Stud-based sire Proisir (Choisir) topped New Zealand Bloodstock’s first-ever National Weanling Sale conducted on Gavelhouse Plus when Anthony Cummings went to NZ$107,500 for the Curraghmore Stud-consigned youngster.
The dedicated weanling session saw 60 lots sell for a total of NZ$1,044,051. The average reached NZ$17,401 while the median closed at NZ$8,250 and the clearance rate settled at a healthy 75 per cent.
The session topper was catalogued as Lot 19 and is out of dual Listed winner Pennacchio (Align), making the colt a half-brother Group 3 winner Full Of Beauty (Darci Brahma) and a further three winners.
Pennacchio is herself a half-sister to Abenroad (Danroad), who in turn produced Listed winner and 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) runner-up Strada Cavallo (Alamosa).
“I’m very happy with this colt, I know the potential of this particular cross and I have confidence in the horse as an individual,” Cummings said.
“He is by Proisir, leading second season sire in New Zealand with his best looking group horses by any standard.
“This weanling has a great pedigree and type, and how these things merge together in the family make it very easy to walk into a sale situation and purchase a horse like him.
Cummings was quick to heap praise on the online sales experience: “I really liked the idea of an online sale and I think it works well from both a buying and selling perspective.
“Buyers get extensive information and there are plenty of people to talk to, making it easier to do your homework,” he said.
Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said he felt the weanling justified that price-tag.
“He’s a good colt from a well-performed mare who has already left a very good horse in Hong Kong, and he is by an emerging sire.
“He made a good price that justified our decision to offer him online.
“Vendors made a very good effort and took the sale seriously and I hope they were rewarded,” commented Cunningham.
Proisir, who is a brother to Aquis Farm stallion Divine Prophet, will have his first runners next season and he will stand at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand for a fee of NZ$9,000 (plus GST) in 2020.
Savabeel (Zabeel) was in demand during Sunday’s online session with a colt by the Waikato Stud-based sire making NZ$97,500 after being purchased by Zhongli Thoroughbreds.
Catalogued as Lot 15 and consigned by Valachi Downs, the colt is the third foal out of the unraced Invincible Spirit (Green Desert) mare My Country, who is herself a half-sister to German Group 2 winner Peace At Last (Oasis Dream).
Further back this is the same family as 1999 Lockinge Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) winner Fly To The Stars (Bluebird) and Group 3 winner Fallen Star (Brief Truce) - the dam of Fallen For You (Dansili), who landed the 2012 Coronation Stakes (Gr 1, 1m). Fallen For You herself produced dual Group 2 winner Glorious Glory (Dubawi). Group 1 winner Age Of Fire (Fastnet Rock) also features on the page.
Another Savabeel colt was purchased for NZ$95,000 by Carlaw Park from the draft of Waikato Stud.
Catalogued as Lot 29, is out of Serenade (O’Reilly), who is herself a half-sister to Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Marju Snip (Marju), Group 2 winner Do Ra Mi (Savabeel) and Listed winner Unique Jewellery (O’Reilly). Serenade is also a half-sister to dam of Listed winner Kingdoms (High Chaparral).
The colt’s third dam is Candidate (Sound Reason), who won the 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) in 1987, and she produced 2006 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Nadeem (Redoute’s Choice) and Listed scorer Billion Day (Coronation Day).
Further back this is the family of Group 3 winner Felicienne (Al Maher) and Listed scorer Dylanson (Dylan Thomas).
New Zealand Bloodstock sales manager Danny Rolston was complimentary of the vendor's efforts resulting in a pleasing day of trade.
“We entered new territory and vendors had to pivot and be versatile,” said Rolston.
“The way they embraced the format and lifted the game of digital presentations was reflected in today’s results.
“There was a broad, international buying bench and considering the circumstances, we are thrilled with the outcome.
A charity auction held at the end of the sale offered a service fee to Microphone (Exceed And Excel), which was donated by Darley, where the stallion will start his career this spring. The service fee sold for NZ$40,000 with all proceeds going to the Catwalk Trust, who fund world-class research to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.
