3 minute read
Karaka 2021 - Book 1 - Vendor In Focus
Who are your pick of the colts and why?
Hopefully we can kick the sale off on a positive note with our first lot through the ring. Lot 7 is a colt from the first crop of our European Champion 3YO Almanzor. He’s a real eye catcher and has a fantastic pedigree. The Savabeel Star (Lot 92) and Caminadora (Lot 298) colts by Almanzor are both good representatives of their sire, one is out of stakes producing mare and the other out of Group winner.
Tavistock has had another Derby winner this season and we have a really solid group of colts by him. Lot 566 is a half to a Champion 2YO and is a more forward type as you would expect. The Zeranti colt (Lot 224) is a personal favourite, his full-brother The Irishman looks very talented and is headed for the Karaka Million 3YO Classic. The Savabeel - Lovetessa colt (Lot 520) has everything going for him on paper and is an exceptional looker also. For those looking to have a crack at the Karaka Million 2YO race our Snitzel (Lot 531) and Spirit of Boom (Lot 320) colts both appeal.
Who are your pick of the fillies and why?
Lot 120 and 195 are quality Almanzor fillies that strike me as lovely fillies to aim at the three-year-old Classics. Their catalogue pages wouldn’t look out of place in any of the top tier European sales. The So You Think - Vironvay filly (Lot 203) is a good bodied, attractive filly from the Eight Carat family that you would hope will make a nice three-year-old as well. The Spirit of Boom – Gracious Grey filly (Lot 426) is one of our sharper, more precocious types and we also have a couple of forward fillies by exciting first season sires Merchant Navy (Lot 545) and Russian Revolution (Lot 478).
Who do you feel has improved most over the prep?
We’ve been fortunate to have a really good run with the spring and summer weather so overall the horses have thrived but the Churchill – Diamond Earth colt (Lot 437) has done particularly well. His sire was the kind of horse everyone would love to own, a champion at two that trained on to win two Guineas at three. This colt has some of that European quality about him but you can see the strength of his dam coming through and that has become more evident as the prep has gone on.
How do you feel the 2021 sale will measure compared to previous renewals?
If you look at the sales around the world since the pandemic began it's obviously going to be very hard to keep pace with previous year’s results. However, the NZB Ready to Run Sale held up very well and I must say there is an air of positivity around despite the year we have had.
Australian racing has powered through COVID and we are starting to see some positive changes to the fundamentals of the New Zealand industry as well so I think the demand for racehorse ownership is still quite robust.
How do you think the current COVID pandemic will affect the sale?
From a New Zealand point of view the biggest factor is the closed borders. The sale will be unlike any other without international buyers onsite so the onus will be on vendors to provide as much information as possible so offshore buyers can be confident to participate in the sale. It won’t be easy but I think we can make it a workable sale.
What do you think are the positives of the pandemic on the way that sales are conducted?
I have to take my hat off to NZB and the Ready to Run vendors. The online bidding platform worked well and the vendors provided a high level of information and footage for buyers. I’m sure things will revert back to the way they were in many respects but the online bidding and enhanced information provided on the offerings will be here to stay.
What is the thing that you like most about the sale?
The Karaka Million race evening is always a highlight and gives everyone a buzz leading into the sale. Judging by the summer crowds at the races recently it’s sure to be another quality night of racing with a great atmosphere. It’s a shame all the international visitors won’t be able to join us this time but hopefully everyone will be chomping at the bit the following year!
