b4breeding

The Auckland Autumn Weanling and All Age Sale is starting to hit its straps. Yesterday (20 May 2015) the sale lifted to another level as buyers identified and got some fairly priced young horses rather than wait for the yearling sales. It is a concept that has shown promise, and one which I have promoted as a great opportunity to see progeny of new sires and others that may fly under the radar. For sellers, it is now a viable option in the North Island for moving good stock on rather than carrying the risk further. Yes, there were plenty of cheaper prices, too, and the prices for progeny from newer sires are low-ish and all over the show as buyers go on individual type and family rather than proven ability of the sires. Weanlings from sires like Bettor’s Delight and Mach Three, and to some extent American Ideal, were very well received as would be expected. The buying market remains very conservative, but at last the sale gives new sires an early airing.

Top price for the sale was Lot 73, paid by Mike Berger for a Bettor’s Delight colt from Spirit Of Eros, a good producer (dam of one of my favourites Spirit And Desire as well as of the very good Bettor Spirits which is part owned and trained by Mike Berger) and that’s the family of Tabella Beth (Stars And Stripes, Light And Sound). He must have been an exceptional weanling to get that price – he was from the Woodlands Stud draft, bred by Woodlands Stud, and I only previewed the Alabar draft and couldn’t get to the sale myself, so haven’t viewed him or seen a photo.

Brent Mangos bought three horses – one as an agent and the others on his own account – above the $20k mark.

You can see all the results here at the PGG Wrightson Sale of the Stars website

Tintin In America x Westerly Wind weanling filly

There are a couple I want to mention – one is Lot 23, a sturdy looking Tintin In America weanling filly bought by Andrew and Lyn Neal for $4000 for a syndicate I am aware of, and I wish them all the best with her. This is the second Tintin filly from the Western Terror mare Westerly Wind. It’s a nice pedigree match with multiple double ups to influential males and females (especially when you consider that Happy Motoring and New York Motoring were full brothers) plus it is a family that is on the rise.

Westerly Wind is a daughter of Shazza’s Dream who also had a weanling for sale – a Mach Three filly that Gavin Smith bought for $13,000. He knows this family – another Mach Three foal from Shazza’s Dream, a 2yo colt called Blade, was racing tonight at Forbury Park in awful conditions and sat parked for a long way before battling on for 7th, but he is worth following.

Shazza’s Dream is the dam of Offtocullect who won here and in Australia for 7 wins from 11 starts, but I am not sure what has happened to him since. Anyone know?

Shazza’s Dream and Westerly Wind are from the Russianero family, and there were several other weanlings in the sale from branches of that family which Alabar is breeding from.

Mach Three x Shazza’s Dream weanling filly