Highline Thoroughbreds Celebrate Karaka Book 2 Success

Media Release - Wednesday January 27

Cam and Eva Heron of Highline Thoroughbreds were celebrating at Karaka on Wednesday after recording their best ever day at New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual sale.

The Waikato couple sold lot 664, the Per Incanto colt out of stakes performer Special Draw, for $155,000 to Robin Tai on behalf of a Singapore client.

Cam and Eva Heron with lot 664, the Per Incanto colt, purchased by Robin Tai for $155,000. Photo: Trish Dunell

While that was the farm’s biggest sale to date, that was blown out of the water later in the day when Cambridge trainer Alex Oliveira purchased lot 713, the Proisir colt, out of their draft for $180,000.

The Herons were duly overwhelmed with the results.

“It’s a big day for us,” Cam Heron said. “It is not an easy game to be in and we are chipping away and trying to build a reputation around our business.

“We are proud of the job that we do in preparing these yearlings, so it’s justification for all the hard work that we put in.”

Karaka 2021 was Highline Thoroughbreds’ sixth sale in the last eight years and Heron was buoyed by Wednesday’s results.

“Eva and I started Highline and our first horse went through the ring seven or eight years ago, but this is our sixth sale,” he said.

“We put one through and gradually built up until this year, where we have 11. Four Book 1 fillies, and seven Book 2 colts and fillies.”

Heron had an inkling both colts would sell well with the level of interest shown in them at Karaka, but their prices well surpassed his expectations.

“I thought they would go for over $100,000. They are very nice horses and they had been busy, so we knew we were in for good results,” he said.

Oliveira purchased lot 713 in partnership with Hong Kong clients and the colt will do his early education in New Zealand before a likely racing future in the Asian racing jurisdiction.

Advertisement

“He will probably go up to Hong Kong. We will play it by ear and see how it goes,” Oliveira said.

“We work closely with the guys up there, they wil be buying him with me – Paul Chow (Tartan Meadow Bloodstock) and we might have another client or two.”

Oliveira has been impressed by the progeny of Proisir and he said that is what first attracted him to the colt.

“I am a big fan of Proisir’s. I have had a few,” he said.

“I first saw him up here a couple of days ago. He is a precocious, strong, correct colt, and has a lovely walk on him.

“He was one of my top lots of the day.”

Meanwhile, Robin Tai was pleased to secure lot 664 for $155,000, and said he was initially drawn to the colt because of his sire’s strong record in Hong Kong.

“The pedigree is what attracted me and my father William, who is in Hong Kong,” Tai said.

“We start by looking at the pedigree and he is from a nice family. The Per Incantos go very well in Hong Kong. He is one of the leading sires there and gets a lot of winners.

“I didn't see him until I got here to the grounds and he is a lovely colt. He was on our short list quite quickly, especially after I sent a video to my father.

“We bought him for a client who lives in Singapore.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Spring Contender Too Darn Discreet Wins Heatherlie Stakes
Recording her third black type victory, talented Too Darn Hot mare Too Darn Discreet appears to be on track for further spring riches after winning the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield for trainer Dan O’Sullivan.
Hellbent Mare Cracks $3million with G3 Cockram Victory
When Grahame Begg has talented mare Magic Time ready to fire first up she rarely misses and the six year-old daughter of Hellbent produced her A game at Caulfield on Saturday to win the Group III MRC Cockram Stakes (1200m) as favourite.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Exclusive opportunity to purchase nomination in Too Darn Hot
Exciting racing and breeding prospects – plus a nomination in Champion First and Second Season Sire Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) – headline a diverse catalogue of 302 lots for the Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale.
Manikato Target For Tropicus
One of two stakes winners on the day for Darley’s Too Darn Hot at Caulfield, the impressive Group 3 MRC Heath 1100 (1100m) victory of Kia Ora’s Tropicus has connections set to target the stallion prospect at Group 1 races.
Too Darn Hot nomination realises $255,000 in August (Late) Sale
A nomination in exceptional young stallion Too Darn Hot has topped today’s Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale, selling for $255,000.
So You Think Cognito Back in Form
Group Two winner Cognito snapped a 22-month win drought in emphatic style in Saturday’s $50,000 Join TAB Racing Club Open (1580m) at Riccarton.
So You Think Summer Star a Spring Contender
So You Think gelding Revelare was the find of the summer down in Melbourne racking up five successive wins between December and the start of March with the untapped 5YO putting up his hand as a spring contender when saluting at Caulfield on Saturday.
Grand Prairie Wins G3 Up and Coming for Yulong
The Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday was aptly named with a classy field of promising colts chasing a first Black Type win and it was Yulong blueblood colt Grand Prairie that took the win in somewhat controversial circumstances.
Coolmore Stud Stakes On The Cards For Tycoon Star
A shot at the stallion-making Group 1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) looks to be on the agenda after smart Written Tycoon colt Tycoon Star recorded his second Group 3 victory, winning the MRC McNeil Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Caulfield for Yulong.