$150,000 for Satono Aladdin Colt at Karaka Book 2

Media Release - Thursday January 28

Wairarapa’s Ardsley Stud enjoyed a red-letter day at Karaka on Thursday as they produced two memorable pieces of magic in the auction ring.

Principal Jim Wallace had been expecting good things from their thirteen-strong draft over the Book 1 & 2 sessions of the National Yearling sale but was staggered by the results on the second day of Book 2 as they produced the equal best price of $150,000 for the Thursday session as well as the fourth best for good measure.

Wallace started day two with a bang as their Per Incanto colt, Lot 785 was knocked down to the $130,000 bid of agent Phill Cataldo who was acting for clients Upper Bloodstock.

Lot 908, the Satono Aladdin colt who was the equal top-priced yearling on the second day of the Book 2 session at Karaka  Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

Nearly four hours later the day got better for Wallace when Lot 908, a Satono Aladdin colt was sold to Singapore buyer Mr Pang for $150,000.

Wallace was feeling a little stunned after witnessing the bidding duel for the colt who had a number of good judges chasing him, including trainer Roger James who was the underbidder.

“I’m very very pleased as it takes a lot of work from everyone to get these results,” he said.

“We had thirteen altogether over the whole sale and I think we have got them all away bar one.

“We have had a very good sale overall.”

Wallace had set a moderate target for the Per Incanto colt, who is from a daughter of well performed racemare Yanna Marie who won nine races including the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m).

“Before the sale I thought we might be able to get around $70,000 for the colt,” he said.

“Once I saw how the Per Incantos were going I said to the owner that he would make $120,000 and he exceeded that.”

Wallace was convinced however that the Satono Aladdin colt could better that target.

“This colt (Lot 908) was one of the best horses I’ve ever put through a sale,” he said.

“He is an absolutely outstanding individual. He probably doesn’t have a $150,000 pedigree but he is a $150,000 colt on type.

“He was very popular in his parades and had 15-16 hits on his x-rays. You know there is something about a horse when a number of good judges are hanging around until so late in the sale.”

It was a case of old dogs learning new tricks as Wallace was given a crash course in bolstering his online presence by his sons and daughter.

“I think the sale has exceeded all of our expectations to be honest,” he said.

Advertisement

“The good horses made good money, there has been a broad spectrum of buyers and the online system has worked very well.

“For someone of my generation the whole online thing can be a bit of a mystery.

“My two sons and my daughter have kept me up to the mark and have dragged me kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

“It has been a steep learning curve, but I think we can make improvements as it is the way of the future.”

Earlier in the day a Wandjina colt out of the O’Reilly mare Home Alone, Lot 826, went for $150,000 to the bid of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Andrew Seabrook, acting on behalf of Wexford Stable’s Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.

Heidi Richardson (second from left) with her parents Ron and Beth Richardson pose alongside handler Liam Cunningham and Lot 826 Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

Te Awamutu breeder Heidi Richardson, who presented the colt under her own banner with the assistance of Curraghmore, was delighted with the result.

“I am blown away,” she said.

“I actually bought the mare online in Australia and I really liked her bloodlines.

“She got sent up to my brother, Blair Richardson, in the Hunter Valley. He is a breaker and pre-trainer at Vantage Hill.

“I had a quick five-minute conversation with him and next minute I flew over there to find a stallion to put her to.

“I went to Newgate and liked Wandjina on type and she got in foal first pop.

Richardson was quick to pay credit to her neighbour Gordon Cunningham, whose Curraghmore presented the horse on her behalf.

“He is a close friend of mine and I asked him about the mare and the bloodlines and he has come and seen the horse the whole way through, so we’re pretty happy and very impressed with how he has turned the horse out,” she said.

A radiographer by trade, Richardson has a broodmare agistment property.

“I am normally foaling down other people’s horses, and this is my first dabble into the breeding side of things myself and I am just blown away.

“I have now got a Pins mare and a Reliable Man filly, in addition to Home Alone, who has a Reliable Man filly and is in foal to Turn Me Loose, so you’re going to see a lot more horses under my banner,” she said. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Everest Runner/New G1 Horse for Hellbent as Invincible Legacy Surges
Hellbent has made a solid start to the new season with 25 winners racking up over $2million in earnings and he will have a runner in the $20million The Everest in two weeks time with Magic Time confirmed for the Inglis slot, while at Randwick last Saturday he added another G1 performer to his tally.
One for the Pedigree Nerds!
A blueblood stallion by Frankel that cost 1.3million guineas and a 3YO gelding by I Am Immortal that cost $14,000 – what could they possibly have in common other than both winning Group races at Flemington on Saturday.
Recent success highlights Inglis Digital October (Early) Sale
A range of exciting racing and breeding prospects – as well as a number of in-form racehorses and shares in Stakes winners – headline the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Kiwi Bred War Machine Secures Everest Slot
The NZB Ready to Run Sale is never short of graduates flying the flag on Group One stages in Australia. With the 2025 edition at Karaka now less than six weeks away, War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) has put his hand up to continue that trend this spring.
Shamus Award Mare Chasing Another G1
Adverse weather has forced multiple Group One winner Quintessa to take an unorthodox route to next Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), with the mare appearing at the Awapuni trials on Monday afternoon.
Wootton Bassett G1 Double on Arc Day
The shattering loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) has been highlighted at Longchamp in France on Arc Day where the champion sire added two new Group I winners to his tally in 2YO colt Puerto Rico and the former Aussie owned 3YO colt Maranoa Charlie.
One to Watch - Warwick Farm
Tassort produced an impressive winner at Warwick Farm on Monday carrying the Trilogy Racing colours that looks well up to a far better grade than this public holiday Monday meeting.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
Sires With Winners - Monday October 6
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.