Valachi Downs’ Unreserved Reduction Live on Gavelhouse Plus

Media Release - Wednesday March 17

In a move to consolidate numbers, prime Waikato-based nursery Valachi Downs is represented by 52 Lots in a stand-alone unreserved reduction auction launched today on Gavelhouse Plus.

Buyers must pre-register to bid in this auction with the sale running through until the final countdown from 7pm (NZ) on Friday 26 March.

Valachi Downs horses have had the very best start to life!

“Kevin and Jo Hickman are refocusing Valachi Downs as a more private and smaller nursery running closer to 75 mares and the racing stable with the same goal of producing, selling and racing elite racehorses,” Valachi Downs’ General Manager Gareth Downey said.

“We have put some nice bloodstock up for auction with the in-foal mares, I believe, having all been suitably mated and we will be eager to hear of the resulting foals.

“We have managed to retain a connection to most of the bloodlines on offer and will look forward to these families excelling both for the purchasers’ benefit and ours at Valachi.”

Advertisement

Of the 52 mares being sold, 38 of them are in foal with covering sires including Belardo, Contributer, Redwood, Savile Row, Ten Sovereigns, Time Test, U S Navy Flag, Vadamos, Vespa, War Decree and Zacinto while there are 10 mares offered with foals at foot by Almanzor, Eminent, Reliable Man, Vadamos, Vespa, War Decree and Zacinto.

Highlight Lots include:

  • Lot 2 – Amisfield, a daughter of Savabeel from black-type mare Sapphire Belle, dam of multiple Group and Listed performer Merion (O’Reilly). In foal to Vadamos.
  • Lot 13 – offered in foal to U S Navy Flag and with a Reliable Man colt at foot, Curraghmore Girl is from a deep international family with her Sadler’s Wells dam the outstanding Group One winning Shirley Heights mare Infamy.
  • Lot 21 – a winner of two whose third dam is the blue-hen Habibti, Hayley Ann is out of the Zabeel mare Proustian and is in foal to U S Navy Flag.
  •  Lot 23 - a stakes-placed winner of six, Laaffaire is by Iffraaj and offered in foal to Time Test.
  • Lot 38 – a winner of two in Australia, Rainbow Lace is by High Chaparral and is closely related to Ocean Park, Grunt, Critic and Prince Kaapstad. Offered in foal to Vadamos.
  • Lot 45 – an imported daughter of Hurricane Run, Shower of Roses is from a stakes-placed half to five-time Group One winner and champion stayer Fame and Glory. Offered with a colt by Almanzor at foot and in foal to Vespa.

The team at Valachi Downs will be available by appointment only to host inspections throughout the auction between 7:30am and 5pm.

The gavelhouse.com team are available to answer any bidding queries via +64 9 296 4436 or info@gavelhouse.com

Advertisment
More Reading...
Stakes Success for Spritely 7YO Warhorse
Pearce Racing's seven year old warhorse Ginger Baker collected his first ever stakes win in the Listed 2200m South West Cup yesterday.
Te Akau Stars Headed to Cranbourne
Te Akau’s Cranbourne barn has welcomed some exciting reinforcements ahead of spring racing, headlined by $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) heroine Damask Rose.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Value Sires About to Crack Their Ton
With less than a month to go for the current Australian racing season, the century club for stallions that have sired 100 winners since August 1 has expanded to include 14 stallions and there are two more knocking at the door and they represent amazing value.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 6
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
Debut Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
Set to shuttle to Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (FR) had an impressive debut winner overnight in the UK with Cape Ashizuri opening his account in style.
Aussie Interest at JRHA Sale Next Week – First foal of Golden Slipper Winner
The 2025 JRHA  Select Foal and Yearling Sale will be held next week in Japan on July 14 and 15 and as usual there are some interesting entries for Aussie racing fans with a significant number of our star mares at stud in Japan including the 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.
Public Attention Sold to Hong Kong
New Zealand-bred three-year-old Public Attention will continue his racing career in Hong Kong following his recent sale.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.