South Island Sale Supported with Top-Class Vendors

NZB'sSouth Island Sale is only three weeks away and our vendors are adding the final touches to their drafts which have been years in the making.

These well-prepared thoroughbreds are ready to be presented to prospective buyers and join the next generation of winning graduates.

The list of similarities between high-flying South Island Sale graduates Parthesia (NZ) (Raise the Flag) and Civil Disobedience (NZ) (Raise the Flag) are considerable, but if we look at where it all started we can trace them back to perennial southern vendor White Robe Lodge.

The long-standing nursery has claimed the title of leading vendor by aggregate four of the last five years at the South Island Sale and John Foote and Darren Weir are familiar faces to the stud. Purchasing in partnership, they secured Parthesia and Civil Disobedience with Weir guiding them to winning form at stakes level in Australia.

This year White Robe Lodge's first season sire Ghibellines and current-season Group producer Gallant Guru will be in the light making up all but one of their 15-lot draft.

While Mansfield Farm's draft size is often modest, they certainly know how to produce thoroughbreds that can succeed on the racetrack. The Canterbury-based operation have sold two stakes winners in the last five seasons with Eclair Samba (NZ) (Ekraar) paving the way for current winner Fully Funded (NZ) (Fully Fledged). Leading the vendors by average last year, their next generation draft will offer three colts.

The famous Dennis brothers legacy continues with Ravelston Stud topping the Sale last year with their $87,000 Rock 'n' Pop filly (Lot 100) from the iconic "The" family. Robert, the next generation of the Dennis family, made his first appearance at the helm and will again commit another quality selection of five yearlings including four from the "The" family.

"Like all well-known families its high class performers that put them on the map," commented Robert.

"The "The" family all stem from one foundation mare and it continues to produce not only winners but Group and Listed performers season after season.

"Recent seasons have seen The Diamond One, The Solitaire, The Bold One, and The Bishop perform at black type level and with young horses coming through it doesn't look likely to slow down anytime soon.

"As far as expectations go this year I'm hopeful the quality horses we, and other vendors, have entered will attract a good number of buyers to the Sale. We decided last year we would support this Sale with quality and I feel we have kicked it up another notch."

Often featuring as vendors among the top lots of the Sale, Three Valleys and Pear Tree Farm prepare their yearlings exclusively for the South Island Sale and their 2018 drafts are shaping up with Three Valleys offering 12 yearlings, including eight by southern sires, and Pear Tree Farm offering seven yearlings.

Amongst the familiar names will also be consignors who made their debut appearances at Karaka 2018. Experienced preparers Olly and Annabel Wigley offered their two Zacinto yearling colts earlier in the year under their new banner Beaufort Downs and both subsequently sold at an average of $77,500. Anticipating to achieve similar results, the Canterbury-based operation will offer two yearlings along with the one catalogued unraced horse, The Traveller (Brilliance) (Lot 121).

"We had a lot of feedback from buyers at Karaka about how well the horses looked – so all the hard work paid off," commented Annabel.

"It is a massive undertaking to get the horses from Canterbury all the way up to Auckland, so the South Island Sale will be a lot easier for us logistically."

The father-daughter duo of Trinity and Jean-Pierre St Guillaume put a breeding program in place and made a plan to take a small draft to Karaka each year. This year their Highfield Grange banner made its first appearance with three yearlings selling in the ring. Off the back of good results at their first Sale they will be taking three yearlings to their local South Island Sale.

A total of 28 vendors will be offering their drafts for Sale at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch on Friday 20 April. Selling commences at 11am with 121 lots catalogued including the progeny of 44 sires. There are siblings to eight stakes performers while two yearlings are out of stakes-winning dams.

You can view the catalogue online or request a copy from Faye Hunt at reception@nzb.co.nz. For travel and accommodation information contact Harry King at Harry.King@nzb.co.nz.