Yet it was Ravelston Stud's Per Incanto colt (Lot 109) that provided the highlight of the day's selling. Out of a winning O'Reilly mare The Dewdrop, he comes from the famous "The" family which the Stud have shaped over many years. Garry Carvell of Hiwi Bloodstock outlaid $100,000, the most paid for a yearling at the Sale since 2012, to acquire the athletic colt."He's a nice horse with a good cross," commented Carvell, the leading buyer by aggregate. "It's a good family and he will go over to Asia at some point."
Ravelston Stud also featured as the leading vendor by average selling three yearlings at an average of $50,250.
"Obviously we sold the top lot for good money and he was a standout colt," commented Robert Dennis. "We came here with a few neat, tidy horses that should have sold but didn't."
"We're happy with our top colt but disappointed with the rest – it's bittersweet."
On the back of what was a well-constructed catalogue pedigree wise, NZB's Regan Donnison commented "we were disappointed with the result and you can't hide the fact – despite selling our first six-figure colt for some time, it was a tough day's trading".
For the third consecutive year in a row White Robe Lodge have topped the vendors table by aggregate selling nine yearlings for total receipts of $165,500. Their highest priced yearling sold, and the second highest priced at the Sale, was a colt (Lot 98) by their exciting first season sire Ghibellines. The half-brother to stakes winner Cherry Creek fetched $55,000 with The Robert Dawe Agency securing him.
"We like to think we bring a nice draft to the Sale," commented Stud Manager Wayne Stewart. "The market today wasn't very strong, but all the horses have gone to very good homes."
"The Ghibellines colt (Lot 98) sold really well and Robert Dawe said he will go to a leading stable in the Waikato so it's a good result for us.
"It was a bit disappointing the overall Sale but I suppose that's a reflection of New Zealand racing too as a lot of trainers aren't buying horses at the moment.
"At the end of the day they have all gone to nice homes and we were prepared to meet the market."
Local trainer Michael Pitman was active at the Sale acquiring seven yearlings for a total spend of $98,500. Purchasing from a selection of sires, Berkley Stud's Love Conquers All colt (Lot 107) presented as his highest priced yearling when he went to $26,000.
"I thought the two nicest colts in the Sale were Lot 81 and Lot 107 which I ended up buying for outstanding value so I'm very happy," comment Pitman. "I've bought a lot of horses at this Sale that have done well previously."
"I saw a few Ghibellines at Karaka and they sold really well there. The Ghibellines I bought today (Lot 81) is for the Penang Turf Club syndicate.
"I have been coming to this Sale all my life and this is as good a time to buy horses as I have ever seen."
With 63 of horses sold, slightly up on the previous edition (61), the Sale aggregate finished at $873,750, the average settled to $13,869 while the median closed at $10,000.
All yearlings purchased at the South Island Sale are eligible to be nominated for the Karaka Million Series featuring two $1m races, nominations close at 5pm on Monday 21st May.
To make enquiries about any Passed Lots contact Regan Donnison on +64 21 512 466. View Passed Lots here.
