Like any other sales day it was tough going for Nathan at Auckland on Monday but he left Karaka a happy man.
“I was very pleased with what we ended up with.They were all nice horses on our list and within the budget and I am really looking forward to working with this group. I have a lot of confidence in them”
Nathan is still sorting out ownership details and then heads south to Christchurch for the southern sale on
Wednesday.
A lot of time and effort by both Mark and Nathan went into their selections all with a budget in mind.Their buys were all thosw who had made the final cut and there was only one real disappointment as far as Nathan was concerned. Prices wre realistic for the section of the market attracting most of his attention
The buys heading to Pukekohe
Lot 20 bay filly Art Major-Callies Delight-Bettor’s Delight
Looked a snip at $20,000 given she is the first foal of a dual Grp 1 winner (Breeders Stakes; Queen of Hearts) from a family which has produced the goods when matched with the right stallions over the years. Her price may reflect that her granddam was by Elsu instead of a boom imported stallion but the family has a solid background the third dam Precious Vance being a high class producer.It goes back through the once prominent “Seafield” family from Timaru and can produce high class fillies on a regular basis
Lot 86 c American Ideal-Czanyl -Bettor’s Delight
From a winning family that features De Lovely and Australian star Catch a Wave (1.48.8) by the always underrated sale ring stallion American Ideal. That may have contributed to his $30,000 cost a figure that looks within easy reach of recovering and moving on to even better things. Traces to the high class racemare and successful breeder,Zenith
Lot 105 b filly Downbytheseaside-Greater Good -Bettor’s Delight
A granddaughter of former All Stars top liner Elle Mac from a winning Bettor’s Delight mare, Nathan went to $70,000 for this one but still in bargain country considering the $140,000 paid for an Elle Mac yearling a short time before. She is a first foal and while Elle Mac has yet to leave anything in her own class it is a family due to resurge at short notice.Downbytheseaside has left at least two classic filly winners which augurs well for the future of the next generations.
Lot 109 bay colt Lather Up-High Society Gal- Mach Three
Nathan opened the purse to the extent of $50,000 for this guy a son of world champion race tracker Lather Up in a nicely balanced cross of a young sire with a proven broodmare from a prolific winning family. He was closely related to an earlier lot that Nathan had missed out on.
“I was the underbidder on 83 a very nice colt but was outbid by the Bond team. That’s all part of the sales day”
This colt is a descendant of Under Cover Lover from the family which produced Van Glory. Malabella etc. Lather Up stunned with a world mile record of 1.46 as a four year old. Being a grandson of Bettor’s Delight from a mare by In The Pocket the two most influential American stallions of the era suggests New Zealand racing will suit his stock. He has a high strike rate of winners to starters in the USA and in early times here.
In addition to his own purchases Nathan will train a Pebble Beach -Thirsty Thursday youngster from a good family bought by Jean Feiss for a bargain $21,000.
The filly, one of only two sale entries by the son of Downbytheseaside,is a half sister to War Cry, Group 1 placed at two; and Harness Millions placed Sandra Dee and the sharp Feiss eye could have picked up a bargain here.
She is from a family of winners going back to Parusa who left filly stars like Smooth Sheila and In Or Out-the first two fillies in a cold dominated breeding career. This is the branch of the Tondeleyo family made famous as Derby winners by Alister Kerslake.
Pebble Beach may have been overshadowed on the day by his sire but he was a track star in his own right winning the North American Cup and Breeder’s Crown finals making him Three Year Old of the year with a 1.48.8 time.His maternal side is chockful of legendary stallions and the fact he was such a correct and courageous pacer suggests he has a big future in both hemispheres.