Big Wins for NZB’s Southern Graduates

The tough southern-bred product has left impressions not only in the South Island racing scene, but further north in New Zealand and across the Tasman in Australia. At affordable prices, a new wave of 61 yearlings will be on offer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale, presenting an opportunity to invest with lucrative and promising results on the racetrack as seen by graduates of the Sale.

With 14 individual stakes winners having laid claim to 23 stakes races since the start of the 2014-15 season, this season’s four individual stakes winners so far cost as little as $1,000 and could have been secured for up to $20,000 at the Sale.

Air Max (NZ) (Nadeem) has kicked off his promising race career with back-to-back stakes wins in the Gore Guineas and Dunedin Guineas. Trainer Lance Robinson has guided the three-year-old to two victories and three placings from just seven starts with breeders and part-owners Cheryl Wilson and Bruce Sheat having offered him for Sale in 2017.

“He showed us ability right from day one,” Robinson said. “We were very patient with him, we really looked after him and it’s paid off now.”

“Cheryl and Bruce offered us the lease on him and we got some people together and there’s about 35 people in him now. They’re all having a lot of fun together which is good for the game.”

Air Max’s stablemate and half-brother Boots ‘n’ All (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) scored a second career black-type victory this season in the Timaru Cup. Leading into the Cup, Boots ‘n’ All placed second in the Group Two Coupland’s Bakeries Mile behind Te Akau Shark. He was offered at the South Island Sale in 2014 where he could have been secured for just $5,000.

Wilson and Sheat, who own the geldings’ dam Steel Stilettos (Hussonet), are the breeder, vendor and owner of dual stakes winners Air Max and Boots ‘n’ All.

In the North Island, Shadows Cast (NZ) (Per Incanto) continued his Group form from last season and added Group One status to his page when triumphing in the Thorndon Mile off the back of a win in the Group Two Manawatu Challenge Stakes.

“I always thought he was up to winning a Group One,” commented trainer Mark Oulaghan. “I’ve had some nice horses and trained a few good ones, but nothing beats a Group One win.”

While he could have been purchased for just $10,000 at the 2014 Sale, the gelding who was offered by Christine Harris has now won $422,602 in prizemoney.

Graduates from the Sale have also notched up stakes wins in Australia and this season’s Listed Sandown Cup winner Yogi (NZ) (Raise the Flag) cost only $1,000. This was Yogi’s second black-type Cup having finished last season on a high, winning the Listed Port Adelaide Cup.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained six-year-old was consigned by David and Hazel Voice at the 2014 Sale where Warwick Coles purchased him. He has now won $561,797 in prizemoney, making him one of the greatest bargain buys of the Sale’s history.

Together, these four graduates of the South Island Sale have won $2,107,993 in prizemoney – an impressive return of 59 times that of their combined original price in the sale ring.

Other stakes winners in recent seasons to have been produced from the Sale include Group One Telegraph Handicap winner Signify (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) who sold for $5,500, Tasmanian Oaks and Bagot Handicap winner Parthesia (NZ) who fetched $20,000 in the sale ring, six-time stakes winner Natuzzi (NZ) (Coats Choice) who cost $9,000 to secure, and Singaporean sprinter-miler Absolutely (NZ) (Coats Choice) who claimed the Three Rings Trophy from a $3,000 purchase price to name just a few.

These graduates highlight just how affordable yearlings offered at the South Island Sale can be, and as an added bonus, all yearlings are eligible to be nominated for the Karaka Million Series with two $1 million races to be contested.

The South Island Sale will be held at the RDA Building at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch on Monday 29 April, commencing from Lot 1 at 11am.

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association; Canterbury Westland, Marlborough, Otago Branch warmly invite you for complimentary drinks and nibbles from 5pm on Sunday 28 April at the RDA Building.