NZB South Island Sale this Friday

New Zealand Bloodstock's South Island Sale and the New Zealand Racing Awards will both be staged this Friday (7 August) in Christchurch, New Zealand's garden city

South Island Sale vendors have started flowing into the Canterbury Agricultural Park today in preparation for a full day of viewing tomorrow (Thursday, 6 August), before the Sale commences at 10am on Friday.

In total 170 unbroken two-year-olds take centre stage in the 210-lot catalogue (including six in supplementary entries), with colts, geldings and fillies ready for further education with a view to racing or trading privately or pin-hooking to the 2009 NZB Ready to Run Sale (17 and 18 November).

The options are endless and the 2009 offering gathered in the catalogue will offer ready-made two-year-old prospects, classic three-year-olds types, and horses who will look to follow in the footsteps of South Island Sale graduate Master O'Reilly and develop into wonderful stayers.

Sires represented include Al Akbar, Bel Esprit, Captain Rio, Danasinga, Danske, Deputy Governor, Don Eduardo, Ekraar, Falkirk, Faltaat, Golan, Howbaddouwantit, Ishiguru, Istidaad, Jungle Pocket, Keeninsky, King's Chapel, Magic Albert, My Halo, No Excuse Needed, O'Reilly, Pentire, Pins, Postponed, Shinko King, Thorn Park, Towkay, Volksraad, and Yamanin Vital.

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�Lot 37 - Bay Colt - Bel Esprit x Polar Sky (Hurricane Sky)

First-season sire Coat's Choice (Redoute's Choice) is well represented with 18 lots. A close relation of successful sire Catbird, Coat's Choice showed tremendous ability at two in Australia before being retired to stud.

A son of champion sire Redoute's Choice, Coat's Choice will be looking to add to the success of fellow Redoute's Choice son, Not a Single Doubt, with his two-year-olds this season.

His progeny were keenly sought after at the 2009 Karaka�Yearling Sales where 7 sold �averaging $19000 - More than 5 times his service fee with top lot being filly out of Cruella which made $37500.

Inaugural Centaine Award winner O'Reilly, New Zealand's leading international sire last season, is represented by four lots who should attract plenty of interest including Lot 59, the only colt by O'Reilly, on account of Inglewood Stud.

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�Lot 59 - Bay Colt - O'Rielly x Sienna (Volksraad) - Inglewood Stud

NZ Champion sire for 2008/09 Volksraad will also be represented by a colt at Lot 64. From Group 1 winner Soundoration he is entered in the Grange Farm draft.

Leading South Island sires Danske, My Halo, and Yamanin Vital are sure to attract good support given their success in New Zealand and abroad recently.

Following the South Island Sale will be the 2008/09 Mercedes Thoroughbred Racing Awards - racing's night of glitz, glamour and entertainment at the Airforce Museum.

The black tie event will start at 6pm on the eve of Riccarton's Grand National Steeplechase meeting.

The weekend in Christchurch is a must for thoroughbred racing and breeding enthusiasts.

Prospective buyers can obtain catalogues from [email protected] and Marketing Executive Haylie Martin ([email protected]) can help with any travel arrangements. Catalogues can also be viewed online at http://www.nzb.co.nz/.