Sights Turn to Annual South Island Sale

As the entries for the forthcoming South Island Sale of Two Year Olds & Mixed Bloodstock are being finalised, the catalogue is shaping up into the strongest seen in the South Island in recent years.

There are currently over 220 horses entered in this year's Sale including two year olds, broodmares, yearlings, untried horses and racehorses, with more than 170 entered for the two year old Select Session.

In addition to local vendors, North Island studs such as Anzac Lodge, Esker Lodge, Curraghmore Stud, Fairdale Stud and Windsor Park Stud also have horses entered.

The one day sale is scheduled to be held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch on Friday 12 August. Selections by New Zealand Bloodstock's agents start next week, with catalogues then being available from Thursday 14 July.

With word spreading last year about the outstanding value for money opportunities this Sale has boasted in recent years, there was a strong overseas turnout that competed with a bouyant local market. That Sale generated excellent results with a catalogue of 184 horses setting a record sale average of NZ$12,184. The overall average price for two year olds was a fraction over NZ$14,000, showing an impressive increase of 44% from the previous year.

Notable, recent graduates include the likes of Super Kid (NZ) (Gaius x Pompeii Pride), who won the Group 1 Hong Kong Champions and Chater Cup last May and was crowned Hong Kong Champion Stayer for that season; Silky Red Boxer (NZ) (Casual Lies x Soleil Etoile), winner of the Group 2 Japan/New Zealand Trophy; and winner of the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas, Hustler (NZ) (Al Akbar x Flush), who was purchased by John Reid & Co from Grangewilliam Stud for $12500.

For catalogues or sale information, please contact New Zealand Bloodstock PH: (09) 298 0055, Fax: (09) 298 0506 or see the full catalogue online at www.nzb.co.nz from 14th July.