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• April 27, 2022
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During six days of trading at New Zealand Bloodstock(NZB)’s 96th National Yearling Sales, the Raptors Thoroughbred (Team) was active at the event and purchased six horses.

At least three horses from the six-horse haul attracted some horse owners, breeders, or trainers who approached the team and expressed their desire to retain or buy some shares of the horses.

NZB agent Alex Teng said, “This indicated that the good horses are not easy to get at auction, and it also indicated how popular the horses that the team got.”

Two horses have reached partnerships with senior industry insiders.

Alex Teng said, “I believe that the participation from thoroughbred industry insiders will provide a critical path to the future success for the team.”

The two horses that have entered into a partnership are Lot 615, a filly by Pierro out of Alamosa mare Strada Cavallo, and Lot 968, a colt by Almanzor out of Danzero mare Our Foil.

The Almanzor colt was bought in partnership by the team with Kent Sun, the chairman of the New Zealand Chinese Horse Owners Alliance (Alliance), purchased price at $230,000 from Milan Park.

NZB International Bloodstock Manager John Cameron highly praised the colt and strongly recommended that the team breed this colt and participate in the future racing event.

He said: “The colt is by G1 winning stallion Almanzor, son of very highly successful Wootton Bassett. This colt is a descendant from one of the best female families in Australia and NZ going back to the international broodmare of the year Eight Carat. The family has also produced the outstanding racehorses likes of Octagonal, Don Eduardo and Diamond Lover. “

“The colt’s sire Almanzor is creating a huge impression with the outstanding types that he is producing and the success of his first crop of 2YO on the track. He has sired this year Karaka Million 2YO winner Dynastic. “

“He is a good mover and a typical colt that you would expect to win as an autumn 2YO and who can go on to be a very good 3-4YO as he matures further.”

Milan Park principal Tony Rider was delighted with the sale of the Almanzor colt, and he immediately contacted the team and bought some shares of the colt.

Rider, who was celebrating his birthday, described the bumper sale of the Almanzor colt as the perfect present.

“We had 12 x-ray hits,” Rider said. “Bruce Harvey absolutely loved him. Bruce was going to buy him for himself and he came over yesterday and said he didn’t think he would be able to afford him and he would make a lot of money.”

“Sam Beatson and Michael Guerin loved him, they were underbidders with a view to Ready To Running him, and Chris Rutten liked him.”

“I am one of those guys who believes in the breeding we are doing. We are not here breeding commercial stuff to just get the dollars, we are here to hopefully breed a racehorse on the track.”

New Zealand Chinese Horse Owners Alliance chairman Kent Sun, who is already an “old horse owner”, has purchased many horses in previous yearling sales, and some of the horses have participated in many racing events. This year, Sun had also made two purchases in Book 1 in a solo capacity.

“The partnership to purchase racing horses is the original intention of establishing the alliance. People can share the joy of horse racing, feel the joy of owning a horse.” Sun said.

“Normally we don’t see many local Chinese racing here, but actually it is not a small group. Alliance members have purchased more than ten horses at this National Yearling Sale, which is significant.”

Jessica Yang is a key person of the Raptors Thoroughbred, and she is also a new member of the Alliance. She participated in the auction for Lot 968 and was pleased with the support from NZB and Alliance.

“The purchase budget for Lot 968 was $200,000. When the auction price exceeded the budget, I had been told that those bidders were top trainers and breeders in New Zealand. At this moment, I think even an industry outsider should be aware of the value of this colt. The Alliance and NZB have given huge support during this auction. “

Raptors Thoroughbred principal Gavin Yang said, “The team originally planned to sell the Lot 968. But the team was inspired by the people from the thoroughbred industry, especially with the guidance of John Cameron, who has been in the thoroughbred industry for more than 50 years.”

“So we changed our plan and decided to train this colt and get ready to race on the track. Let us look forward to this colt in the future and expect the joy of victory from the track to all shareholders brings by this Almanzor colt.”