• user
• January 27, 2023
• No Comments

The foot traffic at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka sales complex has Haunui Farm principal Mark Chitty buoyed ahead of the National Yearling Sale, which kicks of at 11am this coming Sunday.

The Karaka farm will offer 26 yearlings in the Book 1 session of the sale, including a quality line-up of 12 fillies.

“We have got a nice group of fillies amongst the 52 that we take to auction over the week. Hopefully they are finding favour with prospective buyers,” Chitty said.

Amongst the filly offering is lot 344, the Pierro half-sister to 14-time Group One winner and dual New Zealand Horse of the Year Melody Belle, who is set to be inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in May.

“She is a really nice, quality filly. She is handling the parade pressure well,” Chitty said.

“We are pretty fortunate to be offering a filly of her ilk. There are still a couple of days away from the sale starting, but I think people like her. She is a nice type.”

Chitty has welcomed the announcement of Melody Belle’s upcoming Hall of Fame induction.

“That is pretty exciting,” he said. “Her race career was one of the best and it is a special thrill for a Hall of Famer to come off the farm.

“Meleka Belle (dam) is back in-foal to Savabeel. It is very exciting for her owner Marie Leicester.”

Chitty is also buoyant about the sale prospects next week of lot 616, the Super Seth filly out of Group Three winner Valpolicella.

“She is a lovely, big, strong filly from our foundation family. She is handling the early interest well,” Chitty said.

Haunui Farm’s draft is well-represented by first season sire Super Seth, with six yearlings by the Waikato Stud stallion in their Book 1 draft.

“We have got a few from the first crop of Super Seth. We are lucky enough to be vending for Jonathan Munz, who raced Super Seth,” Chitty said.

“Lot 207, a colt out of a young Oasis Dream mare Garden of Swans, is a particularly nice colt. He is a big, strong colt and is very representative of the Super Seths.”

Haunui will also offer four yearlings in their Book 1 draft by their shuttle stallions Ribchester and Belardo.

“Lot 43, the Ribchester colt, is out of a half-sister to Jon Snow, who won the AJC Derby (Gr.1, 2400m),” Chitty said.

“He is a nice, good-moving horse. If all the Ribchesters were like him that would be great.

“We have got one Belardo filly in the Book 1 session, and we have got some nice Belardos in the second session.

“She is out of a stakes-winning mare. She is a nice medium-sized filly who is a good mover, and I am sure she will find a nice home.”

Chitty has been pleased with the level of interest at Karaka, just days out from the commencement of the sale, and has welcomed the return of international buyers back to Karaka.

“It is always good to see the internationals back on the sale ground who we haven’t seen for three years,” he said.

“A few have arrived early and are looking intently. Hopefully that transfers across to sale day.”