Windsor Park Stud’s ‘Rugby, Racing and Beer’ South Island Sale has proven to be a fruitful initiative for the Cambridge thoroughbred nursery over the last couple of years, which was further enhanced over the weekend when sales graduate Collect Your Cash took out the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) at Wingatui.
Kelly Coe could be set for another crack at elite-level if she performs well in the Listed Clubs NZ @ The Races Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau on Tuesday.
Leading jockey Warren Kennedy had a tough decision to make heading into Saturday’s Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, with the option of riding either Waitak or Crocetti, with the expat South African ultimately choosing the latter.
Sugah Sweet has been acquitting herself well, despite having little luck in strong company this preparation, and she looks well-placed to turn her fortunes around at Tauherenikau on Tuesday.
Matamata trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander went to $140,000 to secure an Ace High colt at Karaka on Thursday.
There are limited chances left to secure progeny of dominant Hong Kong stallion Deep Field, and Jamie Richards jumped at the opportunity to buy a well-credentialled colt for $500,000 at Karaka on Tuesday.
The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing administration ranks will receive an injection of youth and enthusiasm in April with the addition of Brad Taylor to the RACE team.
Little Avondale Stud’s yearling drafts have yielded plenty of success for Bjorn Baker, and the expat New Zealand trainer returned to the same formula with his purchase of another Savabeel colt at Karaka on Tuesday.
Baker has trained several winners with the distinctive ‘LA’ brand, including Addictive Nature, who was bought for $775,000 from the Karaka sale ring in 2016. That son of Savabeel won the Gr.3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) and placed in the Gr.2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) and Gr.2 Expressway Stakes (1200m).
On Tuesday, Baker went to $525,000 to secure Lot 562 from Little Avondale’s 2024 draft. The colt is out of the twice-winning High Chaparral mare Alam Mo Na, who is a half-sister to the stakes performer Explosive Mischief. Their dam, the Danehill mare Queen Of The Hill, was a dual Group Three winner in Melbourne.
“Thrilled to get him,” Baker said. “Obviously I’ve had a bit of luck with the Little Avondale graduates over the years.
“We really liked this colt. He was the colt that we came here and wanted. We had to wait a bit longer – I like to strike on the first day – but he’s a lovely-looking colt and he looks like he’s a chance to get up and go early.”
Baker’s purchase of Lot 562 took Savabeel’s aggregate for the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale through the $10 million barrier. The Waikato Stud kingpin has an average price of more than $270,000.
“Savabeel’s one of the great stallions and he’s had a strong sale again,” Baker said. “They’re great horses and they win races. The more Savabeels I get, the more I’ll be able to stay competitive in Sydney, and that’s what it’s about.
“I was lucky enough to get a good Savabeel off Little Avondale a few years back, called Addictive Nature, and this guy reminded me a lot of him. He’s a good-looking horse, plenty of quality, and I can’t wait to get him into the stable.”
The recent innovations and prize-money increases in New Zealand racing have not escaped the notice of Baker, who will consider bringing his new purchase back to this side of the Tasman.
“We’ll try and get him underway relatively quickly, and we’ll definitely sign up for the Karaka Millions,” he said. “If not that, maybe we can get him back here for The Kiwi (1500m) when it’s a $4.5 million race.
“There’s a lot of good opportunities here in New Zealand now. I’m just hoping one or two of the good Kiwi trainers in Aussie move home!” – NZ Racing Desk.
The first Wootton Bassett yearlings to be sold in New Zealand have made a big impression at Karaka this week, headed by a well-related filly that fetched $800,000 on Tuesday morning.
Renegade Rebel will make the second middle distance appearance of his burgeoning career on Wednesday in his final lead-up to the country’s Blue Riband age group staying feature.
