Positive build up to Karaka Weanling Sale

[Wandering Eyes]

Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.

The one-day auction features 118 thoroughbreds after withdrawals including weanlings by a host of proven and emerging sires, with opportunities for pinhookers and end-users alike.

Proven sires such as Savabeel, Per Incanto, Proisir, Shocking, Satono Aladdin, Shamexpress, Ocean Park, Spirit of Boom and Almanzor are well represented, along with rising star Super Seth.

The second crop of emerging young sires Noverre and Sword Of State will also be keenly sought after while the first stock by Windsor Park Stud’s Group One winning son of Deep Impact, Profondo, will be presented to market on Thursday.

Windsor Park’s Marketing Manager Michael Moran was pleased with the foot-traffic at Karaka over the past few days as the Cambridge nursery present a draft of six weanlings including Lot 59, a well-made colt by Profondo

“It has been pretty good. We have some nice horses here that have been well found,” Moran said.

“We have got a lovely colt by Profondo out of a Shamexpress mare in Shamani. He’s attracted a lot of attention and is a quality colt with a lot of style and is a great representation of the stallion.”

Moran said breeders have really taken a shine to Profondo and have voted with mares through the gate.

Lot 13, a Per Incanto colt out of the stakes-winning mare London Express
Photo: Trish Dunell

“He’s been a dream to market. He covered 177 mares in his first year, and 173 in his second year, and we have got over 120 booked in already for him this year.

“He is a great-looking horse and was a sale-topping yearling himself and then went on to win at his first start at Randwick. He won a Group One at only his third start in the Spring Champion Stakes, which is a good sire-making race with winners including Savabeel and Dundeel, and Proisir being a runner-up.”

Seaton Park are represented by 11 weanlings, including a good-moving colt by outstanding sire Per Incanto out of the stakes-winning Shamexpress mare London Express.

“This is our second day up here, and I’m thrilled with the turnout. We have got relevant stallions and that will always get people to the gate and after that, it is all about type,” Seaton Park’s Scott Eagleton said.

“I believe the Per Incanto is probably our standout. He is a terrific type. He looks like a horse that the pinhookers will love. He has a lovely big walk on him and you can just see that there will be real improvement to him as a yearling.”

Lot 129, a Sword of State half-brother to Torranzino parades at Karaka
Photo: Trish Dunell

Eagleton stressed there were horses for all budgets and plenty for end-users.

“I have been really encouraged. Lisa Latta and a few others have come along and I’ve been thrilled at the response we have had to this point,” he said.

Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore was last year’s leading vendor and is represented by an eight-strong weanling draft this year.

“I have been very encouraged by the level of inspection. There seems to be very good intent from those inspecting our horses and I feel like our horses are presenting well,” Cunningham said.

“You have to be bringing horses to the sales that you’ve got confidence that the market will be there for.”

The progeny of Noverre and Sword Of State were well-received by buyers at the yearling sales earlier this year and Cunningham presents two weanlings by each stallion, including a Sword Of State half-brother to Group Three winner Torranzino.

Lot 139, a colt by boom sire Super Seth
Photo: Trish Dunell

“We have got two weanlings by Noverre and two weanlings by Sword Of State and all four of those horses are good genuine prospects,” Cunningham said.

“I feel there will be good demand for them on the strength of what they are physically, which is a credit to their sires. Given the way the first crops sold as yearlings, there seems to be a general enthusiasm about the stallions.”

All weanlings offered are eligible to be nominated for New Zealand Bloodstock’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series.

Graduates can compete for a share in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) as well as the new $1m Mega Maiden Series comprising of 40 non-Saturday maiden races located throughout New Zealand.

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