Kaha Nui Farm crowned leading buyer at NZB weanling sale

[Wandering Eyes]

Successful pinhookers Kaha Nui Farm were to the fore at Karaka on Thursday, and were rewarded with the crown of leading buyer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale.

The boutique Waikato thoroughbred operation, operated by Nicky and Nick White, purchased three weanlings for a total spend of $300,000, and the couple were pleased with their acquisitions, who will return through the Karaka sales ring in next year’s National Yearling Sale.

“It has been a really good sale and we have given it a nudge on a number of lots, and we are pretty happy with the ones that we have managed to secure,” Nicky White said. “We will take them home, turn them around and bring them back next year.

“With it being NZB’s 100^th year, it is exciting. I think if we can have a good draft and turn them into what we want to, it will be fun.”

The Whites outlaid $130,000 for lot 139, the Super Seth colt out of Queen Leonora, whose grand-dam is dual Group One winner Legs.

White said she was taken by the chestnut when inspecting him at vendor Waikato Stud’s on-farm parade, and she was delighted to secure him.

“The stallion (Super Seth) is going really well at the moment,” White said. “I like the fillies as well, but we had our eye on him from the start.

“We went out to the farm and had a look at him and liked him again when he was here (Karaka).

“I thought he would go too strong, and we were getting a bit wobbly, but he is a really nice, athletic horse. I think he will be a really neat yearling.”

The Whites also went to $120,000 to secure lot 129, the Sword of State colt out of Goldilicious, the dam of Group Three winner Torranzino, from Curraghmore’s draft.

“He was a very late foal so we forgave him for being on the lighter side than what I would normally look at, but he is just a baby, and he will furnish pretty well, I hope,” White said.

Their final purchase also came from Curraghmore’s draft, going to $50,000 to buy lot 127, the Bivouac filly out of Forte, a half-sister to Group One winner Nechita.

“I missed out on going to the farm, but I had my A-team go and have a look,” White said. “She just had speed written all over her. She looks a very fast, early type, and I think she will be fun as well.”

Following the sale, Curraghmore was crowned leading vendor, selling all eight of their weanlings for an aggregate of $465,000.

The sale’s top lot came early in the piece, with lot 13, the Per Incanto colt out of Group Three performer London Express, selling from Seaton Park’s draft to Jim Carey for $190,000.

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