Quantity and quality in Rich Hill Stud’s Online Breeding Stock Sale draft

[Wandering Eyes]

Rich Hill Stud is a prominent player in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, offering more than 10 percent of the 87-lot catalogue.

The Rich Hill consignment features 10 mares, six of which are in foal to the stud’s promising sire Ace High. Two others are carrying pregnancies to the well-performed Rich Hill resident Shocking, while another is in foal to Embellish (NZ).

“There’s certainly some nice young mares from good families, and most of them are going to have foals on the ground within the next couple of months,” Rich Hill Stud’s managing director John Thompson said.

“Some of the mares are being sold on behalf of clients, some are owned by partnerships that are being dissolved, and some are our own mares. I think there’ll be some very good buying.”

The Ace High pregnancies are a particular drawcard. The son of High Chaparral has sired 21 winners in New Zealand this season and 17 in Australia, with his progeny including the new Group Three winner My Lips Are Sealed (NZ) along with promising up-and-comers such as the Listed Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) placegetter Dealt With (NZ).

Another of his progeny, the Rich Hill Stud homebred She’s A Dealer (NZ), was a close fifth in last month’s Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) in only the fifth start of her career.

“Ace High has a lot of quite exciting progeny around,” Thompson said. “She’s A Dealer ran a massive race in the Oaks, particularly for such a lightly raced filly. She copped a check at the wrong time and should definitely have finished fourth, if not in the top three. She missed fourth by the barest of margins. I think we have a lot to look forward to with her.

“Dealt With is another very good prospect, and there’s a number of others around as well that could make their presence felt next season.

“The mares in foal to Ace High include Queen Of Bordeaux (Pierro), who comes from the Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom), Danasinga (Danehill) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) family. It’s a beautiful family and she’s an attractive young mare.

“Another one, Ardere (Hidden Dragon), has been a successful producer already with four winners from six foals including the Australian black-type performer Klabel (NZ) (Vadamos).”

Giverny (NZ) (Vadamos), who is being offered in foal to Shocking, is a half-sister to a multiple Group One placegetter in Sydney.

“Giverny’s a lovely young mare who’s a half-brother to Riodini (NZ) (Proisir),” Thompson said. “So there’s some good pedigree credentials there, along with Octavia Rose (NZ) (Shocking) who comes from the Eight Carat family.

“Miss Labasa (NZ) (Swiss Ace) won six races and is a half-sister to the dam of Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel). Miss Labasa produced a filly foal by Proisir last spring, which the client is going to retain.

“There’s also Rosaleen Dubh (NZ) (Shocking), who’s a daughter of a Group One winner and comes from the Solveig family. Akela’s Charm (NZ) (Charm Spirit), who’s being sold because a partnership is being wound up, comes from the very good family of horses like Lady Kipling (NZ) (Savabeel). So there’s some very good families represented.”

Bidding is open in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus with the first lot closing from 7pm (NZT) on Wednesday 9th July.

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