Williams digs deep for colt at Karaka

[Wandering Eyes]

Lot 231 was purchased out of Riversley Park’s draft by bloodstock agent Andrew Williams for $460,000. Photo: Trish Dunell

Bloodstock agent Andrew Williams has been searching Australasia’s two-year-old sales for a Deep Field colt and found his pick at Karaka on Thursday.

Lot 231, the colt out of Ra Ra Epic, a half-sister to multiple Group One winner Incentivise and three-quarter sister to Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan, had previously impressed Williams as a yearling in Australia but he came up short as underbidder when he was secured by Riversley Park and journalist Michael Guerin for $200,000.

The partnership offered the colt at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2022 Ready To Run Sale and Williams was impressed with the colt’s development upon inspection at Karaka.

“I bid on him as a yearling, and I loved him as a yearling. He has exceeded my expectations (as a two-year-old) and that is why we are here today,” Williams said.

“Deep Field is a stallion we have been trying to buy all two-year-old sales season.

“We rated this horse a lot higher than the previous horses and we had the potential to give this a good crack, so it was great to be able to secure him.”

Williams had to dig deep to secure the colt, extending to $460,000 to purchase him for his Hong Kong-based client.

“This is a horse for Hong Kong in the long-term. He will grow out here in New Zealand and he might potentially go up there as a PPG after a trial,” Williams said.

“He is for an existing client who has had a lot of success in Hong Kong of late.”

The colt’s sire was a major drawcard for Williams, complemented by his burgeoning pedigree.

“The stallion (Deep Field) is extremely good in Hong Kong,” Williams said.

“This horse has got a lot of pedigree as well, being out of a daughter of a mare that has produced Ardrossan and Incentivise, which is huge.

“He is by Deep Field with a pedigree and is an extremely athletic and fast colt. He is going to get every opportunity.”

Williams was once again a strong force several lots later when securing lot 248, the Almanzor colt out of Ohukia Lodge’s draft for $475,000 in partnership with Jamie Richards.

It was the second purchase of the sale for the pair, having previously secured lot 209, the Sweynesse colt out of Ohukia Lodge’s draft for $210,000.

Not long after signing for the Almanzor, Williams and Richards purchased youngsters by Vancouver (Lot 254, $160,000), Star Turn (Lot 262, $330,000) and Tarzino (Lot 265, $200,000)

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