Widdup doubles down on Proisir at Karaka

[Wandering Eyes]

Fresh off a pleasing set of results from New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 sale, Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir was once again to the fore in the second session of the National Yearling Sale on Wednesday.

The heir apparent to New Zealand Champion sire Savabeel topped the opening day of the Book 2 sale when Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup went to $180,000 for lot 789, the Proisir colt out of Harriet Wilson, a half-sister to Group Three performer Hello M’Lady.

Widdup was bidding via New Zealand Bloodstock’s online platform and was delighted to land the striking grey colt, his second Proisir purchase at Karaka this week.

“I’m back in Sydney and I thought he would be up around that mark and $200,000 would probably have pulled me up for sure so I’m pretty happy to get him,” Widdup said.

“I thought he was a bloody nice horse and I didn’t care what sale he was out of. I try to not think too hard about pedigrees, but I obviously really like the sire.

“His x-rays and everything else came up well so I was happy to go after him.”

The Hawkesbury trainer backed his own judgement and dug into his own pocket for the colt, and believes he will have no problem in selling down the Kiwi-bred.

“He is a spec horse and I don’t think I’ll have any problem with him, the prizemoney here in Australia is through the roof,” he said.

“I like the New Zealand horses and he looks the type to go from 1200m onwards, he’s got a bit of strength about him and hopefully he can be just like his Dad.”

Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup.
Photo: Trish Dunell

Widdup said he would be happy to give the youngster all the time he needed to develop.

“You buy this type of a horse for a three-year-old so I won’t be in any rush with him,” he said.

“I’ll send him back to Rich Hill, I’ve got a few there, for a couple of weeks and then I’ll bring him over.

“We’ll break him in and he’ll have a preparation and he’ll pretty much tell me where he’s at.”

Widdup was onsite at Karaka earlier in the week where he bought two fillies out of the Book 1 sale – lot 411, the Churchill filly for $200,000, and lot 424, the Proisir filly for $240,000.

His latter purchase is a daughter of the Sir Percy mare Piazza, who was successful on four occasions and is a sister to Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Sir Andrew.

The filly is closely related to Group Three winner Riodini, who has also placed at elite-level in the George Main Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m), Epsom Handicap (Gr.1, 1600m) and Levin Classic (Gr.1, 1600m).

The six highest priced lots on Day 1 of the Book 2 Sale were purchased by international buyers, with Hong Kong’s Paul Chow of Tartan Meadow Bloodstock going to $160,000 for a Per Incanto colt from Milan Park, the second top lot of the session.  

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