The Hong Kong Jockey Club purchased four colts at last week’s two-day (25 & 26 January) Premier portion of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, for a total outlay of NZ$1,315,000.
Highest-priced of the quartet was a Savabeel colt, Lot 297, acquired on day two for NZ$475,000. The youngster, whose full-brother has scored at 1400m this season, is out of a full-sister to The Big Chill, third in the 2003 G1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).
The very first lot to enter the ring at this year’s auction was an athletic Exceed And Excel colt from an attractive black type family. The Jockey Club went to NZ$300,000 to secure the bay whose G2-placed dam Panama, a four-time winner from 1400m to a mile, is a half-sister to the G1 winner Captivate.
Later on day one, the Club purchased Lot 162, also for NZ$300,000. The Commands colt is a three parts brother to Listed-placed Unsurpassed, from a high-class family that incudes his second dam, the dual G1 heroine Champagne.
The Club’s final purchase came late on the final day, a Pins colt (Lot 433), bought for NZ$240,000. The bay’s sire has already produced Hong Kong champions Ambitious Dragon and Aerovelocity and this youngster is a half-brother to the Listed-winning Ray’s Girl, fourth in the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
Purchase details:
Lot 1 b c Exceed And Excel ex Panama (Traditionally) NZ$300,000 (approximately HK$1,517,000)
Lot 162 b c Commands ex Alamantra (Elusive Quality) NZ$300,000 (approx. HK$1,517,000)
Lot 297 b c Savabeel ex Forty Two Below (O’Reilly) NZ$475,000 (approx. HKD$2,387,000)
Lot 433 b c Pins ex Natural Rhythm (Viking Ruler) NZ$240,000 (approx. HKD$1,206,000)
