The first crop Southern Hemisphere bred yearlings by St Mark’s Basilica have been making a good impression and he posted a couple of great results during the second session of the NZB National Yearling Sale Book 1 at Karaka on Monday.
Shaune Ritchie didn’t have to dig as deep as expected to secure a regally bred colt by the champion racehorse with the Cambridge horseman and his training partner Colm Murray signing the ticket at $230,000 for a colt from Savaria.
Bred and offered for sale by Jamieson Park, the star colt is the fourth foal of Savabeel’s Group I New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Savaria.
“He’s just a stunning type and I honestly thought we’d be paying $350,000 or $400,000 so very happy and believe I shopped well, but the winning post will tell,” Ritchie said.
Later in the day Curraghmore sold an outstanding chestnut colt by St Mark’s Basilica from With Certainty for $280,000 to KPW Bloodstock. Bred by Nearco Stud, the flashy colt is the second foal of a winning half-sister by Not a Single Doubt to US stakes-winner Running Bobcats, the dam of 2013 Champion Japanese 2YO Colt and Group I winner Asia Express.
St Mark’s Basilica has had three yearlings sell so far at an average $193,333 and has six for the final session of Book 1.
