Sam Beatson’s Riversley Park dominated proceedings on the first day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs at Karaka on Wednesday, selling seven of the top 10 lots.
Beatson was delighted with the day’s results, particularly topping the day with lot 162, the Savabeel colt he offered on behalf of Fairdale Stud’s Duncan Fell, who was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $500,000.
“It has been a fantastic day, I couldn’t have asked for more, it exceeded our expectations,” he said.
“We knew we had a nice line of horses, but to get that sort of money for them was fantastic.
“It was a great result for Duncan to top the first day of the sale. We are happy and he is happy, so you couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Beatson was also pleased with a number of other results, with some expected, while others weren’t.
“The Super Easy (lot 192) at the end of the day really surprised us. We knew he was popular, but to make that sort of money was huge,” he said.
“The Headwater (lot 144), he had been very popular as well, but to get over $400,000 was brilliant.”
The Headwater gelding was one of three two-year-olds Beatson sold for $420,000, and the trio are all set to do their future racing in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung placed the winning bid for the Headwater gelding and he said he will be raced by the owners of dual Group One winner Mr Stunning, who Leung purchased as a yearling at Karaka for $250,000.
“He is a lovely horse, I bought him for Mr Stunning’s owner. He breezed up really well and he is very athletic,” he said.
“He will be very suitable for Hong Kong and I know that there are some other Hong Kong trainers who were on him, so I paid a bit more than I thought I would have to.
“I think I will keep him here for his preparation and then bring him up to Hong Kong in September and he will go to Frankie Lor, the trainer of Mr Stunning.”
Both Beatson and Leung are looking forward to the second day of the sale.
“I thought the prices have been pretty good, there is not as big a quantity as in the past, but the quality is good and I hope I can get a few more,” Leung said.
“We have still got some nice horses to go through tomorrow, so hopefully we can keep the ball rolling,” Beatson added.
At the close of day one of the sale, 112 lots were sold for a sale aggregate of $10.8 million and an average of $96,335, with a clearance rate of 63 percent. – NZ Racing Desk
