NZB South Island Sale this Friday

As the South Island gears up for its annual showcase of untried two-year-olds and mixed bloodstock, buyers have less than two days to get to Christchurch before selling starts at the Canterbury Agricultural Park at 10:30am on Friday.

New Zealand Bloodstock's South Island Sale this year sees 193 horses catalogued, including recently turned two-year-olds (149), yearlings (6), unraced horses (5), racehorses (13) and broodmares (20).

Making up the bulk of the Sale are the two-year-olds, which this year represent a range of international sires such as Danehill Dancer, Danasinga and Dubai Destination alongside leading New Zealand-based sires such as O'Reilly, Pentire and Pins.

A total of 63 individual sires are represented by two-year-olds, with the largest crops in the Sale being from South Island sires Al Jadeed and Sunray, both represented by horses from their oldest New Zealand crops.

Amongst the highlights on Friday are:

Lot 34: An O'Reilly filly out of stakes-winner Erudite (Sound Reason) and a half-sister to multiple stakeswinner Pledge (Mellifont).

Lot 96: Half-brother to Group 1 winner Bunker (Sandtrap) out of Straight Strike mare Perfect, the dam of three winners from 1100m to 1600m.

Lot 110: A colt by Dubai Destination out of five-time winner Rivertaine (Centaine) - the dam of smart performer in Hong Kong Coup Stravinsky - Regency Horse (Stravinsky) and hot up-and-comer O'Reilly Rally (O'Reilly). The family of Group 1 winners Legs, Guyno and Sixty Seconds.
Lot 126: A gelding by Pins out of Group 1 winning Sound Reason mare Soundoration. The dam of six winners from eight to race, Soundoration was a five-time winner herself including in the Group 1 New Zealand Cup.
Lot 162: A four-year-old half sister to Group 1 Kelt Capital Stakes winner and winner of over $1.5 million dollars, Distinctly Secret (Distinctly North), Embargo (O'Reilly) is being sold as a racing and breeding proposition.
Lot 164: A five-year-old entire by the champion sire of sires Danehill and from the winning Assert mare Sommes Sound. He is a half brother to Champion 2YO in Australia and multiple Group 1 winner Assertive Lad (Zedative) and the top-performing dual Group 1 winner Assertive Lass, the dam of the outstanding galloper Reset (Zabeel).
With the list of successful graduates growing each season, the South Island Sale is forging a strong reputation as a hotbed of opportunity for buyers looking for untried two-year-olds at exceptional value.

Former top class Hong Kong galloper Super Kid (Gaius) and recent Macau Derby winner Ka Lam Fortune (My Halo) have both been flying the flag for the South Island Sale while other notable graduates include Second Coming, Platonic, Silky Red Boxer, Six Aces, Baby Champion, Chestpeak, Happy Gilmour, Heureka, Kelly Cullen and Rosa Marada.

New Zealand Bloodstock can assist buyers with accommodation in Christchurch over the Sale period. To make a reservation contact Haylie Martin haylie@nzb.co.nz or 09 2980055.

The 2007 South Island Sale will be conducted at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch on Friday 10 August from 10:30am. Horses are able to be viewed from Thursday. Click here for Pedigree Updates since catalogues went to print.