Lot 20
Trish Dunell
A successful connection with former top galloper and now sire, Starcraft, led Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu to ignite the early action on day one of New Zealand Bloodstock's annual Ready To Run Sale of two-year-old's at Karaka.
Yiu trains exciting Starcraft five-year-old Blizzard, who has won six races and was placed twice at Group One level in Hong Kong last season. His high opinion of his charge led him to closer examination of the sale catalogue with Lot 20, a Starcraft colt offered through Cambridge's Leanach Lodge draft catching his eye.
"We saw him in the catalogue and then his breeze-up video which really got me interested," he explained.
"He looked like an ideal two-year-old type and our inspection definitely confirmed that.
"His conformation is terrific"
Yiu was determined to secure the colt and came out on top in a spirited bidding duel which saw him successfully offer $360,000 to seal the purchase. He was quick to admit he had stretched his budget but was delighted with the outcome.
"I had spoken to the owner who I have bought him for and he did outline what I could spend," he noted.
"I may have gone just a little over that but I think it will be well worth it."
Yiu is currently lying third on the Hong Kong Trainer's premiership ladder and is well known as the trainer of superstar galloper Fairy King Prawn along with champion sprinter Sacred Kingdom.
Starcraft endeared himself to New Zealand racing fans through his success in the Gr. 1 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) and Gr. 2 Stoney Bridge Stakes (1600m) at Hastings in 2004. – NZ Racing Desk
Yiu trains exciting Starcraft five-year-old Blizzard, who has won six races and was placed twice at Group One level in Hong Kong last season. His high opinion of his charge led him to closer examination of the sale catalogue with Lot 20, a Starcraft colt offered through Cambridge's Leanach Lodge draft catching his eye.
"We saw him in the catalogue and then his breeze-up video which really got me interested," he explained.
"He looked like an ideal two-year-old type and our inspection definitely confirmed that.
"His conformation is terrific"
Yiu was determined to secure the colt and came out on top in a spirited bidding duel which saw him successfully offer $360,000 to seal the purchase. He was quick to admit he had stretched his budget but was delighted with the outcome.
"I had spoken to the owner who I have bought him for and he did outline what I could spend," he noted.
"I may have gone just a little over that but I think it will be well worth it."
Yiu is currently lying third on the Hong Kong Trainer's premiership ladder and is well known as the trainer of superstar galloper Fairy King Prawn along with champion sprinter Sacred Kingdom.
Starcraft endeared himself to New Zealand racing fans through his success in the Gr. 1 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) and Gr. 2 Stoney Bridge Stakes (1600m) at Hastings in 2004. – NZ Racing Desk