Michael Rist
Ger Beemsterboer has experienced the swings and roundabouts at Karaka during New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Sale.
On Tuesday, he purchased Waikato Stud’s Sacred Falls filly out of Nadel Dame for $210,000 with racing partner Sarah Green and during the final session on Wednesday they went to $650,000 for a daughter of Zoustar out of Landsdowne Park’s draft.
“We paid a bit more than we thought for the Sacred Falls and got this one for a bit less, you have to be lucky,” Beemsterboer said.
Both fillies will be entered in the Karaka Million two and three-year-old events with the Sacred Falls to be trained at Riccarton by Neill Ridley, while the Zoustar filly will be prepared by the Byerley Park husband and wife team of Peter and Dawn Williams.
Beemsterboer and Green have enjoyed great success with the Williams, having won the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) with Planet Rock and the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m) with Vavasour.
“We sold the first two foals of Planet Rock and we’ve got one by More Than Ready, which we’re keeping,” Beemsterboer said.
“Vavasour’s got a Lonhro filly and we’ll keep her as well.”
Their daughter of dual Group One winner Zoustar is out of the Zabeel mare Snow Blitz, a daughter of the Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Polar Success.
“Peter really liked her and the father was good, it’s another bloodline we wanted to have,” Beemsterboer said.
The sale provided Landsdowne Park principal Dave Duley with a stunning surprise.
“It’s a huge result, it’s just unbelievable,” he said. “I certainly never expected that sort of money, it’s life-changing.
“I pinhooked her out of Inglis for A$130,000. I just loved her as a weanling, she was so athletic and she had everything I look for in a horse and she has obviously grown into a beautiful yearling.
“It means a lot to us, building from where we have come from to this point now, selling a yearling for $650,000, it’s just so good. It’s the highlight of my yearling sales career.” – NZ Racing Desk.