Lot 18- High Chaparral x Pravda
Photo- Trish Dunell
Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson was all smiles as his Walton based breeding operation enjoyed a powerful start to the first day of selling at the annual New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka on Monday.
Rich Hill has featured prominently in the racing headlines of late through the deeds of dashing three-year-old colt Xtravagant and Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance, who are both by the stud's prolific stallion Pentire.
Thompson was hopeful of capitalising on that interest and it proved the case as the stud struck pay dirt with their opening three lots on the day.
First up was Lot 18, the colt by High Chaparral from Zabeel mare Pravda, who fell to the bid of Shaune Ritchie for $300,000.
Ritchie was quick to acknowledge he was looking for a good staying colt and had specifically targeted the powerful individual as his first choice among the more than 1500 yearlings on offer during the six days of the sale.
"They say you should always buy the one you want and this guy was definitely the one I wanted," he said.
"I had seen him a few times leading up to the sale and was absolutely taken by him. He is a beautiful mover and has a very powerful shoulder.
"He is the type of colt we need to retain in New Zealand so I have put a syndicate of my New Zealand clients together who will race him here.
"He looks like a real Derby or Cup horse with that beautiful High Chaparral and Zabeel mare blood so that is how we will treat him. I wouldn't expect to see him feature much at two, except for possibly a trial outing, as he should make his mark as a three-year-old."
One of the most hyped lots leading into the sale went through as Lot 45, the full brother to Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance. The Pentire colt from Mr Prospector mare Royal Successor fell to the bid of Henry Dwyer for $200,000.
John Thompson agreed with Dwyer's description of the horse in that the colt was not a replica of Prince Of Penzance.
"He's much more like a Derby horse than a Melbourne Cup horse," he said.
"I had a look at Prince Of Penzance as a yearling and thought he would take forever to mature, this colt looks like he will come to it much earlier."
The third leg of Rich Hill's winning treble was Lot 64, a filly by former Horse of the Year, Jimmy Choux from Zabeel mare Shaheen that sold for $210,000. The filly is from the family of multiple Group One winner Mufhasa and was snapped up by well-known Bloodstock agent Michael Otto. – NZ Racing Desk
Rich Hill has featured prominently in the racing headlines of late through the deeds of dashing three-year-old colt Xtravagant and Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance, who are both by the stud's prolific stallion Pentire.
Thompson was hopeful of capitalising on that interest and it proved the case as the stud struck pay dirt with their opening three lots on the day.
First up was Lot 18, the colt by High Chaparral from Zabeel mare Pravda, who fell to the bid of Shaune Ritchie for $300,000.
Ritchie was quick to acknowledge he was looking for a good staying colt and had specifically targeted the powerful individual as his first choice among the more than 1500 yearlings on offer during the six days of the sale.
"They say you should always buy the one you want and this guy was definitely the one I wanted," he said.
"I had seen him a few times leading up to the sale and was absolutely taken by him. He is a beautiful mover and has a very powerful shoulder.
"He is the type of colt we need to retain in New Zealand so I have put a syndicate of my New Zealand clients together who will race him here.
"He looks like a real Derby or Cup horse with that beautiful High Chaparral and Zabeel mare blood so that is how we will treat him. I wouldn't expect to see him feature much at two, except for possibly a trial outing, as he should make his mark as a three-year-old."
One of the most hyped lots leading into the sale went through as Lot 45, the full brother to Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance. The Pentire colt from Mr Prospector mare Royal Successor fell to the bid of Henry Dwyer for $200,000.
John Thompson agreed with Dwyer's description of the horse in that the colt was not a replica of Prince Of Penzance.
"He's much more like a Derby horse than a Melbourne Cup horse," he said.
"I had a look at Prince Of Penzance as a yearling and thought he would take forever to mature, this colt looks like he will come to it much earlier."
The third leg of Rich Hill's winning treble was Lot 64, a filly by former Horse of the Year, Jimmy Choux from Zabeel mare Shaheen that sold for $210,000. The filly is from the family of multiple Group One winner Mufhasa and was snapped up by well-known Bloodstock agent Michael Otto. – NZ Racing Desk