Lot 297
Trish Dunell
Hong Kong Jockey Club representative Mark Richards fired the opening salvo on day one at Karaka and he was back in the thick of the action a day later.
Richards went to $300,000 for an Exceed And Excel colt who opened the sale as Lot 1 on Monday and matched that figure when he snapped up a Commands colt later in the day.
Richards topped those efforts today as he outlaid $475,000 for Lot 297, a Savabeel colt from Forty Two Below from the Mapperley Stud draft. The progeny of Savabeel have been in hot demand throughout the sale to date with Richards admitting he had gone close to the limit of his budget to secure the youngster.
"He's a magnificent type with a beautiful walk and presence which is very important to me," he noted.
"We buy mainly on type and he is an outstanding individual.
"I was near my limit though as I had thought we might get him for a little less but the recent upgrade in the family certainly added to his price tag."
Richards was referring to the colt's full sister Coldplay who was successful in the Gr. 3 Eulogy Stakes subsequent to the printing of the auction catalogue.
This is the seventh year Richards has represented the powerful Hong Kong Jockey Club at Karaka and the lessons learned over those years were apparent during the opening session.
"I liked the Exceed And Excel colt and I knew from previous years to get in early," he said.
"The sale tends to get stronger and stronger over the two days of the Premier session so I was delighted to get him for $300,000 as that was below my expectations.
"I guess we live by the budget rule that you have the figures to work with but you have to make the figures work for you and that is what we have done so far. He is a lovely colt by a sire that is well received in Hong Kong so it was a great start to the day." – NZ Racing Desk
Richards went to $300,000 for an Exceed And Excel colt who opened the sale as Lot 1 on Monday and matched that figure when he snapped up a Commands colt later in the day.
Richards topped those efforts today as he outlaid $475,000 for Lot 297, a Savabeel colt from Forty Two Below from the Mapperley Stud draft. The progeny of Savabeel have been in hot demand throughout the sale to date with Richards admitting he had gone close to the limit of his budget to secure the youngster.
"He's a magnificent type with a beautiful walk and presence which is very important to me," he noted.
"We buy mainly on type and he is an outstanding individual.
"I was near my limit though as I had thought we might get him for a little less but the recent upgrade in the family certainly added to his price tag."
Richards was referring to the colt's full sister Coldplay who was successful in the Gr. 3 Eulogy Stakes subsequent to the printing of the auction catalogue.
This is the seventh year Richards has represented the powerful Hong Kong Jockey Club at Karaka and the lessons learned over those years were apparent during the opening session.
"I liked the Exceed And Excel colt and I knew from previous years to get in early," he said.
"The sale tends to get stronger and stronger over the two days of the Premier session so I was delighted to get him for $300,000 as that was below my expectations.
"I guess we live by the budget rule that you have the figures to work with but you have to make the figures work for you and that is what we have done so far. He is a lovely colt by a sire that is well received in Hong Kong so it was a great start to the day." – NZ Racing Desk