Lot 445, the Frankel colt from Pencarrow Stud's Our Echezeaux
Trish Dunell
A stunning colt by the world's highest rated racehorse was the star attraction on the second day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale and he didn't disappoint as some of the biggest names in global racing combined to snatch him from a host of rival buyers.
Unbeaten European sensation Frankel retired to stud after a glittering career where he was unbeaten in 14 lifetime starts, yielding 10 Group One wins including an unbelievable nine in a row. He was awarded a lifetime rating of 147 from Timeform, the highest ever achieved in the organisations history.
That level of achievement naturally excited the potential buying bench at Karaka where the Premier catalogue revealed a Southern Hemisphere bred colt from outstanding Zabeel mare Our Echezeaux on offer. Carded as Lot 445, the third last of the day, the tension was palpable as a packed auditorium; ten deep encircling the auction ring, greeted the colt's entrance to the arena.
An opening salvo of $500,000 was quickly brushed aside as the bidding raced to a cool $1 million before slowing as a pair of heavyweights settled to slug it out. At the conclusion of the battle it was a syndicate comprising Coolmore's Magnier Family, the Niarchos family of Greece, Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum and Apollo Ng from Hong Kong who snared the colt for $1.3million from underbidder, Melbourne trainer Peter Moody.
Niarchos family representative, Adrian Nicoll, was a satisfied man as he signed for the colt who became the first by Frankel to be sold in the Southern Hemisphere.
"We've seen all of the progeny by Frankel that have been through a sale ring around the world and this was the nicest colt there has been," he said.
"He is a terrific individual in every way, he has the looks and a superb pedigree and we were very keen to come out on top. We put the group together to specifically buy him and we got the result."
Nicoll admitted they had made an earlier attempt in Europe to buy a filly by the stallion but had missed when it sold for €1.7million euro. When questioned on whether that had disappointed the group Nicoll was frank in his answer.
"It was very disappointing as was being the underbidder on a Danehill colt here at Karaka in 2004 who turned out to be Darci Brahma," he smiled.
"This time the result turned in our favour."
Nicoll confirmed the colt would return to Sydney for his early education although a specific trainer had not been chosen for him as yet.
Notwithstanding his illustrious father, the colt also boasts an impeccable maternal line with multiple Group One winners littering his catalogue page including Grand Echezeaux, Darci Brahma, Romanee Conti and Ethereal. – NZ Racing Desk
Unbeaten European sensation Frankel retired to stud after a glittering career where he was unbeaten in 14 lifetime starts, yielding 10 Group One wins including an unbelievable nine in a row. He was awarded a lifetime rating of 147 from Timeform, the highest ever achieved in the organisations history.
That level of achievement naturally excited the potential buying bench at Karaka where the Premier catalogue revealed a Southern Hemisphere bred colt from outstanding Zabeel mare Our Echezeaux on offer. Carded as Lot 445, the third last of the day, the tension was palpable as a packed auditorium; ten deep encircling the auction ring, greeted the colt's entrance to the arena.
An opening salvo of $500,000 was quickly brushed aside as the bidding raced to a cool $1 million before slowing as a pair of heavyweights settled to slug it out. At the conclusion of the battle it was a syndicate comprising Coolmore's Magnier Family, the Niarchos family of Greece, Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum and Apollo Ng from Hong Kong who snared the colt for $1.3million from underbidder, Melbourne trainer Peter Moody.
Niarchos family representative, Adrian Nicoll, was a satisfied man as he signed for the colt who became the first by Frankel to be sold in the Southern Hemisphere.
"We've seen all of the progeny by Frankel that have been through a sale ring around the world and this was the nicest colt there has been," he said.
"He is a terrific individual in every way, he has the looks and a superb pedigree and we were very keen to come out on top. We put the group together to specifically buy him and we got the result."
Nicoll admitted they had made an earlier attempt in Europe to buy a filly by the stallion but had missed when it sold for €1.7million euro. When questioned on whether that had disappointed the group Nicoll was frank in his answer.
"It was very disappointing as was being the underbidder on a Danehill colt here at Karaka in 2004 who turned out to be Darci Brahma," he smiled.
"This time the result turned in our favour."
Nicoll confirmed the colt would return to Sydney for his early education although a specific trainer had not been chosen for him as yet.
Notwithstanding his illustrious father, the colt also boasts an impeccable maternal line with multiple Group One winners littering his catalogue page including Grand Echezeaux, Darci Brahma, Romanee Conti and Ethereal. – NZ Racing Desk