John Morrisey
Trish Dunell
Australian trainer John Morrisey struck late on the final day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale, going to $170,000 to secure a Rip Van Winkle colt from Mapperley Stud.
A regular visitor to Karaka, Morrisey admitted Lot 1066, a colt from the Cape Cross mare Off and On, cost more than he had expected.
"I didn't think I'd have to pay anything like that for him, but that's life," he grinned.
"He's a lovely, rangy horse. A big, strong walking horse."
Morrisey had a fair insight into the ability of the family having trained the colt's winning half-sister Real Gene.
"The half-sister had a lot of ability but unfortunately went amiss."
"I've got two other Rip Van Winkle's at home, but I haven't done much with them at this stage. The one I bought at the Ready To Run Sale has just come into work and the other I bought at the Yearling Sales last year.
Morrisey purchased seven horses throughout the Premier and Select Sales, with six of them on behalf of long-time client Len Hoyle of Gundaroo Stud.
"I've been coming here buying horses for 26 years for them," Morrisey said.
The Gold Coast trainer prepared Karaka graduate Lachlan River to win the 2005 Queensland Derby for Gundaroo Stud. - NZ Racing Desk.
A regular visitor to Karaka, Morrisey admitted Lot 1066, a colt from the Cape Cross mare Off and On, cost more than he had expected.
"I didn't think I'd have to pay anything like that for him, but that's life," he grinned.
"He's a lovely, rangy horse. A big, strong walking horse."
Morrisey had a fair insight into the ability of the family having trained the colt's winning half-sister Real Gene.
"The half-sister had a lot of ability but unfortunately went amiss."
"I've got two other Rip Van Winkle's at home, but I haven't done much with them at this stage. The one I bought at the Ready To Run Sale has just come into work and the other I bought at the Yearling Sales last year.
Morrisey purchased seven horses throughout the Premier and Select Sales, with six of them on behalf of long-time client Len Hoyle of Gundaroo Stud.
"I've been coming here buying horses for 26 years for them," Morrisey said.
The Gold Coast trainer prepared Karaka graduate Lachlan River to win the 2005 Queensland Derby for Gundaroo Stud. - NZ Racing Desk.