Richards trumps his old boss
Hong Kong trainer and new father Jamie Richards also made his mark on day one, outlasting his former boss, Te Akau principal David Ellis, for a well-credentialed Zoustar (Northern Meteor) colt, whom he bought for $725,000.
Working with agent and fellow expat Kiwi Andrew Williams, Richards revealed the Elsdon Park-bred and sold yearling, who is the first foal of Lib Petagna’s Listed-winning, Group 1-placed mare Evalina (I Am Invincible), could stay in New Zealand for a shot at next year’s Karaka Millions (RL, 1200m) under the ownership of a Hong Kong client.
“He is by a champion sire out of a very good mare who is by I Am Invincible and those champion sires normally go on to be very good broodmare sires,” Richards said.
“He was the one we were keen to be really strong on and we had to see off the boss, but thankfully we were able to get it done.”
Richards, who recently welcomed a baby boy Spencer with his fiancee Danielle Johnson, has marvelled at the renewed enthusiasm for the New Zealand racing industry since Entain was appointed as NZ TAB’s wagering partner last year.
“I think it gives everybody confidence in the way the industry’s going. There’s not a lot of two-year-old racing in Hong Kong and what Entain’s doing for New Zealand racing sitting back watching from afar is very, very exciting,” Richards said.
“To be back on the sale grounds and see the buzz around the place is great for the industry and I am looking forward to seeing how everything unfolds.”
Evalina is in foal to Waikato Stud’s champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel), but a return date with Widden’s Zoustar is likely next breeding season.
“We bought Evalina at the Inglis Easter sale for $280,000 and she had plenty of ability when trained by Kris Lees and more than her record showed,” Petagna’s agent Bruce Perry said.
“When we brought her back to New Zealand, [trainer] Stephen Marsh earned quite a few brownie points by getting a black type win at Levin, which was before she gained the Group 1 third in the Railway.”
While no New Zealand trainer has been named for the Zoustar colt, Richards’ Matamata-based father Paul is the frontrunner to take the reins of the horse.
Despite being knocked over on a few of his favoured horses sold on day one, Ellis remains on course for a 19th consecutive leading buyers’ titles at Karaka after signing for 14 yearlings for a cost of $3.4 million, which included one youngster he co-signed with Fortuna.
The most expensive of his opening session haul was an I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) half-brother to Australian Group 1-winning two-year-old Seabrook (Hinchinbrook) for $510,000 who Ellis bought for Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay.
Offered by Highline Thoroughbreds, the colt is the ninth foal out of the unraced Midnight Revels, who like the dam of the day’s top lot, is by Don Eduardo (Zabeel), while the yearling is by the same sire as Te Akau’s eight-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz.
“They wanted me to buy them what I thought was the best colt in the sale. We selected him and we thought he was great buying for an I Am Invincible colt,” Ellis said.
“He’s a very athletic colt, I thought that he’d be out and about at Christmas time, and could be a lovely Sires’ Produce colt, then make a really nice stallion at stud one day with his pedigree.”
Continuing the theme of buyers’ renewed interest in the local racing industry, Ellis added: “It’s the most exciting time to be part of New Zealand racing, with what the New Zealand government’s doing, what Entain’s doing and what New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is doing.
“It’s a combination, they’re all working really well together, and it’s really exciting for somebody that’s been in the industry for a lifetime, I’ve waited for this to happen. It’s not just happening, it’s happening big time, and there’s more good news still to come.”
NZB bloodstock sales manager Kane Jones was pleased with the opening day’s figures.
“To surpass NZ$30 million in one day was outstanding, and to have the average up significantly compared to last year and the median up slightly on last year is great. Plus, a clearance rate of 73 per cent and climbing is pleasing, knowing that we’re selling horses into the evening,” Jones said.
“We know that racing’s certainly on an upswing at the moment and the industry is experiencing a lot of new initiatives and positivity, which is great, but that’s been offset by economic conditions which are a little bit tough at the moment for some people.
“We went into this sale thinking that if we could be similar to last year we would be really pleased, so to be up on last year is great.”
While confident that the momentum can be carried through the remaining two days of Book 1, and into Book 2, Jones also reflected upon the session-topping filly.
“The Hallmark result even made me a little bit emotional, to see a horse like that sell for $1.6 million, she was an absolute superstar, we knew that, and she had the pedigree to match, being a full-sister to a Group 1 winner in Prowess. I couldn’t be more thrilled for Mark and Vicki, they’re wonderful people,” he said.
Day two starts at 10am local time.
Sale statistics – day one
2024 2023
Catalogued 240 220
Offered 215 192
Sold 157 (73%) 140 (73%)
Aggregate $30,725,500 (+37%) $22,420,000
Average $195,704 (+22%) $160,143
Median $150,000 (+1.6%) $147,500
Top Lot $1.6 million $625,000