Astern colt sets the pace on day one of NZB’s breeze-ups
A colt by young Darley stallion Astern (Medaglia D’Oro) has set the benchmark on day one of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale breeze-up session at Te Rapa.
A total of 70 breeze-up heats were conducted on a Dead 6 surface yesterday with another session to be held today ahead of the November 17 and 18 Karaka two-year-old auction.
Ohukia Lodge principal Jamie Beatson was kept busy with his 15 two-year-olds breezing up, with Lot 98, the Astern colt out of Dragon Robe (Alamosa), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Hasahalo (Savabeel) and Group winners All Saints’ Eve (Sacred Falls) and All Hallows’ Eve (Sacred Falls), posting the fastest time of the day of 10.45 seconds over 200 metres.
“The track was in pretty good nick and I was happy with the way all of ours breezed up today,” Beatson said.
“The Astern colt is pretty sharp and will probably be a two-year-old. He has found everything pretty easy so far.
“He has got a nice page. Astern seems to be doing the job as well, he is getting a few stakes winners now.
“The Tivaci (Lot 72) who went with him is quite sharp as well and Tivaci having that Group 1 winner (Never Been Kissed) a couple of weekends ago was good.”
Beatson is also looking forward to another busy day today, with 16 juveniles set to breeze-up at Te Rapa.
“We have got some pretty nice colts in, including a couple of Savabeels,” he said. “We have a full to Milford and a full to Savvy Coup, they are both pretty sharp horses.
“We have got a good bunch in, so we just have to hope the rain stays away.”
A number of bloodstock agents were on hand to inspect stock at Te Rapa, including Bruce Perry and Chris Rutten.
“There are some really nice horses here by some really nice stallions,” Rutten said.
“There are some real standouts. Just looking at the balance and the way they move, they are well presented.
“They are calm and are handling the situation well, it gives you an idea of what the horse is going to be like. It is an entrée here to see how they go. I am happy with what I have seen so far, I think there will be plenty of interest.”
Riversley Park prepared Heat 17, with Lot 139 a Per Incanto (Street Cry) gelding out Great Expectation (O’Reilly) clocking 10.48 seconds, while Lot 171, a Super One (I Am Invincible) colt out of La Femme Fatale (Fastnet Rock) ran 10.52 seconds.
Kilgravin Lodge’s Capitalist (Written Tycoon) colt out of European-bred mare Emirates Comfort (Dubawi) breezed home in 10.55 seconds. He is catalogued as Lot 103.
NZB’s international bloodstock sales manager John Cameron was delighted with how yesterday’s breeze-ups went.
“I’ve got to say, the horses have breezed up beautifully today,” Cameron said.
“They have run straight and true, their action has been great and they have breezed up very consistently, which is the overall picture you want to get.
“It’s not necessarily the fastest time on the day, it’s more about the manner in which they do their work, their action and how they perform.”
NZB will provide extended breeze–up footage, including additional vision near the 600-metre mark to capture horses before they fully extend into their gallop. Horses have also had the last 200 metres of their work individually timed.
Paraded footage from Te Rapa, taken before the horses’ breeze, will also be available by Friday on the NZB website.