Ascot Farm owners Bruce and Maureen Harvey topped the NZB Weanling Sale on Monday with $160,000 for a colt by perennial local star O’Reilly.

The Harveys purchased the colt who is out of stakes performer mare Miraculous Miss (Exceed and Excel) from Curraghmore Stud.  It matched the amount trainer Mick Price paid for his older brother at the Karaka yearling sale in January.

Ascot Farm was the leading buyer at last year’s Karaka Foal Sale.

“We’ve bought well from Curraghmore in the past as we like buying well-prepared weanlings,” Maureen Harvey said.  “The O’Reilly colt has an excellent temperament and he’s bred on a very similar cross to (Group 1 O’Reilly winner) Sacred Falls and we plan to sell him as a yearling.

“We really liked his physicality as a horse, the two horses that we’ve had on the farm that had the same build as him were Unique Jewellery and Kildare who were both Group winners in Hong Kong.”

Curraghmore Stud has asserted itself in the sale-ring once again, taking the top spot for the ninth year in a row with 12 sold at an average of $51,333.

“There were plenty of people here to buy quality horses,” studmaster Gordon Cunningham said.  “Good, well grown colts were in strong demand and anything with a ‘fresh’ pedigree was well sought after, too.

“My draft this year was of consistent quality from past years and it is terrific for my clients and staff to gain good returns once again.  The leading vendor title wasn’t a goal this year as we only catalogued 13 weanlings, but it’s very pleasing for all involved to achieve it for the ninth year.”

A total of 200 foals sold on Monday for $2.65 million at a clearance rate of 79%.  The average of $13,282 was up 22% on last year.

Day 2 of the NZB National Sale continues at Karaka on Tuesday with yearlings, two-year-olds, unraced stock, horses-in-training, and racehorses, followed by over 200 broodmares.