Fastnet Rock provided the three feature lots on Day 1 during NZ Bloodstock’s Premier yearling sale at Karaka on Monday.
Top price of $800,000 came early in the session with Fastnet Rock’s colt from Group 1 winner Katie Lee (Pins). He was purchased by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson from the draft of Cambridge Stud.
“Katie Lee was a great mare and Debbie’s has a close affinity with her,” Rogerson said. “She said ‘I want that horse’. I valued him higher than what we got him for and there are a lot of people that want to go in on him already.
“Who knows, he might end up standing back at Cambridge Stud. We need those sorts of horses in New Zealand, look at Savabeel and what he’s achieved.”
The top priced filly of the day was the Fastnet Rock – Miss Scarlatti (Stravinsky). She was purchased by Coolmore Stud for $700,000. Offered by Pencarrow Stud, she is out of a Listed winning filly who also finished second to Samantha Miss in the 2008 G1 Victorian Oaks.
“The Fastnet Rock fillies have been very popular and she’s a lovely type,” Coolmore rep Tom Magnier said. “She is a credit to the team at Pencarrow, all of their horses looking fantastic again this year.”
Fastnet Rock also provided the third top price of the day when Te Akau Stud’s David Ellis secured Lot 207 for $680,000. From the stakes winning American mare Randaroo (Gold Case), the colt headed a spending spree by Ellis that put him at the top of the buyers’ list with 25 yearlings for a total spend of $4.09 million.
Ellis headed the NZ buying bench that was responsible for 43% of the Day 1 aggregate. Hong Kong buyers purchased 16 yearlings for $3.41 million. Top price was the $400,000 paid for the Fastnet Rock – Ocean Pearl colt by the HKJC.
The Australian contingent were also active throughout the day, spending 35% of the total turnover, with Duncan Ramage and the Gai Waterhouse / James Harron partnership figuring among the leading buyers.
Selling continues on Day 2 of the Premier Sale starting with Lot 241 on Tuesday.
FASTNET ROCK
Coolmore Stud champion dominates leader-board at Karaka