Pique and foal bring $20,000

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32589, 24 April 1971, Page 8

Pique and foal bring $20,000

(N.Z. Press Association) SYDNEY. The former champion New Zealand- galloper. Pique, and her foal, were sold for $20,000 at the annual Easter sale of broodmares at Newmarket yesterday. The Melbourne bloodstock agent, Mr J. Shannon, bought the mare along with her colt foal after a spirited bidding duel with several overseas buyers. But immediately after securing the

mare, Mr Shannon asked for her to be put again for auction minus the foal. . He said later he was particularly interested in the foal by the new sire, Village Square. “We want that little fellow to top the yearling sales next time,” he said. Village Square, a great performer in France, was sold last year to prominent Sydney owner, Mr S. Fox, for a record $BO,OOO. Mr Shannon was forced to retain Pique when she failed to reach the reserve of $15,000. Pique, by Summertime from Sweet Nymph, comes from one of the most outstanding New Zealand thoroughbred families. Sweet Nymph was the best filly of her year, winning the New Zealand Oaks, Great Northern Oaks, and the Gloaming Stakes. Pique won several races in New Zealand before coming to Australia where she won the AXC. Oaks and the Chelmsford Stakes at Rand wick. Another former New Zealand star Richetta. was passed in for $lB,OOO after failing to reach the $20,000 reserve. Richetta also had a colt foal at foot by Village Square and was in foal again to champion colt, Vain. She won 10 races in New Zealand, including the Awapuni Winter Cup and the Masterton Gold Cup. Both mares were offered on account of Mrs :F. M. Bowcock of Alabama, Aberdeen. New Zealand buyers were prominent at the sales. Mr G. Mitchell, the stud 1 master at Santa Rosa Stud paid $5OOO for the New Zealand-bred mare Repudiate. Mr Mitchell stands top -etallion, Sobig, at his stud and plans to send the mare and her half-sister, Dee Dee, to that sire next season.