Affordable average at National Sale reflects depth of talent

Press, 19 February 1988, Page 24

Affordable average at National Sale reflects depth of talent

By

JEFF SCOTT

The depth of talent on offer at National Bloodstock’s inaugural National Yearling Sale at the Addington Showgrounds yesterday was reflected in the affordable average of $3558. A total of 109 lots sold for an aggregate of $366,000. This includes $53,400 for 18 lots which were repurchased by their vendors, however the figures are included in the over-all result as vendors are required to pay commissions to the auctioneers at unreserved sales.

National Bloodstock took over the National Sale title after buying out the standardbred division of Wrightson Bloodstock, who formerly conducted the sale, last year. Unfortunately for the auctioneers, general interest in the sale was only moderate after much of

the prime South Island yearling stock had already been culled from the inaugural New Zealand Premier Sale in January. National Bloodstock are anticipating much greater results with their second International Sale at Karaka next month.

The Cambridge-based stallion, Smooth Fella, was again in demand, providing the two top-priced lots.

Imperial Tartan, a halfsister to the former Great Northern Derby placegetter, Imperial Time (seven wins) and to Imperial Kiora (two wins), was purchased by the Templeton trainer, Derek Jones,, for $25,000. She was offered by Mr C. B. Foon and Dr. O. Chin of Dunedin.

Jones, Mr Foon and Dr Chin bred and raced both Imperial Time and Imperial Kiora, while the

same partnership bred Imperial Tartan. Joe Cool, a Smooth Fella colt from the former open-class mare, In Or Out (1:59.7, 12 wins), offered by his Rakaia breeder, Harry Maw, fetched $22,000 when sold to Eddie and Caroline Wardell, who have raced Dreamin’ Scheme and Media Miss from David Butt’s West Melton stable. The six Smooth Fella lots sold for $83,000, an average of $13,833, however three were repurchased by their vendors. Majestic Chance’s sole lot, James Cameron, a half-brother to Young Pride (1:57.5) and Eden’s Joy (six wins), sold for $12,000 when purchased by Felix Newfield of Templeton as agent. This black colt is also closely related to Young Eden (New Zealand Oaks). National Bloodstock

stallion, Soky’s Atom, was third on the averages with seven lots selling for $55,000, an average of $7857. The best lot sold by the 1:53.6 son of Albatross (which commanded a fee of $7500 two seasons ago) was $lB,OOO for Atomic Benzene, a filly from Benemerenza (12 West Australian wins), from the same family as Noodlum and Tactile.

Cardigan Bay Breeding Ltd and Company, a subsidiary of National Bloodstock, which offered Atomic Benzene, also sold Soky’s Gift, judged the best-presented colt, for $ll,OOO to Mr G. Bell of Roslyn Bush near Invercargill. Soky’s Gift is from the 1978 Victorian Oaks winner, Super Gift (eight wins), a grand-daughter of Super Royal, (10 wins), an Inter-Dominion ' heat winner in 1959.