Easter would not be Easter without the presence of horses bred and reared at Kia Ora Stud, the historic Hunter Valley property which first offered yearlings at the sale way back in 1917.
Seven Melbourne Cup winners have been amongst the stars to emerge from their paddocks and there well could be another one amongst their 2020 Easter draft, one which manager Andrew Perryman took us through…
Lot 49 bay filly by Sebring from Maastricht (by Mastercraftsman): half-sister to the Manikato Stakes-Gr.1, 1200m winner Loving Gaby. Her dam (half-sister to the Goodwood Handicap-Gr.1, 1200m winner Velocitea) won two and was three times Group placed. Four of the 16 winners bred on this Sebring/Danehill Dancer cross are stakes performers.
“She is a tall, athletic filly with loads of quality,” said Kia Ora’s Andrew Perryman.
“She is a great mover who has plenty of presence and she looks to be another early running type for the mare.”
Lot 89 chestnut colt by American Pharoah from More Than Real (by More Than Ready): out of an imported Group Two winning Group One placed mare (daughter of the multiple stakes winner Miss Seffens) who has produced the Listed winner Miss Debutante. American Pharoah has had only two runners out of More Than Ready mares and both (Four Wheel Drive and Cafe Pharoah) are stakes winners!
“He is a scopey, leggy colt with good length. Looks to be a mile plus type for the Classics.”
Lot 114 bay colt by Fastnet Rock from O’ Marilyn (by O’Reilly): bred on the same Fastnet Rock/O’Reilly cross as the stakes winners Unition, Irish Bet and Improvise, he is out of a Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes-Gr.1, 1400m winner whose first two foals (also by Fastnet Rock) have fetched $1.8 million and $600,000. She is a daughter of the outstanding broodmare Monroe Magic, dam of another two Group One winners; Headturner and Anacheeva.
“He is a tall, correct, athletic colt who is well-proportioned with a great head and eye.”
Lot 259 bay colt by I Am Invincible from Twilight Royale (by Testa Rossa): his VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes-Gr.2, 1400m winning dam’s first two foals are both lightly raced promising winners. Hails from the same branch of the prolific Stolen Hour family as recent C.F Orr Stakes-Gr.1, 1400m winner Alabama Express and fellow big race winners Designs On Rome, Romanised, Grey Swallow, Night Style and Covert Love.
“He is a quality, correct and mature colt with muscles on muscle. He has a very masculine head and looks to be a forward early running type.”
Lot 275 grey filly by I Am Invincible from Villa Verde (by Not A Single Doubt): third foal for a very fast three times stakes winner from the family of two Golden Slipper Stakes-Gr.1, 1200m winners; Rory’s Jester and Ha Ha. Her dam’s first two foals have both shown promise at the trials.
“A neat, correct and good moving filly; there is plenty to like about her.”
Lot 311 bay colt by Fastnet Rock from Alberton Park (by Thorn Park): half-brother to three winners out of a Listed winner. His grandam is the two times Group winner Alberton Star, also grandam of recent Group One winner Wyndspelle from the family of Doncaster Handicap-Gr.1, 1600m winner Brutal.
“He is a quality colt with a great head and eye. He has strengthened a lot over the sales preparation and could be another early runner.”
Lot 369 bay colt by American Pharoah from Carribean Sunset (by Danehill Dancer): son of an imported triple Group Three winning, three times Group One placed mare who has produced two stakes performers from her first three foals; Lovani and Holbien.
“A great moving colt who covers plenty of ground, he has strengthened nicely throughout his preparation.”
Lot 413 bay filly by Redoute’s Choice from Dream Play (by Hennessy): out of an imported Group Two winning daughter of the triple stakes winner Playcaller, dam of the Group One mare Diplomat Lady. 3/4 sister to the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes-Gr.2, 1400m winner Zululand and the promising Group Three placed Chicago Bull.
“She is a neat, well-proportioned and correct filly with plenty of quality. I would expect her to be running early.”
Lot 427 chestnut colt by Written Tycoon from Extensible (by Exceed And Excel): first foal for a Group Three placed triple city winning sister to the Listed winner Cathay Lady and half-sister to the dam of the New Zealand stakes winner Cutadeel.
“A precocious, correct colt with a great nature and an athletic physique. He moves really well across the ground.”
Lot 512 bay colt by Redoute’s Choice from Joy Toy (by Encosta de Lago): bred on the same Redoute’s Choice/Encosta de Lago cross as the Group One winners Musir, Peeping and Alabama Express, he is out of a winning half-sister to More Joyous. His grandam is the Australian Oaks-Gr.1, 2400m winner Sunday Joy, his third dam the Queensland Oaks-Gr.1, 2400m winner Joie Denise and his fourth dam Denise’s Joy.
“He is nice, athletic colt who looks a lot like his sire at the same stage.” ©
2020 Draft
