6 Jan 2008
By Phillip Quay
Cambridge Stud has departed from its normal practice this year of sending yearlings to a number of markets.
Instead Sir Patrick Hogan's world-famous stud farm will be offering its entire draft at the New Zealand National Yearling Sales series at Karaka comprising more than 70 yearlings across the Premier and Select Sales and will not be sending any yearlings to Australian sales this year.
"I have enormous faith in the New Zealand breeding industry and its ability to produce world-class horses," he said.
"During the last spring New Zealand-bred horses have won in Australia the Group 1 Yalumba, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, VR C Derby and Melbourne Cup with Maldivian, Master O'Reilly, El Segundo, Kibbutz and Efficient respectively. That Cambridge Stud has chosen to put all of our horses through the ring at Karaka is confirmation of the significant role I see the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales playing on the world breeding and racing industry scene," he said.
Cambridge Stud has been the leading vendor at the Karaka yearling sales for the past 26 years and this year's series promises to continue that roll.
Amongst Cambridge Stud's outstanding selection of yearlings on offer in January are 22 by New Zealand champion sire Zabeel, promising Karaka its largest crop of Zabeel progeny in recent years.
Amongst these are colts from Abbaye (Ahonoora), Better Succeed (Success Express), Dane Dancer (Danehill), Enhancer (Red Tempo), Golden Winds (Star Way), Myself (Haswan), La Quinta Gold (Encosta do Lago), Shot at the Title (Danehill) and Silk Slipper (Woodman), fillies out of Group 1 winning racemares, Honor Babe (Honor Grades) and Smiling Like (Star Way), plus Diamond Habit (Green Desert), Forest Girl (Woodman), Foxy Blonde (Volksraad), La Voleur (Housebuster), Penny Arcade (Straussbrook), and Wyndham Special (Centaine).
Sir Patrick says after careful consideration he made the deliberate decision to offer all his yearlings by Zabeel in New Zealand. "Zabeel has been represented this season by some outstanding performers and I see great strength in sending the clear message to buyers that if you want to buy Zabeel progeny you must come to New Zealand."
"In my view there is only one way to ensure the New Zealand Sale has the best possible catalogue and that is by leading by example. Cambridge Stud has an outstanding draft of young horses to offer next year which will have huge appeal to a wide range of buyers and we are proud to be offering them all at Karaka."
In addition to its entries by Zabeel, Cambridge Stud's draft will include a Rock of Gibraltar filly out of blueblood mare Marquise, plus:
· A colt by Savabeel ex About Town (Danehill)
· A colt by One Cool Cat ex Ana Zeel (Zabeel)
· A colt by One Cool Cat ex Crimson (Zabeel)
· A colt by Stravinsky ex Gardenia (Danehill)
· A colt by Savabeel ex Nivarda (Danehill)
· A colt by One Cool Cat ex Our Tristalight (Sir Tristram)
· A colt by Rock of Gibraltar ex Shallows (Sadler's Wells)
· A colt by One Cool Cat ex Tajrebah (Dayjer)
· A filly by One Cool Cat ex Attempt (Danzero)
· A filly by One Cool Cat ex Kapeable (Kaapstad)
· A filly by One Cool Cat ex Sursum Corda (Zabeel)