25 Jan 2021Bruce Harvey was relentless in his pursuit of our Savabeel colt, Lot 520, and outlaid $720,000 during day three of Book 1 at Karaka to land his first choice yearling of the auction.
Harvey, who operates Ascot Farm with wife Maureen, was acting on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Bidding for the son of Savabeel turned in to a battle of two with Harvey outlasting Cambridge trainer Roger James.
“The under-bidder is a good judge so we’re thrilled to have got him. When I first saw him on the farm I loved him, he’s a gorgeous animal,” Harvey said.
The colt is a son of the O’Reilly mare Lovetessa , who won twice and placed in the G3 Eulogy S. and both of her foals to race have been successful.
The dam is a half-sister to the G2 Lowland S. winner Queen of Diamonds and their grand-dam Tristalove was a two-time Group 1 winner.
“It’s ironic really, I broke in Tristalove as a yearling and she was one of my favourite horses. This is a quality colt and our top pick of the Sale,” Harvey said.
“The Hong Kong Jockey Club want quality horses, that’s their standard.
“The colt has all the quality and I had a little bit more, not a lot, to make sure we got him,” Harvey said.
Cambridge Stud also offered the only youngsters by leading Queensland-based sire Spirit Of Boom and both proved popular.
A colt, Lot 320, was sold to Hong Kong interests yesterday for $230,000 and that price was topped by Lot 426 this afternoon.
Te Akau’s David Ellis was the successful bidder on the grey filly at $240,000, a daughter of the Redoute’s Choice mare Gracious Grey.
She is a three-quarter sister to the G2 Emancipation Stakes winner Positive Peace.