Popularity rolls through Book 2

Buyer demand for the progeny of our stallion star Sword Of State continued through Book 2 of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale to complete a memorable centenary auction.

We were leading vendors of the Book 1 Sale and also held that mantle in Book 2, clearing all but one of our16-strong draft.

Sword Of State was again hugely popular while associate sire Embellish provided the Book 2 sale-topper, Lot 601, with Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young signing for our filly out of Queen Of Wizardry for $200,000.

“It’s always great to be able to buy one from Cambridge Stud, who have presented a terrific line-up of horses this week and we’re delighted to get her,” Busuttin said.

The dam is a half-sister by Not A Single Doubt to the G1 South Australian Derby winner Coco Lane with former champion Hong Kong stayer Liberator featuring on the page.

With 24 lots selling for a total of $2,278,000 at an average of $95,000, Sword Of State was the highest-grossing sire in a strong day of trade

Two youngsters sold up to $170,000 with multiple Group 1-winning duo of Roger James and Robert Wellwood securing Lot 657 from the draft of Landsdowne Park and Riversley Park and De Burgh Equine purchasing Lot 838 from Leanach Lodge.

We enjoyed a quartet of six figure sale from our own consignment and led by Lot 607, the Sword Of State colt who was purchased by trainer Johno Benner.

He is a son of the Stravinsky mare Red Melody, a three-quarter sister to the G2 Reisling Stakes winner Hip’s Don’t Lie.

Lot 816 went to the $130,000 bid of Sydney trainers Richard and Will Freedman and is from the I Am Invincible mare La Tardigrada with international Group 1 winners Etoile Montante, Obligatory and Country Grammer featuring the pedigree page.

Awapuni conditioner Mike Breslin has won five races with Ima Brazen One and he went to $120,000 for her half-sister Lot 782, whose second dam is the G1 Railway Handicap winner Imananabaa.

Lot 644 will be heading to Victoria after he sold to Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $110,000. The colt is out of Showcasing’s daughter Taroni, who placed in the Karaka Million 2YO.

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