Vinery Stud sires Star Turn and All Too Hard have topped the leaderboard during two sessions of unprecedented trade at the NZB Ready To Run Sale.
Star Turn broke the Southern Hemisphere 2YO Sale record at Karaka on Thursday when his colt from Commonwealth (Lot 376) was knocked down to Mr Pato Leung for $825,000. Earlier on Day 2, All Too Hard’s gelding out of Tuscany Lady (Lot 289) topped the shopping list of Mr Yeung Kin Man at $800,000.
The Vinery duo were the pick of 70 lots purchased by Hong Kong visitors who led the buying-bench from the Australians (60 lots). “I’m gobsmacked. I’ve never seen so many Hong Kong owners and trainers here,” NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook said. “They’ve made a huge difference.”
Turnover increased by 39% from the 2022 Sale to more than $35million with a dozen lots selling for $500,000 or more. A total of 225 lots had changed hands by Thursday evening at a 73% clearance rate.
The Star Turn colt was offered by Kit Brooks of KB Bloodstock who was amazed at the $825,000 price tag. “He’s a nice horse but you couldn’t dream of that sort of result. I’ve always liked him and he clocked a very fast breeze up (10.24s) but as the bids kept coming in, I almost couldn’t watch.”
The excitement in the ring was palpable from the moment the Commonwealth colt walked in. There were only two Star Turns in the sale and auctioneer Steve Davis was quick to highlight his credentials; “The stats on the stallion are staggering! Three crops of racing age, 75% winners to runners. That’s up there, that’s right up there!”
“We’ve looked at a lot of good horses at the sale today (Thursday), and the Star Turn really stood out to us. He’s a really nice mover and has a very strong build. He has a great temperament from what we’ve seen so far,” Samantha Yung said. “Star Turn has been doing well in Hong Kong, and that’s another reason why we were interested in buying this horse.”
Leading vet Dr Ian Duckworth and his wife Linda bred and sold him for $120,000 through their Fairview Park draft at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He’s the first live foal from Commonwealth (Foxwedge) who was a Kembla Grange 3yo maiden winner for Chris Waller in May 2017.
Fairview Park sold another Star Turn colt for $70,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Named Turning, he’s won five races and $170,000 to date for a syndicate managed by Mark Waugh.
The Duckworths are based at Grose Wold and have a Group 1 link with Vinery through 2014 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Mossfun. They bred her in partnership using Vinery sire Mossman over Eye For Fun. The Snitzel mare foaled her second Ole Kirk colt in September.
The $800,000 All Too Hard – Tuscany Lady gelding, whose dam is also by Mossman, was purchased by leading Hong Kong agent Willie Leung from the Riversley Park draft. “It’s my first time at Karaka. There’s lots of atmosphere and it’s obviously a good place to secure the right horses,” Leung said. “This gelding is a real athlete and Mr Yeung Kin Man is looking for another precocious sprinter like Wellington.”
“All Too Hard is a very consistent and useful sire in Hong Kong, and the Group 1 winner Wellington has performed really well in Hong Kong and on grass and synthetic and so he suits Hong Kong. This one looks really precocious, and so hopefully we can get him going to Hong Kong early next season,” Willie Leung said.
Riversley Park’s Sam Beatson had pin-hooked him for $100,000 out of the Baramul Stud consignment at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January.
“All Too Hard is fashionable in Hong Kong and their buyers have dominated the top-end of the market here,” Beatson said. “They’re looking for speed and this one was the quickest to breeze up (10.34s) at Te Rapa.”
Tuscany Lady (Mossman) is an unraced half-sister to Metonymy (Hotel Grand) who was a Moonee Valley juvenile winner for Peter Moody. She was also 2yo Stakes-placed in the VRC Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes Gr.3), MRC Quezette Stakes LR) and MRC Merson Cooper Stakes LR).
Vinery stands All Too Hard for $38,500 and Star Turn for $27,500. Both service fees include GST and are payable on a live foal. For bookings or further information, contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
