LOT 533 STARCRAFT x REZYANA (AUS) Sold to HONG KONG for $200,000
The 2022 Sales Season was a year of firsts for Highden Park, the first year we have sold yearlings at Karaka in March and with only a draft of two, and the first year we have ever offered horses into the Australian market under our own banner.
With the current pandemic Karaka was moved from January to March in order to allow more time for the potential of the borders to be opened. Australian based New Zealand agents were able to attend but unfortunately the borders were not fully opened for international buyers. The sales complex was under strict rules for attendance under the Red Traffic Light Setting, and NZB did their best to get as many people through the complex safely. The feeling on the complex was a bit different to previous years, but nevertheless the buzz was still there.
We took a draft of two Colts, Lot 359 a Fiorente colt out of Lacey Underall and Lot 533 a Starcraft colt out of Rezyana. Both colts were purchased as weanlings from the Inglis Great Southern Sale last year with the intention to sell at Karaka 2022. As a vendor we knew we were taking two very strong, balanced and excellent moving horses to the market. They were well received with both colts selling in the ring to their ideal buyers.
Lot 359 was sold to a Victorian based owner, to be trained by Ciaron Maher, with the potential for this colt to be targeted for the Melbourne Cup. Another first for Highden Park was the inclusion of Plus Vital DNA testing, we did this for all of our sales horses as another tool for buyers. The Fiorente colt's results for the DNA testing showed he was a T:T Long distance horse, effectively perfect for targeting races such as a the Melbourne Cup. This colt sold for $50,000 to an owner that is genuinely excited about the horses future.
Lot 533 was the star of the draft, he used Karaka as his stage and showcased his huge walk and strong hind end. He was sold to Hong Kong for $200,000 and we can't wait to see the potential of this horse on the track.
The Inglis Sydney Easter Sale was a huge step forward for Highden Park. We had a draft of three exceptional colts, two were by Australian Sires in Hellbent and Star Turn and the other was by the Late Tavistock. This draft was the nicest three horses to be prepped off the farm, they all had a presence about them that makes us so excited about their future.
Lot 170 was the Tavistock ex Fistfulofdollars colt, this colt had a bit of sentimental value for the team on the farm. He was the last Tavistock that we will offer through the ring, a Stallion that has done so much for the farm, including giving us our first Australian Group 1 winner in Toffee Tongue among plenty of other stakes performers. He sold to Greg Eurell from Victoria for $200,000 and we look forward to seeing what this horse and trainer can achieve.
Our Star Turn colt Lot 290 was the first sprinter we have prepped and the feedback on him as a horse was phenomenal. He was such a strong bodied colt and fits all the criteria to be a bold runner at two. He was sold to the great judge in Kevin Dagg for $80,000.
The final horse to go through the ring was our Hellbent colt, Lot 376 who was out of the Mastercraftsman mare Rhiannon. Unfortunately we did not sell this horse in the ring but he will be coming back to Highden and we will race him in New Zealand.
The Sydney Easter Sale was an incredible experience for Highden, to be surrounded by the best Bloodstock Australasia has to offer and have three of our own handpicked colts selected to be apart of it. We came home from Sydney with new relationships, ideas and an excitement about what the farm has achieved in ten years of trading.
The Sales Season for 2022 had plenty of ups and downs, prepping for two sales is always hard but doing it in the middle of a global pandemic is a different ball game. We prepared five outstanding horses that we were so incredibly proud to present to the market and we can't wait to see them all hit the track in future.
