Jamie Hill (left), Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick, Stephen Marsh, Mike McMahon, Dylan Johnson, and Ken Smole.
Photo: Sarah Ebbett
A half-brother to multiple Group One winner Mo’unga will remain in New Zealand after his purchase by Stephen Marsh at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Sale on Sunday.
The Cambridge trainer went to $380,000 to secure lot 91, the Super Seth colt, out of Waikato Stud’s draft, and he is hoping he can live up to his pedigree.
Standing alongside American bloodstock agents Mike McMahon and Jamie Hill, in addition to Ken Smole and agent Dylan Johnson, Marsh and his clients saw off keen interest for the colt.
“We were rapt to secure him at the price we did,” Marsh said.
The sales were also significant to Waipā as the first since the death of Sir Patrick Hogan.
New Zealand Bloodstock opened its 97th National Yearling Sales Series with a commemorative ceremony dedicated to the breeder, who in the words of New Zealand Bloodstock principal Sir Peter Vela made the sales his own “through 40 years of selling yearlings at Trentham and Karaka”.
Sir Peter also announced the naming of the Karaka auction ring to the Sir Patrick Hogan Auditorium.
“In my lifetime there has been no greater influence on the New Zealand breeding industry than Sir Patrick,” he said.
The sales finish tomorrow.
