Marsh catches Mo’unga

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.

More Recent Sports

Central wins in Kihikihi

A Cambridge Central combination won a successful tournament at Kihikihi last week. Skip Laurie Roycroft, with Ron Greenwood and Dennis Wilcock , secured first prize with four wins, 22 ends and 49 points. They headed…

Booze ban on champs’ night

Problems with people “pre-loading” before last year’s Grins Night of Champions at Cambridge Raceway has prompted officials to put a temporary liquor ban in place for next month’s event. The grassed paddock to the east…

Nine Maadi medals for Waipā

They rowed in 16 A finals, 23 B finals and one D final – and came home to Waipā with nine medals – three gold, three silver and three bronze from the national secondary school…

New status for Velodrome

Waipā’s velodrome has become the newest addition to an elite cycling programme. The Grassroots Trust Velodrome now has the status of UCI World Cycling Centre Continental Development Satellite for Oceania. Satellites are set up to…