David Ellis Completes Big First Day

The Informant reports:

Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis signed off on a bustling first day of Karaka 2019 with his highest-priced acquisition at $475,000.

Completing a dozen purchases on the 100-lot opening day, Ellis went to the brink of the half-million barrier to secure Hallmark Stud's Written Tycoon colt.

A son of a winning Redoute's Choice mare, the colt comes from the family of multiple Group One winner Divine Madonna. Hallmark Stud bought him for $170,000 as a weanling at Karaka last May.

Ellis' other 11 purchases, which included two for associate syndicator Fortuna, featured three fillies bought for $300,000 or more. He bought a Pins-Exactly Like You filly for $300,000, a Savabeel-High Fashion filly for $320,000 and a Savabeel-Hopscotch filly for $300,000.

Buoyed by a remarkable result in yesterday's Karaka Million, where the brilliant filly Probabeel delivered the stable's third straight win in the race and headed a trifecta for trainer Jamie Richards, Ellis always planned on an active opening day.

“We've put a lot of work into this sale,” he said. “We've spent the last 10 weeks travelling around and looking at all the horses. I've been saying for a while that I think this is the best line-up of yearlings I've seen at Karaka for probably 20 years.

“It really reflects the fact that they've been brought up in fantastic growing conditions, where a lot of rainfall has led to wonderful grass for them to graze on. It's really showing in the individuals, who look great and have terrific bone. They're well-developed, mature yearlings.

“We've spent a lot of time on promotion in the lead-up to this sale, and we've welcomed a lot of new owners. We'd love to be part of the next Karaka Million.

“We'd always planned on buying this many yearlings and support the New Zealand industry. We're expecting some real positive changes in New Zealand racing, and we want to be a part of the next stage.”

The Written Tycoon colt is Ellis' first recruit for his annual colts' syndicate, which has featured a number of standout performers in recent years.

“The first colt from last year's syndicate, Equinox (Exceed and Excel-Our Ella Belle, $750,000) won his first start very impressively on Saturday. The others are also showing a lot of ability.

“This colt is the first of three for this year, and I see him as the sort of horse who could run in races like the Karaka Million, or maybe even the Golden Slipper, Sires' Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes in Sydney, then train on as a three-year-old.”

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