Top Colts to Te Akau

Te Akau principal David Ellis has once again been a force on the buyers' bench on the opening day of the Premier Sale at Karaka today, winning tight bidding wars to secure two $400,000 purchases in the early afternoon.

The first was Lot 58, sold by Lyndhurst Farm (main picture). The Australian-bred brown colt is a son of last season's second-leading Australian sire Snitzel out of the stakes-placed Tale Of The Cat mare Mini Tales from a family loaded with American black type.

“He's one of the best colts that I've seen at Karaka in the last 10 years,” Ellis enthused. “He is a gorgeous colt - sound, strong and well-muscled with good bone. He just looks a real racehorse and a genuine stallion prospect given the strength of stakes' performers in his family.”

The colt's breeder Dan Myers, brother of trainer Kevin, purchased the mare while she was in foal to Fastnet Rock. The resulting colt fetched $80,000 at the 2012 Premier Sale, a mark far exceeded by the younger sibling this afternoon.

Less than half an hour later Ellis was at it again, paying the same price for Curraghmore Stud's Lot 85. The colt is a Fastnet Rock half-brother to Triple Honour. The colt is also from the family of Philippa Rush, Jennifer Rush and Emerald.

“We rated him as one of the best Fastnet Rock colts in the sale, made all the better by exuding a sensational temperament,” Ellis said. “He has a beautifully relaxed demeanour that will stand him in good stead. He really is an outstanding colt with good strength and plenty of class in his appearance. Our opinion is that he can progress towards racing as an autumn two-year-old before aiming at the three-year-old classics.”

Credit - The Informant