Gamble Lands $220,000 Jackpot At Christchurch Sale
Tuesday, 10 August 2010: Hoping that the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale could foot it with its North Island counterparts, the Christchurch-based pair consciously set about sending their proven black-type mare Miami up to Waikato Stud's G1 sire O'Reilly.
“Miami is a daughter of the Argentinean imported mare Floema, who has been an outstanding mare for us,” said Morris.
“We bought Floema for $1000 and she produced seven winners from eight to race, including the stakes winner Argentina and the stakes performed galloper, Ima Barbie Girl.
“Miami herself was a winner at 1200m. It's a running family that we retain the fillies from and after she achieved four winners from as many to race including the two stakes performers Maine and Mystical, we decided to do something special with her.
“Like the rest of her family, she is a small neat mare, so we decided to send her to O'Reilly who at $20,000 was great value.
“The sole plan right back then was that we would retain the foal if it was a filly, and that if it was a colt, we would send it to the NZB South Island Sale.”
Born 11 October 2008, the subsequent colt came to be known as ' Major' and impressed early.
“As a weanling we were offered five figures for him and as an early yearling we were offered $120,000 out of the paddock for him,” Morris revealed.
“It was an enormous risk declining these offers, but we wanted to proceed with our plan to take him to the South Island Sale.
“Despite being advised otherwise, we took the risk to meet the market and the result was outstanding”.
Entering last Friday's NZB South Island Sale arena, Major's admirers took no time to show their intent.
“When the bidding started at $100,000 I nearly fell over. Our highest price up to that point had been a Bertolini colt that we sold at the 2008 NZB South Island Sale for $85,000.
“When the bidding continued to climb, I was actually leading the horse around in tears,” she said.
In keeping with some of the Bloodstock agents view that this was one of the best O'Reilly's they had seen, Lot 165 continued to capture bidding attention until New Zealand Bloodstock as agent prevailed above all on behalf of Hong Kong interests, with a gavel dropping bid of $220,000.
"For little breeders like us, this is enormous,” said Morris.
“In a time of doom and gloom, this was a real shot in the arm and it was a record breaking result for the Sale.
“This is just so significant for us - it has been so positive, and beyond giving credit to our wonderful staff; we wish to give special thanks to New Zealand Bloodstock for making it possible.”
Miami produced a filly by the Berkley Stud sire Coats Choice in 2009, which is being retained to race by her breeders.
Miami is presently in-foal to the same sire again and a decision is yet to be made as to her 2010 consort.
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