Mr Tiz leaves fond memories
exceptional result for Mark Chittick and his wife Lisa since taking ownership of the operation nearly two years ago.
Other local vendors to do well during the big week of selling at Karaka included Rich Hill Stud, who had a top price of $375,000 and finished fourth on the Premier Sale averages table as well as finding a ready market for progeny of their first season sire Shocking.
Blandford Lodge left it to the last member of its Premier offering to secure a top price of $375,000.
Once again the buyers’ bench was led by Te Akau’s David Ellis, who hit the ground running in the opening session and ended up with 35 Premier purchases totalling $6,420,000, with another eight lots from the Select catalogue at $391,500.
The majority of those yearlings are destined for syndication and membership of the Jason Bridgman team, while overall there will be no shortage of fresh blood entering local stables given the level of buying by various other Matamata trainers.
Graham Richardson, the Wexford team led by Lance O’Sullivan, Paul Moroney on behalf of Ballymore Stables, Paul and Kris Shailer, Peter and Kim McKay, Lance Noble, Stephen Autridge and Jason Price were amongst those who also took home numerous yearlings, so there will be no lack of competition when it comes to finalising owners for the new intake.
The McKay stable was to the fore at Te Rapa last Saturday when the Great Northern Guineas winner Puccini showed class and courage to add the $100,000 Darci Braham Waikato Guineas.
The half-brother to iron-horse Sir Slick shapes as a leading prospect for the TV3 New Zealand Derby.
A more immediate date looms for the Jason Bridgman-trained Flaming, who capped fourth placings at her three previous starts with an impressive win the Te Rapa tow-year-old race.
That performance confirmed a start in the $100,000 J Swap Contractors MatamataBreeders’ Stakes on February 22.