Beatson’s Riversley dominates in top sales

Sam Beatson’s Riversley Park dominated the first day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run sale at Karaka yesterday, selling seven of the top 10 lots.

Beatson was delighted with the day’s results, particularly topping the day with lot 162, the Savabeel colt he offered on behalf of Fairdale Stud’s Duncan Fell, who was bought by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $500,000.

At the close of day one of the sale, 112 lots were sold for a sale aggregate of $10.8 million and an average of $96,335, with a clearance rate of 63 per cent.

Beatson was also pleased with a number of other results, with some expected, while others weren’t.

“The Super Easy [lot 192] at the end of the day really surprised us. We knew he was popular, but to make that sort of money was huge,” he said.

“The Headwater [lot 144], he had been very popular as well, but to get over $400,000 was brilliant.”

The Headwater gelding was one of three two-year-olds Beatson sold for $420,000, and the trio are set to do their future racing in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung placed the winning bid for the Headwater gelding and he said he will be raced by the owners of dual group one winner Mr Stunning, who Leung purchased as a yearling at Karaka for $250,000.

“He will be very suitable for Hong Kong and I know there are some other HK trainers who were on him, so I paid a bit more than I thought I would have to.

“I thought the prices have been pretty good, there is not as big a quantity as in the past, but the quality is good and I hope I can get a few more,” Leung said.

The sales continue today at Karaka.