The breakthrough victory for former Group One winning juvenile Dal Cielo in Sydney on Saturday couldn’t have come at a better time for his sire Per Incanto.
The Little Avondale Stud based stallion has enjoyed an outstanding start to his career with his first three crops producing 62 winners from just 133 runners. Amongst his star performers are Dal Cielo who captured the Gr. 1 Diamond Stakes as a two-year-old, Saracino who took out the Gr. 2 Foxbridge Plate earlier this season, leading Singapore galloper Magnum and the exciting Hong Kong based Baba Mama.
However Little Avondale principal Sam Williams knows it is performance in the competitive Australian market that is a key component of the demand for a stallion’s progeny. The victory by Dal Cielo has delighted him as Little Avondale put the finishing touches on their offerings for the annual National Yearling Sale series that kicks off at Karaka later in the month.
“The win has really given me a buzz as it is just neat to see him getting back on the track and into winning form,” he said.
“He was the star juvenile of his year in New Zealand which really helped to put Per Incanto on the map.
“It also meant a big decision for his owners when he started his three-year-old season as they were also all involved in Per Incanto. They knew if he could go to Australia and perform over there it would be a massive boost for Per Incanto as that Australian form is the benchmark for so many of our international buyers when it comes to sale time.
“They took the punt and campaigned him there but nothing really went right for him. He ended up being sold and has had the two starts now for Kris Lees with that win being a just reward.”
Williams is upbeat about the prospects for Per Incanto as the countdown to Karaka begins.
“Per Incanto is simply flying at the moment,” he said.
“I think he’s had something like six winners in the last week and 29 individual winners already this season. That places him third on the general Sires premiership, behind only Savabeel and Darci Brahma, as well as being second to Savabeel in the three-year-old category.
“That’s pretty good company to be in and all the more remarkable off a $4,000 service fee at that time compared to the other two that were both around that $30,000 mark at a similar stage of their careers.”
Little Avondale will offer 15 Per Incanto individuals through their draft over the six days of the Karaka sale with Williams particularly impressed by the fourth crop of their sire.
“This year his yearlings seem to have followed the pattern of his first crop,” he advised.
“They are a deep brown in colouring, very well muscled and very scopey.
“There are some very lovely types but if I had to pick a couple out it would be most likely one of the colts in the Premier sale and another from the Select sale.
“Lot 426 is a half to Manawatu Cup winner Jacksstar and is cracking individual while Lot 638 is a full brother to the promising Fibonacci.
“Those are two that have caught my eye but overall we are very pleased with our draft and we are really looking forward to buyers getting a chance to see them all at Karaka.”
The annual New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale series commences at Karaka on Monday the 30th of January.
– NZ Racing Desk
