All eyes were on the colt with the rock star pedigree as he made his way into the auction ring as Lot 340 at Karaka (on Tuesday) and he didn’t disappoint with a virtuoso performance that resulted in one of the most well known names in world racing securing him for the sale’s top price to date of $600,000.
From the powerful Waikato Stud draft the son of Fastnet Rock from the full sister to international sire sensation High Chaparral had generated plenty of talk in the build-up to the sale.
An opening bid of $200,000 set the tone for a large number of international suitors and local supremo David Ellis to begin a heated battle in pursuit of their quarry. When the action was finally concluded it was legendary Australian trainer Bart Cummings, through his grandson James and Sydney agent Duncan Ramage, who made the winning bid.
“He is a beautiful colt from a family that has produced 27% stakes winners to runners and with his outstanding extended pedigree he is an exciting stallion proposition if he can be successful on the track,” said the younger Cummings.
“We’ve trained a Gr. 1 Australian Guineas winner in Rock Classic from the sire and if this colt could win a race like that then the sky’s the limit for his future.
“He looks the complete package as he’s very athletic with a lovely walk and a great nature on what we have seen to date.”
Cummings was coy on the potential owner of the colt but did admit it was likely to be several long term supporters of the stable.
“We’ve bought him for a group who have been with us for a number of years and enjoyed plenty of success,” he said.
“At this stage I think they will probably take the entire ownership although there may be a small share left for an extra partner.”
– NZ Racing Desk
