I couldn't believe I could buy a well made filly by Rip Van Winkle from a Zabeel mare for $20k at Karaka this week; the NZB Book Two Sale really was a Buyer's Market this year and I'm sure the price would have been at least double that just 12 months ago.
The filly - Lot 740 from Haunui Farm - carries an attractive presence of Nureyev on both sides of her pedigree. And her half-brother has been good enough to win 10 races, 8 of them in succession.
I've always been a huge fan of Rip Van Winkle, long before my association with his only daughter to win a Group One race worldwide, Jennifer Eccles. RVW was such a great racehorse and always caught the eye at Windsor Park Stud with his terrific presence.
I wasn't looking for a Jennifer Eccles clone when I inspected this filly, but I can say that she appears to have that same bomb-proof temperament; it's the most underrated ingredient - in my opinion - to finding a successful racehorse.
I purchased the filly for a Wellington-based client and will be watching her career closely.
Lot 740 by Rip Van Winkle ex Bigmissy (Zabeel) at the farm before coming to Karaka
留言