-Galvelhouse Plus Press Release
Buyers have access to a high-quality and varied selection of bloodstock on Gavelhouse Plus this week, made up of an annual reduction sale by Elsdon Park and a unique dispersal of the Dewar Partnership.
“It’s a two-fold sale this year,” Elsdon Park’s general manager Kerrie Cox said. “Part of it is made up of Elsdon Park’s annual reduction of broodmares and weanlings. We have a number that we want to try to stick to with our broodmare band, and it can grow quite quickly when you’re buying mares and have racehorses retiring off the track to join the broodmare band as well.
“An annual reduction will keep our numbers as tight as possible, and at the same time it gives a great opportunity for people to buy into some of the really nice families that we’ve built up.
“The other aspect of this sale is the dispersal of the Dewar Partnership, made up of mares in foal to Ardrossan and some young progeny of that stallion. That includes two weanlings and four racehorses, including one that placed at Cambridge on Wednesday – the three-year-old filly El Amor (NZ).
“Some really nice horses are being sold in both sides of this sale, so it really just adds another layer and will hopefully attract plenty of interest from buyers.”
Elsdon Park was established in 2022 by Lib and Katrina Petagna and is developing into a major player on the New Zealand thoroughbred landscape.
The Petagnas have been four-time New Zealand Owners of the Year, and their apple green, blue and yellow colours have been carried by nine individual Group One winners across Australasia including the triple Group One-winning superstar Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel).
Making their sale-ring debut as vendors in 2023, Elsdon Park have already had yearlings sell for $725,000 and $600,000 and finished as the second-leading vendor by average in Book 1 of Karaka 2024.
The Dewar Partnership, meanwhile, was set up in 2019 by a group of shareholders in the highly talented former racehorse and young Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan. They were focussed on supporting him during his first few seasons at stud. Nine mares were bred from in that first year, and six of those are being offered as part of this dispersal.
The partnership’s plan was to race the offspring from the first season to ensure they were given every opportunity and then to sell some of the offspring from the second and third crops as yearlings.
Dewar has subsequently sold a total of eight yearlings at Karaka 2023 and 2024 for an average price of $152,500, with price tags ranging from $85,000 up to $260,000. The three yearlings sold at Karaka 2023 include the stakes winner Beau Dazzler (NZ) who ran a commendable fifth in Saturday’s Gr.1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) after drawing the outside barrier and being posted wide throughout plus Te Akau Racing’s talented winner Maracatu (NZ).
With Ardrossan now firmly established as one of New Zealand’s most exciting young stallions, the goals of the partnership have been achieved and the time has come wind up the partnership as was the agreement on formation.
Ardrossan has sired 11 winners, three stakes winners and one stakes placegetter from an initial crop of just 44 foals. From a second crop of just 58 foals, he has already sired four winners from just eight runners including a stakes winner and two stakes placegetters. These include some very exciting gallopers, so his commercial future looks assured and this season he will stand at a fee of $20,000.
According to Cox, there is no shortage of drawcards in the catalogue.
“One of the highlight lots for Dewar would be the broodmare Pwerfect (Pentire), who’s the dam of Beau Dazzler,” she said. “He was a stakes winner earlier this season, then came over for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and didn’t have much luck in that race. He’s a high-profile horse for that mare and is running in Group Ones.
“Dolce Amore (NZ) (Sebring) is another notable mare. Her progeny have sold for up to $260,000 and she leaves a beautiful type.
“In the Elsdon Park reduction sale, there’s a weanling filly by Hello Youmzain out of the Group-placed mare O’Angel (NZ) (Cape Blanco). Her first foal, a son of Shooting To Win, was sold after winning a trial. Fraser Auret trained him, and he later came back and bought the half-sister by Shalaa.
“This is a really nice filly with a Book 1 pedigree. So she could be a fantastic pinhooking opportunity, or a lovely filly to race and then put into a broodmare band later on. O’Angel is for sale herself as well.”
Cox also highlighted Lot 6, a weanling filly at by Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Noverre (NZ) out of Queen Of Pop (NZ) (Pins).
“Noverre is leaving a fantastic style of horse,” she said. “We have shares in the stallion, so we have more of his progeny in the paddock.
“This filly’s dam Queen Of Pop was Group Two-placed and fourth in a Group One, and she has left the Group winner Pop Star Princess (NZ) (Makfi) and stakes-placed Queen Of Zealand (NZ) (Savabeel). So this filly’s a half-sister to two stakes performers. Her half-brother by Ardrossan sold for $440,000 at the Ready to Run Sale last year.”
Bidding on the first lot will close from 7pm (NZT) on Tuesday 25th June.
With the help of Gavelhouse Plus, Elsdon Park is set to host its first-ever annual reduction and Dewar Partnership Dispersal Sale.
The Sale will go live on Gavelhouse Plus on Tuesday the 18th and the auction will conclude the following Tuesday.
This Sale will feature 16 in-foal broodmares, 4 racehorses and 8 weanlings.
For a sneak peek at the quality horses heading to this sale, please click on the below lookbook.
To book an inspection or to enquire about a horse, please contact Kerrie Cox on 021 433 517 or Sarah Scott on 027 412 4606.
Elsdon Park, a thoroughbred nursery located just outside Matamata, is on the lookout for an Experienced Foal Watch Attendant(s) to help welcome into the world its exciting class of 2024.
This Fixed-Term contract would date from August 1st, 2024, until October 31st, 2024, with the hours being from midnight until 9 am during weekdays and 6 pm until 6 am on Saturday and Sunday nights. The role can be tailored around 2 people with rostered days off.
Responsibilities include:
- Monitoring mares and foals pre- and post-foaling
- Delivering of foals – always with at least one other person
- Administration of treatments to mares and foals
- Vet Assistance
- Cleaning of stables
- Feeding horses
- Record keeping
- Communication with management and the Veterinary team
The successful applicant will have:
- Foaling and neo-natal care experience
- Knowledge of Veterinary procedures
- A positive attitude and willingness to pitch in
- Excellent organizational abilities and a high attention to detail
- Strong communication skills
Remuneration is dependent on experience.
If this sounds like you, then we very much look forward to hearing from you!
For more information, please contact Sarah Scott: 027 412 4606, office@elsdonpark.com
Applications close 31st May 2024
Joshua Smith, NZ Racing Desk
Matamata thoroughbred nursery Elsdon Park have had a memorable week in Sydney with the progeny of young broodmare Daniela’s Magic, culminating in stakes success at Randwick on Saturday.
While the eight-year-old daughter of Per Incanto never made it to the races, her progeny is more than making up for it, with her first foal, Panic, extending his record to four wins from six starts over the weekend when taking out the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) for trainer Michael Freedman.
Bred by Elsdon Park principal Lib Petagna, the three-year-old son of Time Test was offered through Blandford Lodge’s 2022 Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by bloodstock agents Mick Wallace and Paul Moroney for $80,000.
He has proven to be an astute purchase, having now accrued more than A$179,000 in earnings.
“He was in the last draft that we sold under Blandford Lodge,” said Elsdon Park General Manager Kerrie Cox, with Petagna owning a share of the farm at the time before investing in what is now Elsdon Park.
“He was a beautiful type and a lovely moving horse. He was the first foal and he was just big and strong, a lovely mover, and had a great head on him.”
Cox said his yearling half-brother by Ardrossan is cast from the same mould and sold accordingly through the farm’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft earlier in the week.
“We had a really good Easter Sale where we sold three horses, including the half-brother to Panic, who was the only Ardossan in the sale,” Cox said.
“He made A$260,000 and when talking to Michael Wallace over there, who bought Panic with Paul Moroney, he said he (Panic) was going to be running in a stakes race and they were pretty confident.
“It was great to see him get that win, especially in a big field like that.”
They are the only two live foals out of Daniela’s Magic to date, who is now in-foal to Yulong’s Alabama Express.
“Lib owns a share in Alabama and it has turned out to be a pretty good mating,” Cox said.
“She is a lovely type of mare. She is leaving a really nice types and they look like athletes.”
Daniela’s Magic is a full-sister to Group One performer Saracino, who went on to win four races, including the Gr.2 Danehill Stakes (1200m), Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m), Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) and Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m). He was also placed in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.1 NRM Sprint (1400m), Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m), Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m), and two editions of the Listed Scenic Blast Stakes (1200m), earning nearly A$500,000 in prizemoney.
Meanwhile, Elsdon Park has experienced further success on the track in Australia of late, with the Petagna-owned Kalapour placing in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on Saturday, while farm graduate Hezdarnhottoo became Elsdon Park’s first winner at Randwick a fortnight ago.
“Kalapour won the Tancred (Gr.1, 2400m) a couple of weeks ago, and was a really commendable third in the Sydney Cup,” Cox said.
“Hezdarnhottoo was the first horse that was branded at Elsdon Park and he won as a two-year-old in Sydney a few weeks ago. That was pretty exciting for us to see our brand cross the finishing line there.
“I think there have only been four two-year-olds to the races so far with our brand on and they have gone pretty well. We have had Macaluso who was stakes placed as a two-year-old and also ran in the Karaka Millions.
“We have had some nice success with that first crop. It wasn’t a very big first crop so it is nice to see those results coming through as two-year-olds already.”
Elsdon Park’s Per Incanto broodmare Daniela’s Magic has enjoyed a week to remember.
On Saturday her JML Bloodstock-bred Time Test son Panic won the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick for the Michael Freedman stable.
Earlier in the week, her yearling colt by Ardrossan proved popular at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, selling to KPW Bloodstock for $260,000.
Bred by JML Bloodstock herself, Daniela’s Magic is a full sister to the Gr.2 winner Saracina.
Daniela’s Magic is currently in foal to Alabama Express.
The in-form stable of Michael Freedman notched another stakes success during the Championships when the Lib Petagna-bred Panic scored a narrow victory in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Freedman sent out Manaal to win the Gr.1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Ducasse to win the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on Day One of the Championships and was quick to claim further stakes glory on Day Two.
A three-year-old son of Time Test, Panic was always prominent throughout under jockey Tommy Berry and dug in late to stave off the challenge of favourite Razors.
“It’s been amazing. For a relatively small team to be competing at this level and getting a few winners, it’s a big thrill and a huge credit to the whole team. They’re a great bunch of staff,” Freedman said.
“I was getting a little bit anxious that last bit. Tommy made the suggestion that we put a set of winkers on him earlier in the week. He has ridden him a bit and he was a bit wayward at Wyong when he got in front the other day, so credit to Tommy with the gear change.
“I would love to eventually see this horse ridden with a bit of cover. When you see what he can do at home when he works off the back of another horse, he’s a nice sort of horse. I think there is more in store for him.”
Further stakes options beckon Panic, who has now won four of his six starts and made it back-to-back victories this preparation after winning over 1200m at Wyong.
“I will see how he pulls up,” Freedman said. “The Hawkesbury Guineas (Gr.3, 1400m) in three weeks’ time is an option or maybe something in Queensland. We will just get through today and have a bit of a think.”
Winning jockey Tommy Berry said Panic had been an immature type with good ability.
“I thought he was always going to make it up to this grade, I just didn’t think it would be so early with what he has been doing at home,” Berry said.
“It’s a great training performance by the team. They have given him that win (at Wyong) to boost his confidence first-up and he has definitely gone on with it now.”
A son of Little Avondale Stud stallion Time Test, Panic is one of seven stakes winners for the well-bred son of Dubawi.
Bred by Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, Panic is out of Per Incanto mare Daniela’s Magic, a full-sister to Group Two winner Saracino.
Panic was purchased by Mick Wallace and Paul Moroney Bloodstock for $80,000 from the draft of Blandford Lodge at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale.
Elsdon Park’s General Manager Kerrie Cox is chalking up the farm’s Inglis Easter Sale debut as a success.
Each of the three yearlings that made the trip to Sydney were sold in the ring with the farm averaging an impressive price of $536,667, with the sale average being $427,805. This statistic saw Elsdon Park end the sale as the fourth top vendor by average.
“They were our final yearlings to sell for the year and it was our first time to Easter,” Cox said. “We were so pleased by how they were received by the buyers and the positive comments.
“We had selected types that we thought would suit the market and we were rewarded with great prices and terrific people buying them.”
The farm’s top priced lot was the I Am Invincible filly out of three-time Group One winner Lucia Valentina who was secured by John Singleton for $700,000.
The Ardrossan colt out of well-related mare Daniela’s Magic was knocked down to Kevin Walls for $260,000 acting for Ron and Judi Wanless under his KPW Bloodstock banner.
Rounding out the trio was the full brother to multiple stakes winner Lost And Running who was purchased by respected bloodstock agent Andrew Williams for $650,000.
“It was pretty remarkable to have John Singleton purchase from the draft, especially at Easter,” Cox said.
“The filly was very special to Lib being out of his matriarch mare and we were so pleased that Kris Lees, who trained Lucia, will train her and we can follow her career pretty closely.
“We’ve had such a successful trip and it is important to get those horses into Australia, show them to the market and get them into those stables.
“We’ll be back.”
-Tara Madgwick, Breednet
John Singleton is more usually seen on the buyers list at Magic Millions, but he swung into action at Inglis Easter on Sunday purchasing the Elsdon Park consigned I Am Invincible filly from triple Group I winning Champion 3YO Filly Lucia Valentina for $700,000.
Foaled in New Zealand, she is a half-sister to Group I placed Luella Cristina and is the fourth living foal of a $4.3million earner by Savabeel that won the Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2016 when trained by Kris Lees.
Singleton was accompanied at the sale by Lees, who will also be training the filly.
“She’s by a champion sire from a champion mare and Kris will be training her,” Singleton told Jemma Cutting of Inglis.
“In the past I’ve bought mostly from Magic Millions as Gerry (Harvey) is a mate and I was one of the partners there, but these days I’m a free agent and I’m enjoying the day here.”
Elsdon Park have three yearlings at Inglis Easter with the remaining two youngsters to be offered tomorrow and they include the full brother to $4.3million earning sprinter Lost and Running.
Elsdon Park’s Ardrossan gelding Yaldi made the best possible debut at Pukekohe today, bolting in for a dominant win in the TAB 1200.
Raced with David and Nikki Wilson, the Forsman Racing-trained two-year-old entered the contest with three trial wins from as many starts, and never looked in danger throughout, racing home after making all under jockey Kozzi Asano to score the one-and three-quarter length win.
“We knew he obviously had good raw ability and we expected a bold showing today, but each of his trials had been educational so he was also relatively green heading into this. He jumped to the front though and just cruised,” said trainer Andrew Forsman.
“It’s a little surprising that he’s doing all this so early as he’s quite a big two-year-old. He’s going to develop into a lovely three-year-old.
“From here he may have one or two more starts this campaign before we put him aside. There are some nice options over the next month or so, so we might even consider some black-type for him before he goes out for a spell.”
Yaldi was bred by Brown Thoroughbreds Ltd and is the 14th winner for his young Waikato Stud-based sire Ardrossan.
As a yearling, Yaldi was purchased for $50,000 at the 2023 NZB Book Two Sale by Bloodstock Agent Bruce Perry from the draft of Little Avondale Stud. See picture below.
The Kris Lees-trained Kalapour (War Commands) capped a great week for Elsdon Park with a Gr.1 win in the KIA Tancred Stakes at Rosehill today.
The seven-year-old entered the 2400m feature as a dual Gr.3 winner and when asked for the effort by jockey Dylan Gibbons, swiftly carried Elsdon Park’s colours to Gr.1 glory, with his nearest rival crossing a head margin back in second.
Kalapour was bred by His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs and is co-owned by Elsdon Park’s Lib Petagna along with Gurners Bloodstock Co (Syndicate), Joe Singh, William Guest, Michael Clemenger, Tim Watson, David Redgrove, Susan Redgrove, Todd Johns, Ian Clifton, Peter Filipovic, Janne Guest, Jill Cross, Narelle Malone, Sue Grayson, MJM Racing (Syndicate Manager Ralph Huddy) and Tah Boys (Syndicate Manager Anthony).
The Gr.1 winner was initially purchased by his now trainer Kris Lees and Justin Bahen after four starts in the UK. Since his Australian arrival, his 19 starts have netted five wins and seven placings.
The win follows a week where Elsdon Park not only registered its first winner bred in the shape of the Bjorn Baker-trained graduate Hezdarnhottoo, but also loaded for export to Sydney its very first draft for the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
This debut draft comprises of an I Am Invincible filly out of the triple Gr.1 winning racemare Lucia Valentina, a full brother to the Australian stakes winner Lost And Running and an impressive Ardrossan colt from the black-type family of Sarancino.