Karaka: After The Gold Rush

What an extraordinary week. Even Tony Robbins or Telecom's PR department would have struggled to predict what took place.

There's been a lot written about why there was so much moolah around at Karaka and I don't disagree that any of it failed to contribute in some shape or form; from our group race performances in Oz last season to the strength of the Ozzie dollar and the catalogues depth, it all played it's part.

I thought a couple of under rated influences were the group one win in Hong Kong by Winning Fellowship the night before the Sale commenced and the release of Bart Cummings book. The later, publicity not even America's Cup syndicates could buy, would have had an immeasurable impact on the demand for staying types.

Some observations:

It's hardly a new trend but just how important a totally clean set of x rays are. I know of a couple of outstanding types that had very minor x ray issues and were crucified in the ring.

I would liked to have seen a bit more leg under the Fast N Famous yearlings. The best of his in this department, the Oh Blue Angel colt in Select, fetched his top price.

I thought the Perfectly Ready's would sell a bit better than they did. They walked well, were on the whole athletic and looked o have good temperaments. I thought they may have been a bit heavier bu I didn't mind that. A comment I heard second hand pre Sale from an Ozzie agent may well have summed up his appeal over the ditch; words to the effect that he was only an eastern state group 3 sprinter and they had many more options in young sires at the next level. Hard to dispute that but I thought they were good buying.

The lack of genuine staying types. Sure what was available sold well but as types I thought buyers were limited to a few Golans, the odd Jungle Pocket and Don Eduardo. I didn't see too many Master O Reillys or Gallopins amongst the plethora of O'Reillys and Pins. Imagine the sale results if High Chaparral had stood the 2007 season here.

It's getting off the subject slightly but I imagine Rich Hill will be feeling quite good about Sir Percy and so will some other studs with newish staying orientated stallions who could do with greater patronage. St Reims and Metre En Jeu come to mind.

The week s results should give breeders the encouragement to invest in stallions after quite some hiatus. I predict the Nom Du Jeu announcement will be the first of a number especially of those with some sort of staying resume. There should be any number of nice staying options on the market. I would love to be a bloodstock agent sourcing them.

How buyers deserted Savabeel. Someone mentioned to me just the other day that his record compares more than favourably with O'Reilly and Pins at the same stage of heir careers. I haven't had the time to check this out. There s still enough trainers saying good words about progeny of his they have but buyers have dropped him quicker than a used match.

If you like sires who leave a line then the Darci's would obviously have featured on your shopping list. They are like peas to a pod, lovely heads, deep girths, medium sized and athletic. I was taken with Michael Wallace's purchase in the Premier Sale, the colt from First of May and Little Avondale had a sweet filly from Tycoon Lover.

I saw some quality types from Pentire mares and he's going to be a significant broodmare influence with the right type of mare.

I know Elusive City had a good run in Hong Kong in the weeks leading up to Karaka but I still though his colts exceeded expectations even allowing for some quality types. His record to date is good without been outstanding but it's his fillies who lead the way in terms of stakes performers so I can only conclude that he has some very promising un raced colts out there.

The Lucky Unicorns are going to take time. I didn't mind some of his types although I can't see too many getting nominated for the Karaka Million.

A lot of pinhookers got hurt. Esker bucked the trend, their overall return helped by the Montjeu colt but their median was strong. Goodwood did well with their two also. Holy Roman Emperor was out of favour at the Magic Millions and the trend continued at Karaka. Sadly a number of pin hookers invested in his weanlings who looked good the handful I saw last year, but came unstuck. His yearlings disappointed me on the whole and maybe they just don't develop. Savabeel left some outstanding foals many of whom didn't quite go the right way through to yearlings. The pinhookers results just go to show how hard it is to get right even in a good market.

I only got to see a couple of hundred horses this year and then only in the outside rings and the auditorium but here s a handful I singled out for their X factor.

Lot 79 - Zabeel- Oh So Precious colt. Wonderfully balanced sort, athletic and not too heavy - a great blend of his sire and Sadlers Wells.

Lot 441 - Fastnet Rock - Haibah colt. More attractive around the head and eye than a lot of his sire s progeny; this mare has left another fine type.

Lot 528 - Volksraad - Mardi Gras colt. In the vein of his best colts Orange County, Vinaka and this colts three quarter brother Military Move, a sweet walking strong bodied handsome individual.

So a number of breeders have cash in their pockets again. Will this encourage a buy up at the Australian weanling sales. It will be fascinating to see the catalogue for our weanling sale. Will breeders hang on or still divest here in May. Good decisions to mull over I guess.