A handsome colt by Ardrossan was one of the keenly sought-after lots on Day 1 of Book 2 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales with Ready To Run Sale vendors Lilywhites Lodge securing the prized target for $155,000.
Catalogued as Lot 795, the colt by rising star Ardrossan out of the Per Incanto mare La Donna was prepared by Dave Duley and Jude Latimer’s Landsdowne Park.
After a spirited bidding duel, it was Sophia Nolan, bidding while on the phone to husband Derek, who landed the winning blow and the colt is now likely to be seen back at Karaka for November’s Ready To Run Sale.
“He’s a strong, well-bodied colt and a beautiful mover. He’s a very attractive horse and there was a lot to like about him,” Nolan said.
“He looks like the perfect type to take through to the Ready To Run Sale. He should have good appeal.
“I like Ardrossan. He is doing a good job with four stakes winners and another stakes-performer at this early stage, plus the market seems to like them.
“I thought there was also a fair bit of Per Incanto in the horse, which the mother was by.”
The Nolans both have a strong background in racing and prepared their first Ready To Run Sale draft in 2019.
They have quickly built a good reputation as skilled breakers and pre-trainers, as well as Ready To Run preparers, complementing a small training operation at their South Auckland base near Ardmore.
“We have about 60 boxes and our own track and it’s a perfect place for it,” Nolan said.
“We had a beautiful Super Seth filly out of Perfect Fit at last year’s Ready To Run Sale who we sold for $525,000. She was just a ready-made racehorse and hopefully she can come out and be a poster-girl.
“This is the first horse we have got this week. We had a tried on a couple but they went beyond budget. We maybe went slightly over the price on this one, but we were happy to get him.
“There are a couple still on the short-list but we are happy we got the lot we came for. It just broadens the appeal of our draft at the Ready To Run Sale, having a colt like him.”
The colt was bred by Dame Lowell Goddard and was one of four offerings by popular Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan, with Landsdowne Park also selling a colt by the sire out of the Iffraaj mare Exhibit for $100,000 to Wexford Stables.