The Sir Patrick Hogan Dispersal Sale was a one-of-a-kind chance to tap into the bloodlines built up by arguably the most influential figure in New Zealand’s thoroughbred breeding history, and buyers came out in force on Friday to embrace that special opportunity.
At the conclusion of a fiercely contested evening of bidding on Gavelhouse Plus, all 31 lots were sold for a total of $3,561,605. The average price was $114,890.
Such huge demand for this bloodstock portfolio is testament to the esteem held both in New Zealand and abroad for Sir Patrick Hogan, the New Zealand and Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee who passed away in January at the age of 83.
“When we were approached to conduct the final dispersal of Sir Patrick and Lady Justine’s bloodstock, we knew what a great honour it was,” said Andrew Seabrook, managing director of New Zealand Bloodstock.
“Tonight’s results are a reflection of the great stead Sir Patrick’s legacy is held in, and we are sure he’d be proud of these results and of the way everyone has pulled together to achieve them in his memory.”
New Zealand Bloodstock chairman and Sir Patrick’s long-time friend Joe Walls also reflected “Tonight’s sale was a fitting conclusion to a lifetime in the breeding and selling business that he dominated for almost half a century.
“I congratulate those buyers who recognised Sir Patrick’s acumen and purchased some outstanding bloodstock.
“I’m sure that the great man's influence will continue on for many years to come and buyers will celebrate having purchased some jewels tonight."
Appropriately, the jewel in the crown of the dispersal was Lot 17 – a beautifully bred broodmare named Crown Jewels, who was bought by Yulong Investments for a sale-topping $642,500.
Herself a $750,000 yearling at Karaka and a winner over 1200 metres in Australia, Crown Jewels is a daughter of the stakes-winning blueblood Diamond Like.
Descending from the iconic Eight Carat dam line that underpinned so much of Sir Patrick Hogan’s success, Diamond Like is a daughter of multiple Group One winner Tristalove. That makes her a full-sister to Group One winner Viking Ruler and a close relative to countless other star performers.
Diamond Like has continued her family’s legacy in the broodmare barn, represented by six winners including Forever Loved and Zephyron at Group level. Diamond Like’s daughters have already produced stakes winners Miss Ella and Mongolian Marshal.
Crown Jewels is currently in foal to New Zealand’s latest stallion sensation Proisir.
“She was definitely a mare that had a lot going for her,” Yulong’s chief operating officer Sam Fairgray said. “She has a very, very good pedigree, so we’re delighted to be able to get a mare like her.
“She has sisters breeding that have already produced stakes winners, so it’s a family that’s just going to keep getting stronger and stronger. We were keen to be a part of that.”
Yulong took full advantage of the opportunities available in the Sir Patrick Hogan Dispersal Sale, buying four broodmares for a total of $1,765,000.
The Eight Carat family was also to the fore in their purchase of Lot 18 for $267,500. The winning mare Diamond Delight is a daughter of Tristalove’s stakes-placed granddaughter Lovetessa and is also in foal to Proisir.
Yulong went to $452,500 to secure Sweet Anna, a Group Three-placed full-sister to the Group One winner Tavago. Sweet Anna is currently carrying her first foal, having been covered by Cambridge Stud’s star shuttle stallion Almanzor last spring.
Rounding out the Yulong purchases for the evening was another Group Three-performed mare, Spring Delight. Closely related to champion sprinter and 2013-14 Australian Horse of the Year Lankan Rupee, the seven-year-old mare is also in foal to Almanzor and was purchased for $402,500.
“Sir Patrick built up these great families over a number of years, and they’re pedigrees that have such fantastic depth to them,” Fairgray said. “We were thrilled to be able to add all of these mares to our broodmare band at Yulong.”
Buyers also recognised the considerable pinhooking potential on offer among the weanlings in the Sir Patrick Hogan Dispersal Sale, paying a total of $672,005 for the 10 youngest horses in the catalogue.
The headline lot was a colt by leading sire Per Incanto out of Millie Georgia, who fetched $160,000. Catalogued as Lot 5, the colt is closely related to the Gr.3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) winner Top Of The Range.
Weanlings by Deep Field, U S Navy Flag, Hello Youmzain and Admire Mars also fetched price tags in excess of $75,000.
Focus now turns to the 58 Lot mixed bloodstock auction that will close from 7pm (NZT) on Monday 1 May with includes Pike Racing’s recently retired stakes performer Rapid Falls.