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Van Nistelrooy Attracts Big Buyers 22 Jun 2006
We all know the hype and expectation that has surrounded the Easter Yearling Sale for the last number of years and 2006 was no different dominated by the big guns who admittedly achieved success to levels that were possibly once thought unattainable. With 12 horses exceeding the million dollar mark, it makes you wonder to what level the market will continue to sustain such heights – long may it continue.

First season sires are always a hot topic when the sales series’ come about and when you look at the results of Easter, the expected stars are at the top of the list with the might and power of Australasia’s biggest studs behind them. If you were to look at the top five, four of them were definitely predictable, the list headed by Elusive Quality (USA) (Gone West), Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) (Danehill) and Hussonet (USA) (Mr Prospector) respectively. For many, the fourth name on the list would have been somewhat of a surprise.

Van Nistelrooy (USA (Storm Cat) cemented his position at number four finishing ahead of the likes of Choisir (AUS) (Danehill Dancer) and Johannesburg (USA) (Hennessey) with a sale average of $186,667.

A Group Two winner at two and also Group One placed in the same season, Van Nistelrooy was a US$6.4 million yearling and 2006 saw the emergence of his first southern hemisphere crop in the sales ring. He began his stud career at New Zealand’s Trelawney Stud in 2003 at a service fee of $15,000 + GST.

Van Nistelrooy’s Easter Sale average was anything but average, with a top price of $220,000 paid by New Zealand agent Paul Moroney for a colt out of the outstanding race mare Coogee Walk (NZ) (Success Express). A surprise package was definitely the Van Nistelrooy colt out of Pan For Glitter (USA) (Crafty Prospector) who fetched $180,000 to the bid of John Hawkes while Kris Lees purchased the first foal out of multiple Group-winner Gordon’s (NZ) (Kaapstad) for $160,000.

“Van Nistelrooy is brought to New Zealand by a partnership including ourselves, Chequers Stud, Curraghmore Stud, Fairdale Stud, Haunui Farm and Pencarrow Stud,” said Brent Taylor, Managing Director of Trelawney. “Because of this, he has covered some of the best mares that New Zealand has to offer,” he said. “His sales results in New Zealand were very pleasing with half a dozen six-figure yearlings and he was the leading first season sire in the Select Sale,” said Brent. “We wanted to sell some of his progeny in Australia and he had one yearling sell at the Gold Coast for $135,000 and then we along with Haunui Farm, brought a few across to Easter as well and the results have really paid off,” said Brent. “The follow up from that is that people have obviously taken note of the type of horse that Van Nistelrooy is leaving and his sales results have also generated a certain amount of interest which is a real positive,” he said.

One Australian who took an obvious liking to the progeny of Van Nistelrooy is leading bloodstock agent Kieran Moore who signed on the dotted line for four yearlings by the young son of Storm Cat (USA) (Storm Bird) at Karaka. “As types, they all had good bone, were well grown and were very good moving horses,” said Kieran. “Hopefully we have picked the right ones as he will definitely leave runners,” he said.

Another prominent Australian-based purchaser of Van Nistelrooy progeny was Steve Brem, former Racing Manager for the Gai Waterhouse stable who was, during his time there, an integral part of the yearling selection team. It has been previously stated that at Karaka, the Van Nistelrooy’s came out on top of his ratings, a stamp of approval that should be noted.

“It is obviously very important for New Zealand studs to get progeny by their stallions into some of the best stables in Australia,” said Brent. “And it’s even better when you see some of the best judges putting their hands up and securing a number of lots,” he said. With progeny set to hit the stables of John Hawkes, Gai Waterhouse, Peter Moody, Kris Lees and Joseph Pride, Van Nistelrooy’s two-year-olds will be footing it with the best.

“For a stallion to be successful in the sales arena, you definitely need success in Australia as at the end of the day, it’s our largest export market and as much as we probably hate to admit it, for a sire’s progeny to be highly sought after in our sales ring, performance in Australia is a key requirement,” said Brent.

It was announced at the beginning of June that Van Nistelrooy will be returning to New Zealand for a fourth season and like every other stallion with rising two-year-olds, he is at the crossroads. “Every stallion goes through this phase and it is the most difficult,” says Brent. “Everybody wants to see some early results and we are lucky with Van Nistelrooy in the fact that the types he has left will ensure some early runners,” he said.

“We have worked hard to secure Van Nistelrooy for the current season and we and our partners have shown a lot of faith in the horse and will continue to support him with some of our best mares,” said Brent.

Out of the Halo mare Halory, Van Nistelrooy is a half brother to four stakes winners and two stakes performers including Brushed Halory (USA) (Broad Brush) whose two-year-old colt by Storm Cat fetched US$2.2 million at the Fasig Tipton Juvenile Auction earlier this year – the colt is now part of Sheik Mohammed’s racing team. Van Nistelrooy was the winner of three of his six starts at two and placed on a further two occasions including the Group One National Stakes and the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes.

Van Nistelrooy stands at Trelawney in 2006 for a fee of NZ$10,000 + GST and if his sales results are anything to go by, and he can achieve some early success on the racetrack, he could well be one of the best value sires of the 2006 breeding season.