Having enjoyed a hugely successful weekend on the track, recording two new winners and a Black type placegetter between them, success continued into the sales ring for Dubai Destination (pictured) and Exceed And Excel at the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale in New Zealand.
Dubai Destination, whose son Dubai To Sydney became his first southern hemisphere winner at Randwick on Saturday, averaged an impressive NZ$158,750 for four yearlings sold during the two day sale. His top price was NZ$260,000, given by Patinack Farm for a bay filly from the Tale Of The Cat mare Stray. Unraced herself, the dam is a half-sister to smart galloper Maldivian, who took last October’s G1 Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield.
Exceed And Excel averaged just over NZ$220,000 to make the top ten sires’ list for the sale. The current leading first-season sire in Australia had three yearlings sell, with two realising NZ$290,000. His colt from Bare Elegance will now head to Hong Kong, having been bought by the HK Jockey Club. His dam has produced three winners from three foals to race, including the Stakes-placed colt Bullala. Also selling for NZ$290,000 was a filly from Za Tiara, who was purchased by Shadwell Australia. She is from the family of numerous G1 performers, including Cape Cross's Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Kindacross.
Exceed And Excel sired his fourth individual winner on Sunday when Wilander romped to an eight-length victory at Ballarat, throwing himself into contention for the Blue Diamond. A day earlier, he sired his fourth Black type performer when Believe’n’Succeed took third in the Listed Blue Diamond Prelude on her racecourse debut at Caulfield.
Cape Cross also provided breeders with healthy returns, averaging NZ$170,000 for eight yearlings sold with a top price of NZ$280,000. Other notable lots included a NZ$250,000 colt by Refuse To Bend from Love Dust and a Tiger Hill colt from Kwan who realised the same figure
