Racing: SI sale takes a hit

The South Island sale has already taken a hit in its relatively new slot in April.

The sale was moved from its traditional August date to April last year and attracted 177 catalogued lots before withdrawals in its first year in the autumn sales calendar.

However, the sale this year in Christchurch on April 17 drew just 106 lots, and four withdrawals have already brought the total down to 102.

The four withdrawals are yearlings, leaving 94 yearlings in the sale, along with one 2yr-old, two unraced stock and five brood mares.

Despite the drop, the 102 lots going under the hammer is still an increase on the 84 that went to auction in the final August sale in 2013.

Berkley Stud will present nine yearlings for sale, including a full brother to six-win Coats Choice gelding Milo. Another full brother to the pair, Coffee, continues to race solidly, finishing second behind Dermott Brown at Riverton on April 6.

North Taieri's Leafland Stud proprietors Everd and Marie Strauss are dispersing two unraced lots: a 4yr-old Gallant Guru mare out of Midnight Jazz, making her a half-sister to race winner Sky Jazz, and a 4yr-old Keeninsky mare out of Royal Pass, who has left St Peter's Gift, a multiple stakes winner in Macau.

Two other half-sisters to St Peter's Gift - Amy Cee and Georgie's Way - are available in the broodmare section along with Irish Jig (O'Reilly-Reputedly).

White Robe Lodge has consigned nine yearlings for the sales with five Raise The Flag products and four descendants of Gallant Guru.

The Gallant Guru colt out of Megagem should attract interest, with the mother being out of a proven family in Emerald Fire.

The deeds of the departed Valiant will be recalled when his Raise The Flag half-brother goes through the ring as lot 86.

The bay colt can also call on some quality back in its damline through 2010 Telegraph winner Vonusti, who is out of a daughter of the colt's third dam Marlass.

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