High hopes held for latest crop of White Robe Lodge yearlings

This Ghibellines-Turn The Page colt, pictured in September 2016 at 2 weeks old, heads to the Karaka sales today. Photo: ODT files
This Ghibellines-Turn The Page colt, pictured in September 2016 at 2 weeks old, heads to the Karaka sales today. Photo: ODT files
What stud manager Wayne Stewart described as the most exciting draft of White Robe Lodge yearlings will start their journey towards the national yearling sales today.

Six aspiring racehorses will be loaded up for a three-part 1500km float trip and a ferry crossing in the hope they will attract big bids at the Karaka yearling sales complex.

Stewart, who has been taking yearlings to the sales for the past 30 years, said this is the most promising draft he has prepared.

''They are the best-bred horses we have taken to the sales since the '80s, when we were going to Trentham,'' he said.

''It is the best draft we have ever had because it is the most we have had in book one since Karaka has been going.

''In the past, we have only had one or two - two at the most.''

This year's national yearling sales are split into three selling categories named books one, two and three.

The most stunning and well-bred yearlings are entered in the book one sale, which starts on January 28.

White Robe Lodge has four yearlings - two colts and two fillies - in the book one sale. Three are by the stud's rookie sire, Ghibellines, and it is hoped that having the horses on the big stage at Karaka and landing in top Australasian stables will be a boost for the stallion.

''Results speak louder than words.

''It is only going to take one or two of these horses to go on with it and Ghibellines will be away.''

Stewart is hoping for strong results at the sales given the quality of the mares the yearlings are from.

''The four of them are either out of stakes-winning mares or closely related to good horses, so they have all got a fair bit going for them.''

They include a colt from Ears Carol, the dam of grand stayer Who Shot Thebarman.

The two other Ghibellines yearlings are a colt from 10-race winner Inferno and a filly from Notable, who is already a stakes race-winning dam.

The only non-Ghibellines-sired yearling the stud will offer is by leading New Zealand sire Savabeel from 10-race winning mare Include.

White Robe Lodge has two Ghibellines colts, from mares Ali Rosa and Turn The Page, in Karaka's book two sale, which starts on February 1.

The North Taieri breeding farm is the only stud south of the Waitaki that will be represented at the Karaka sales.

Slightly further north, Willow Glen Stud will offer three colts by their resident sire Pure Champion.

 

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