South Island Sale Set to Coincide with All Blacks - Wallabies Test

Australasian buyers can now look forward to the winter months with the announcement today that New Zealand Bloodstock will bring the 2010 South Island Sale of 2YO's forward by a week (Friday, 6 August) to coincide it with the All Blacks - Wallabies rugby test set for AMI Stadium, Christchurch, on the same weekend.

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Traditionally taking place on the last Friday of the Canterbury Jockey Club's week long Grand National Carnival, the 2010 Sale will take place a week earlier to create a weekend of auction, rugby, and racing that cannot be missed.

The extended weekend now looks like this:

Thursday, 5 August: Full day of South Island Sale inspections at Christchurch Agricultural Centre

• View close to 200 unbroken newly turned two-year-olds from many of the South Island's leading breeders, and a few of the North Island's leading consigners.

Friday, 6 August: 2010 South Island Sale of 2YO's and Mixed Bloodstock at Christchurch Agricultural Centre

• The entertainment of auction on an action packed day where buyers will be looking to add their pick of the Sale to their stables.

Saturday, 7 August: CJC Grand National Carnival - Day One

• Catch New Zealand's best winter gallopers fight for top dollar over ten races with the feature being the $100,000 Group 3 Aussie Browne's Pharmacies Winter Cup (1600m). There will also be quality jumps racing (steeple and hurdle) action on the race-card also.

Saturday, 7 August, 7.35pm: All Blacks vs Australia : AMI Stadium, Christchurch

• After racing refresh, catch a pre-match meal, and get ready to watch the All Blacks take on the Wallabies in the second test match between the great rivals in their 2010 Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations campaign.

Sunday, 8 August: Sightsee, be adventurous, or rest and relax

• This is your day to explore more of the Canterbury area, perhaps ski or snowboard one of the many world-class Southern Alps ski fields, or rest and relax in the vibrant Christchurch city centre before making your way home.

New Zealand Bloodstock came to the decision through consultation of leading buyers, vendors, and the Canterbury Jockey Club, with all firmly in favour of the move to create an attractive event for racing and rugby fanatics.

The initial alert to the opportunity came from the CJC's marketing and promotions manager Chris Rowe who has Grand National Carnival plans well underway.

"The South Island Sale is very much part of our week long Grand National carnival celebrations and I think NZB have pulled the right rein in moving the sale forward to coincide with our $100,000 Aussie Browne's Pharmacies Winter Cup on the first day of the meeting", Rowe revealed.

"With the All Blacks - Wallabies Test on the same Saturday we here at the Canterbury Jockey Club look forward to working closely with New Zealand Bloodstock and the Canterbury Rugby Union to put together a weekend not to be missed in Christchurch".

The initiative was also well received by South Island Breeders Secretary Mike Perkins who was very much part of the planning process.

"On behalf of breeders I was glad to be involved in the early discussions to move the Sale and after weighing up all the pros and cons the decision was unanimous. The opportunity to create a must-attend event around the Sale was great and we look forward to seeing a great deal more Australian and North Island-based owners and trainers at the 2010 South Island Sale as a result".

These sentiments were echoed by the South Island's leading vendors Berkley Stud and White Robe Lodge.

Edwina Morris of Berkley immediately showed her support for the Sale in saying, "We will have 20 colts at the sale and we are delighted by the foresight shown by NZB to make the Sale a perfect lead-up to the superb racing and rugby we will be experiencing on the Saturday".

White Robe Lodge's Brian Anderton met the news with similar optimism.

�"We will have a draft of twenty including a strong line-up from the first crop of Sandown Classic winner Gallant Guru who the Australian trainers will be well aware of.

"The racing and rugby crowd will add plenty of atmosphere to the Sale and I am sure all vendors will relish the opportunity to showcase their yearlings in such an environment. Overall I think it was great to see common sense prevail and I am sure it will be a prosperous decision."

The movement of the South Island Sale will also see New Zealand Bloodstock's Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale brought forward a week to Sunday, 1 August.

Entries for both Sales will close on Friday, 28 May, at 5pm.

Click here for New Zealand Bloodstock's updated Sales Calendar.

Next week New Zealand Bloodstock will conduct the Selwyn River Stud Unreserved Dispersal Sale� in Christchurch. Set for Friday, 26 March, the Sale will see 70 lots go through the ring with breeding, racing, and pin-hook propositions to suit all buyers.

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�Selwyn River Stud sire Lord of Warriors will be represented by nine yearlings at the auction next Friday

Amongst the offering is 15 yearlings, including 10 colts,�who would suit pin-hookers looking to make the most of the re-scheduled�2010 South Island Sale.�Yearlings by Coat's Choice, My�Halo, Lord of Warriors and Spectatorial are represented�with�the highlights including:

Lot 59 - Bay Colt - Lord of Warriors x Philadelphia Fox (Dahar) : this colt is out of two time winner Philadelphia Fox which makes him�a half-sibling to Nirvana (Stravinsky), a four time winner in Singapore, and He's Hot Right Now (Pentire), a five time winner in Australia and Great Britain.

Lot 65 - Brown Colt - Lord of Warriors x Ima Barbie Girl (Waikiki Star) : From three time winner and stakes-placed Ima Barbie Girl, this colt is a full brother to Double Dragon, who has placed on four occasions in Hong Kong up to the current season, and Yeah Barbie, a two-time winner to the current season.

Lot 67 - Bay Colt - Spectatorial x Klaudia (Spectacular Love) : From the tremendous running Calm harbour family this colt is a half-brother to six time Austyralian winner Spectacular Saint.

Lot 57 - Chestnut Filly - Lord of Warriors x Mrs Moss (Grosvenor) : this filly is out of three time winning Grosvenor mare Mrs Moss, herself a half-sister to Lee Freedman's Group 1 Turnbull Stakes winner Sphenophyta.�

The Sale is set to begin at 1pm at�137 Corbetts Road (Selwyn River Stud), Christchurch. Contact Glyn Morris�(03 329 5839)�to book inspections prior to the Sale.

Catalogues available on request from [email protected].