Berkley Stud Ready for South Island Sale

With the largest draft in New Zealand Bloodstock's South Island Sale of Two-Year-Olds & Mixed Bloodstock, Berkley Stud is set to offer another exciting selection of horses in 2011.

The 2010 South Island Sale saw Berkley Stud not only lead the way with the highest Sales aggregate, but also set a new record for the highest priced two-year-old ever sold in the Sale with their O'Reilly colt from Miami making $220,000.

The Christchurch based operation was established in 2003 and since its conception it has continued to expand. In 2007 Berkley Stud outgrew their Springston property and have since moved to a larger property located only minutes from the Lincoln township. During this time the stud has quickly developed a reputation for its quality sales preparation, and this is reflected in the South Island Sale results over the last few years.

With a draft of 24 two-year-olds and four mares, Berkley Stud owners Edwina Morris and Alan Jones are looking forward to the Sale.

"We have a strong draft coming into the South Island Sale. We have two-year-olds by a number of stallions including our resident sires Coats Choice and Edenwold as well as progeny from sires including Savabeel, Danroad and Enemy of Average.

"A number of horses in the draft, especially the Savabeel and Enemy of Average geldings, are very athletic individuals and look like they will make natural running two-year-olds, and the Edenwolds are big strong horses with good bone and have great temperaments."

Berkley Stud is home to the sire son of Redoute's Choice in Coats Choice, a stallion that has made a solid start to his stud career siring the stakes winners Milo and No Choice, and the stakes placed Five Coats, from his first crop.

"We have seven two-year-olds by Coats Choice in the Sale and they have been progressing nicely. Across the board they are good types and they all are wonderful walkers which looks a common trait among Coats Choice's progeny.

"Trainers in New Zealand, Australia and Asia have a very high opinion of his progeny, they are showing plenty of promise on the race track and, with a number of two and three-year-olds performing well in their trials, we have high hopes for the 2011/12 season."

The stud have already seen some promising results from their 2010 South Island Sale draft with their sale topping O'Reilly colt winning both of his trials in fine fashion, and the Postponed filly Our Premonition, also a 2010 South Island Sale graduate, winning her first race as a two-year-old.

"It is fantastic to see these horses come through and show early promise," said Edwina and Alan.

"The horses we have sold through our previous drafts show that we sell thoroughbreds that can run and can win. This year we have a draft that will appeal to all buyers with a mixture of precocious and strong two-year-olds, and horses that will continue to develop into nice three-year-olds."

To view Berkley Stud's draft for the 2011 South Island Sale, click here.

New Zealand Bloodstock's South Island Sale of Two-Year-Olds & Mixed Bloodstock will be held on August 12 at Canterbury Agricultural Park, Christchurch from 11am. For catalogues or enquiries please contact New Zealand Bloodstock at reception@nzb.co.nz or call 09 298 0055.