Valachi Downs’ Unreserved Reduction Live on Gavelhouse Plus

In a move to consolidate numbers, prime Waikato-based nursery Valachi Downs is represented by 52 Lots in a stand-alone unreserved reduction auction launched yesterday on Gavelhouse Plus. 

Buyers must pre-register on the site to bid in the auction with the sale running through until the final countdown from 7pm (NZT) on Friday 26 March. 

“Kevin and Jo Hickman are refocusing Valachi Downs as a more private and smaller nursery running closer to 75 mares and the racing stable with the same goal of producing, selling and racing elite racehorses,” Valachi Downs’ General Manager Gareth Downey said.

“We have put some nice bloodstock up for auction with the in-foal mares, I believe, having all been suitably mated and we will be eager to hear of the resulting foals.

“We have managed to retain a connection to most of the bloodlines on offer and will look forward to these families excelling both for the purchasers’ benefit and ours at Valachi.”

Of the 52 mares being sold, 38 of them are in foal with covering sires including Belardo, Contributer, Redwood, Savile Row, Ten Sovereigns, Time Test, U S Navy Flag, Vadamos, Vespa, War Decree and Zacinto while there are 10 mares offered with foals at foot by Almanzor, Eminent, Reliable Man, Vadamos, Vespa, War Decree and Zacinto.

Highlight Lots include:

• Lot 2 – Amisfield, a daughter of Savabeel from black-type mare Sapphire Belle, dam of multiple Group and Listed performer Merion (O’Reilly). In foal to Vadamos. 
• Lot 13 – offered in foal to U S Navy Flag and with a Reliable Man colt at foot, Curraghmore Girl is from a deep international family with her Sadler’s Wells dam the outstanding Group One winning Shirley Heights mare Infamy.
• Lot 21 – a winner of two whose third dam is the blue-hen Habibti, Hayley Ann is out of the Zabeel mare Proustian and is in foal to U S Navy Flag.
• Lot 23 - a stakes-placed winner of six, Laaffaire is by Iffraaj and offered in foal to Time Test. 
• Lot 38 – a winner of two in Australia, Rainbow Lace is by High Chaparral and is closely related to Ocean Park, Grunt, Critic and Prince Kaapstad. Offered in foal to Vadamos.
• Lot 45 – an imported daughter of Hurricane Run, Shower of Roses is from a stakes-placed half to five-time Group One winner and champion stayer Fame and Glory. Offered with a colt by Almanzor at foot and in foal to Vespa. 

The team at Valachi Downs will be available by appointment only to host inspections throughout the auction between 7:30am and 5pm. 
The gavelhouse.com team are available to answer any bidding queries via +64 9 296 4436 or info@gavelhouse.com