Wai-Eyre Farm stars at the Sales
They’re dubbed the ‘Sale of the Stars’, but last week’s PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales were a triumph for one Canterbury-based stud in particular… Wai-Eyre Farm was the ‘star’ of the 2012 Sales.
Unlike other major New Zealand studs which enjoyed the luxury of being represented by numerous sires, only two of Wai-Eyre’s stallions had progeny through the Sale ring this time around – Christian Cullen, and his son Gotta Go Cullen, the latter’s six yearlings belonging to his first and oldest crop of just 28 live foals.
And after the dust had settled, Wai-Eyre walked away with the major honours across the board.
The richest Lot (and top-priced colt) on either day of the N.Z. Premier Sale in Christchurch was BB Jones, a son of Gotta Go Cullen and the Pacific Fella mare Beauty Bee that Noel Kennard’s company NZ Bred Ltd sold for $100,000. He was purchased by Ian Dobson of Cullen Breeding Ltd, knocked down after Dobson engaged in a vigorous bidding duel with well-respected yearling purchaser Cran Dalgety.
To the Australasian Classic later in the week, and it was Christian Cullen’s turn to steal the show.
His deeds in Auckland saw him finish as the sire of the highest-priced yearling, top-priced colt and top-priced filly sold on either of the three days of this year’s Sales – not to mention being responsible for the top six Lots at the Australasian Classic.
Dalgety got his revenge for missing out on the Gotta Go Cullen colt in Christchurch when he put his finger up at $250,000 to take home the overall Sale-topping Big Boys Dont Cry, the Christian Cullen colt and first foal out of 7-win Artiscape mare Fight Fire With Fire that Rod Croon’s company Croon Bloodstock Ltd put forth.
Christian Cullen’s other six-figure yearlings in Auckland were: Ultimate CC, a filly out of T K Swift that went for $135,000; Martine Maguire, an Unrehearsed filly that reached $115,000; Melody Bromac, a daughter of Missy Matao that was knocked down for $100,000; and Meticulous, a colt out of Syriana that sold for the same price.
In the wash-up, of the 750-odd yearlings that went through the ring this year, only six sold for $100,000 or more – with five being by Christian Cullen and the other a Gotta Go Cullen, every single one of them was a Wai-Eyre Farm product!
“We’re obviously rapt with the results at the Sales,” says Wai-Eyre Farm’s Manager Darryl Brown.
“It just proves that even during tough economic times, good money is still out there for the right type of product.
“And I’m really pleased for Wai-Eyre’s clients that have ‘stuck with the ship’ too, because they’ve been rewarded.”
These two sires’ Sale averages also stacked up well.
Not including buy-backs, Christian Cullen’s 18 colts that sold in Christchurch totalled $550,500 for an average of nearly $31,000; his seven fillies that found new homes went for a total of $91,000 and averaged $13,000.
In Auckland, seven Christian Cullen colts changed hands for a total of $592,500 and an average of nearly $85,000; eight fillies went for a total of $521,000 and averaged over $65,000.
Gotta Go Cullen’s three colts at the Sales went for $135,000 collectively, averaging $45,000; his two fillies sold for $7000 and averaged $3500.
Archive News:
Sire’s first yearlings go up for auction
Wai-Eyre Farm stallion Gotta Go Cullen will be represented at the Yearling Sales for the first time next month when six of his youngsters are auctioned in Christchurch and Auckland.
With three colts in the N.Z. Premier Yearling Sale, and two colts and a filly at the Australasian Classic, these half a dozen yearlings are from Gotta Go Cullen’s first small crop of just 28 live foals and the son of super sire Christian Cullen is expected to generate a great deal of interest in the Sale ring.
After all, he was a brilliant youngster himself – only once finishing out of the money as a 2-year-old as he won 10 of his 14 appearances including two Group 1 races and two Group 2 events, and having earned $230,000 in stakes in his first season of racing he was duly crowned this country’s 2YO Pacer of the Year.
Gotta Go Cullen didn’t stop there of course, stepping out the following season to record seven wins and as many placings from 16 starts as a 3-year-old and numbering the Group 1 NSW Derby amongst his victories.
At four he was even more dominant and collected over half a million dollars in stakes, capturing Group 1 events such as the Auckland Cup and N.Z. Messenger as well as three other Group races. Gotta Go Cullen’s 10 starts for five wins and three seconds that season once again saw him earn another title – 4YO Pacer of the Year.
By the time he retired as a 5-year-old, Gotta Go Cullen had won a total of 24 races and over $1.1million, proving without doubt that he took his precocious early talent right through to the top and the rigours of open class racing at a later age.
Gotta Go Cullen’s progeny at the Yearling Sales…
Christchurch, Day 1:
Lot 15 BB JONES
On A/c of NZ Bred Ltd, this colt is the first foal from the unraced Pacific Fella mare Beauty Bee, a half-sister to five winners including Hi Ho Silverheels and Sting Lika Bee.
Christchurch, Day 2:
Lot 263 (UNNAMED)
On A/c of Classiebawn Stud, this colt is the second foal of Holmes Hanover-Metallic mare Inky Lady and is closely related to the great Inky Lord (NZ Cup).
Lot 281 TEMPEST CULLEN
On A/c of Hunterfield, this colt is out of the unraced Sir Vancelot mare La Rouge, dam of good performer The Big Mach (Aus1.54.8MR, 12 wins to date).
Auckland:
Lot 5 FOREVER AN ANGEL
On A/c of Lara O’Brien, this filly is out of the 7-win Holmes Hanover mare Angel Hanover who’s already left the winner Gotta Go Angel (4 wins to date).
Lot 12 MADELINE MAGUIRE
On A/c of Jubilee Park, this filly is out of the Perfect Art mare Artyana (3 wins), a half-sister to four winners who’s closely related to Hot Shoe Shuffle, Joshua Mac and Iwasborntoboogy.
Lot 136 STEPPIN OUT
On A/c of Glen Kowhai Farming Co. Ltd, this colt is the second foal of the unraced Armbro Operative mare Nina Myers, whose only foal to race has been a winner.
Promising early signs for Gotta Go Cullen's babies
Although it's fairly rare to break in horses when they're still weanlings, respected West Melton horseman Brian Zampese handled a couple of Gotta Go Cullen colts recently and was suitably impressed.
"I broke a couple in for Pete Molloy," Zampese said.
"We just took them along nice and quietly, because you can't do much with them, but they both paced straight away after a couple of days; that's all you can ask at this stage.
"They're the first two Gotta Go Cullens I've ever sighted, but they're quite good-sized horses who were very well mannered and paced along good.
"They've gone for a spell now, and could be out for six to eight months or even longer, but I said to Pete that they've both got a chance," Zampese enthused.
Stories like this point to a very promising start for Gotta Go Cullen, whose stud career continues to gain momentum.
His first crop of foals may have numbered just 28, but the son of Christian Cullen's popularity with breeders strengthened even more last season when he served 58 mares.
Considering his oldest crop only just turned a year old on August 1, 2011 - no doubt many more glowing reports from delighted owners and breeders will start to emerge in the months ahead.
First Crop Foal
Pictures available
To see some of the stunning GOTTA GO CULLEN foal pictures from last year, go to the 'STALLION MEDIA' tab at the top of the page then click on 'PROGENY IMAGES'.
If you have some pictures you'd like shown, then send them to Noel Kennard at this email address... noel@pacingandtrotting.com
