This year’s New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale has taken plenty of getting used to by Mansfield Farm’s Kaye Sanders.

The sale has been moved online to plus.gavelhouse.com and it is the first time the Canterbury horsewoman has had first-hand experience with an online auction.

Sanders has three yearlings on offer in the sale including lot 33, the Zacinto colt out of a half-sister to Group One performer Vittoria; lot 53, the Highly Recommended colt out of a half-sister to Group One winner Bel Sprinter; and lot 65, the Ghibellines colt out of a half-sister to Group One winner The Party Stand.

“I am presenting a Ghibellines out of a half-sister to The Party Stand for Steven and Amanda Woodsford,” Sanders said.

“He is a lovely, big, strong colt. He has had a lot of views.

“I have a Zacinto colt myself. He is the first foal out of an unraced Falkirk mare that is just a little cracker. He has got a great walk on him with a great attitude. He is a guy going places.

“The Highly Recommended is a nice colt as well.”

Sanders was buoyed by comments made by Te Akau equine manager Enzo Di Leoni about a close relation to her Zacinto who was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $50,000 at last year’s South Island Sale.

“He (Zacinto colt) is a three-quarter brother to a horse I sold last year at the sales and Te Akau bought him,” Sanders said.

“Out of the 68 yearlings that David Ellis bought that year, the head breaker Enzo rated him number one.

“They had big raps on that horse, but unfortunately he went amiss and I have just got him back home now rehabbing him.”

Sanders has a lifelong involvement with horses and while the online experience has been something new for her, she is missing the social element the physical format brought.

“I have always been horse mad,” she said. “When I left school I worked for Nick Wigley at Inglewood Stud until my daughter was born.

“I have had agistment properties and kept busy breeding a few racehorses. I have also raced a few.

“It’s in my blood well and truly.”

“The South Island Sale is sort of our focal point (for breeders),” she said. “It’s a time where we can all get together and catch-up with people.

“We had the meet and greet the night before the sale as well and that has been very successful too.”

Vet Reports and quality videos of the yearlings have been made available on the Gavelhouse Plus platform and Sanders said she had yet another reason to dislike Covid-19.

“I had the covid-19 hairstyle going on when we filmed the yearlings which was a bit embarrassing, but so long as the horses look their best that is the most important thing,” she said.