Multiple Group One-winning Australian trainer Tony McEvoy made an early impact on the opening day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale at Te Rapa on Wednesday when he secured a handsome son of Almanzor.

McEvoy combined with bloodstock agent Bevan Smith, who was on site, to purchase Lot 12 from the draft of Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park for $330,000. He had breezed up in 10.68s.

The son of the Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion is out of the winning Guillotine mare Tricoteuse, whose dam is a half-sister to the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) winner Arlingtonboulevard and to the Listed South African winner Europe To Africa.

“I really like him and he’s a big, powerful bugger and gee, I was quite taken by that little breeze that he did,” McEvoy said. “He looks a proper horse to me.”

The first Southern Hemisphere crops of the three-time Group One winner Almanzor have attracted widespread sale ring interest across Australasia and McEvoy is now also a paid-up member of the fan club.

“I can see why people like them, he was such a good horse and he’s on a good farm and getting every chance. I’m very pleased to be able to get one, that’s for sure,” he said.

McEvoy purchased the juvenile on behalf of an undisclosed Queensland-based stable client and will wait until he gets up close and personal with the colt before he plots a racing path.

“It’s difficult not having seen him in the flesh, although the New Zealand Bloodstock and vendor services we get are fabulous,” he said.

“As with any horse though, you’ve got to get up close with them and I’ll get him to Ballarat and then make some calls from there.”

As with all buyers, McEvoy is well-versed in purchasing online due to current COVID-19 travel restrictions and paid credit to the part his support crew played in the Ready to Run Sale purchase process.

“My bloodstock team here in Australia did a great job finding this horse and presenting him in front of me and I’m very appreciative of Bevan finishing off the job over there in New Zealand,” he said.

The Almanzor colt also proved to be a smart piece of business for Octagon Bloodstock, who had originally purchased him out of Curraghmore’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka earlier this year for $260,000.