Buyer demand for freshman and emerging talent was evident throughout New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2022 National Online Yearling Sale on Wednesday night, with the highlight lots secured all by exciting young New Zealand sires.

For the second year, the digital postscript to NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series took place on premium online subsidiary Gavelhouse Plus.

The sale topper was Lot 49, a colt by popular young sire Turn Me Loose purchased for $34,000 by NZB Agent Alex Teng on behalf of an internationally-based client.

Cunningham was delighted by the sale of his colt in the online format.

“He was a good colt and was bought very well. Timing can be everything and with his sire (Turn Me Loose) going so well at the moment, the price he made really didn’t surprise me,” Cunningham said.

“I hope he will be a great horse for his new owners.”

Teng was pleased to secure the colt out of Sir Percy mare Lady Grace on behalf of his Hong Kong-based client.

“This colt was bought by a client based in Hong Kong who also races lots of horses in Macau too,” he said.

“The horse was on my list. He was a big, strong colt by a sire that is flying in Turn Me Loose. He has a big frame and will make into a nice horse.”

Cambridge Stud sold the second top lot of the Sale in Lot 39, a colt by Almanzor for $33,000.

Out of Montjeu mare Game Duchess, the colt is a half-brother to Group Three winners Dark Princess and Exquisite Jewel and was purchased by Central Districts trainer Raymond Connors, who trains talented Almanzor juvenile Trav.

Robert Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James under their Kingsclere Stables banner, secured a Satono Aladdin colt for $32,000 out of Rich Hill Stud’s draft.

“We looked at a few of the horses that we liked in the Sale and thought he was the standout,” Wellwood said. “His pedigree goes back to a family that Roger has had a fair bit of involvement with.

“He thought he has good depth, a great pedigree and we really like what Satono Aladdin is doing at the moment. He definitely ticked a few boxes for us.”

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Kane Jones felt it was another successful online sale and expected many of the passed in lots to sell before the week is over.

“We saw spirited competition for the quality yearlings on offer, with the total turnover surpassing $442,000.”

“The online format has been adopted well by our buyers, with an abundance of information supplied by our vendors, to provide full transparency and confidence in the product on offer.

“It was extremely encouraging to see local young and emerging sires, like Almanzor, Turn Me Loose, Satono Aladdin and Embellish feature prominently in the results.

“We fully expect to sell more horses over the coming days.”