The catalogue is now online for the gavelhouse.com Thoroughbred 6 March auction with a special component to the sale aimed at supporting the cyclone relief fund.

Instigated by champion trainer Roger James, along with Tony Rider of Milan Park, who also operates PAK'nSAVE Clarence Street, a host of stallion services have been put up for auction with funds to go towards providing supermarket essentials for flood-ravaged East Coast communities.

Stallion services include Ancient Spirit, Ardrossan, Derryn, El Roca, Eminent, Jon Snow, King of Comedy, Lean Mean Machine, Reliable Man, Shamexpress, Shocking, Staphanos, Sweynesse, Sword of State, Vanbrugh and War Decree.

Also up for auction is a one-way Trans-Tasman air fare courtesy of NZB Airfreight to Sydney or Melbourne, while Curraghmore offers a Foaling and Agistment package for the 2023 foaling season.

“From sowing a small seed, I have been amazed at the response, be it from small participants to the generosity of some of our major breeders with the donation of so many stallion services,” James said.

“Tony Rider volunteered a truck and a driver and 15 pallets and the first truck and trailer (58 pallets) of supermarket essentials has already arrived and been distributed in care boxes to the families that were most in need within 48 hours of arriving at the Civil Defence distribution centre in Hawkes Bay.

“Hopefully everyone gets behind the gavelhouse.com auction as those communities are really facing some challenging times.”

Bidding in the 74 Lot auction, which also includes youngstock, racing propositions and broodmares, will end from 7pm (NZT) on Monday 6 March.