Ribchester well received at Karaka

A colt by Ribchester out of The Grey Lady fetched $160,000 to the bid of John Foote. Photo: Trish Dunell

Ribchester's first New Zealand-conceived crop went under the hammer at Karaka 2023 this week and proved to be popular with both domestic and international buyers.

Of the six sold during the Book 1 session, the top lot was the colt out of well-related Alamosa mare Aniceta who was knocked down to Proven Thoroughbreds and Joe Pride Racing for $170,000 when consigned by Landsdowne Park.

12 yearlings by the four-time Group One winner were offered during Book 2 for an average of $64,500 which put him third on the sires list for that sale.

Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty was pleased to the stock of Ribchester, an outstanding miler by the farm’s former successful shuttle sire Iffraaj, make a favourable impression on buyers.

“He’s was a high class racehorse. He’s a four-time Group One winner,” Chitty said.

“He’s 60 percent winners to runners with a very small crop of three-year-olds in Australia, that’s our major market, and people have recognised that.

“I’m just delighted he’s had a really good strong crop of yearlings, both colts and fillies. 

“We all know about Iffraaj and what he’s done and we’re just really excited to have Ribchester. 

“He’s still not going to have massive numbers, but he’s left a type that people have really warmed to in the market.” 

Purchasers of Ribchester's progeny included respected bloodstock agent John Foote who went to $160,000 to secure a colt from The Grey Lady from the draft of Woburn Farm.

“Ribchester has made a great start in Australia and Europe, but I’m not here just to buy them, I’m here to buy nice horses and they fitted the bill,” Foote said.