Pins Stock In Keen Demand (February 2 2010)

WS's colt by Pins was the subject of spirited bidding when the action got underway on the opening day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale series at Karaka. The Hong Kong Jockey Club beat off the opposition for the youngster, who is out of the Danasinga mare Saucy, with a final bid of $350,000.

Saucy is a sister to dual Gr 2 winner Ugachaka (Edward Manifold Stakes, Queen Of The Turf Stakes) and a half-sister to the Gr 3 winning Centaine mare Country Rose (Manawatu Challenge Stakes). It is further the family of the former Singapore Horse of the Year Bocelli.

Pins also starred late in the session for the Matamata farm when the Victorian-based BC3 Thoroughbreds parted with $330,000 for a sister to stakes winner and Gr 1 performer Raid while a half-brother to four-time Gr 1 winner Alamosa (Ford Diamond Stakes, Thorndon Mile, Otaki-Maori WFA, Toorak Handicap) realised $230,000.

Long-time WS friend and supporter Danny O'Brien secured the colt.
Matamata agent Michael Stedman went to $160,000 to snare a grey son of Pins out of Singasong, a winning Danasinga mare who is a sister to Gr 1 Hong Kong performer Jackpot Delight (Hamlet's Ghost), while an O'Reilly colt out of the Centaine mare Pyjamas is Hong Kong-bound with a $150,000 price tag.

Premiership-winning Singapore trainer Laurie Laxon liked what he saw of a Pins filly from a cracking WS family and backed his judgement with $130,000. Six-time Gr 1 winner Slight Chance features in her pedigree while trans-Tasman trainer Graeme Rogerson parted with $120,000 for a half-brother to dual Gr 2 winner Sarajay (Gasmate Stakes, Travis Stakes).

Australian interests went to $110,000 for a son of O'Reilly out of a sister to Gr 1 Otaki-Maori WFA winner Critic and leading trainers Bart Cummings and Peter Moody were also in the market for WS yearlings. Cummings secured a God's Own filly out of a half-sister to his Gr 1 Patinack Classic winner Swick for $100,000 and Moody's Savabeel colt out of the Group-performed Pins mare Prickle mirrored that price.