3 minute read

The first of what promises to be many fierce bidding duels throughout the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling sale series went in favour of Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie during the early stages of day one at Karaka.

Ritchie outlaid $290,000 for Lot 9, a bay filly by international sire Street Cry from multiple Gr. 1 winning mare Keep The Peace. It is a family that Ritchie has intimate knowledge of as he prepared Keep The Peace throughout her racing career and was taken by the similarities he saw in the filly as he inspected her before the sale.

“Right from the first time I saw her she reminded me of her mother,” he said.

“I must have inspected her at least six to seven times and on each occasion I never saw her break out of a walk. She never jig-jogged or did anything silly so you can see she has a superb temperament and that is a wonderful asset to have.

“You could never say she was the prettiest filly but she has a tremendous walk and is very athletic so I’m delighted to secure her.”

Ritchie bought the filly on behalf of Nigel Nausbaum and Sally Anderson who also shared in the ownership of grand campaigner Military Move and are firm friends with Ritchie and his wife Alison.

“We’ve had some exciting times racing horses with Nigel and Sally along with plenty of fun off the track so hopefully this filly will provide plenty more,” he said.