It took a quality South Island thoroughbred yearling to start the fireworks at the national sales at Karaka yesterday. This O’Reilly colt from Volkrose, offered by South Island breeder Richard Rutherford’s Beltana Stud, fetched $825,000 on the first day of the national yearling sales at Karaka yesterday. They included a filly from Crystalthecowgirl, sold by Beltana to Mulcaster Bloodstock and Phill Cataldo Bloodstock of New South Wales for $320,000. The O’Reilly colt was on Bell’s agenda well before he arrived in New Zealand for the sales. ‘‘I’m also a big fan of the stock that Richard [Rutherford] breeds.’’Beltana will also offer an O’Reilly colt from Shemiyra when selling continues today.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 30, 2017 20:27 UTC