David Ellis had a set plan when he arrived at Karaka for the opening session of New Zealand, which included the purchase of a top-quality Written Tycoon colt, at whatever cost. Along with dozen other purchases, Ellis secured the top-selling colt was finally for A$475,000.
The son of a winning Redoute's Choice mare, the colt comes from the family of multiple Group One winner Divine Madonna. Hallmark Stud bought him for A$170,000 as a weanling at Karaka last May.
The Impact speaks to Ellis about his plans for the 2020 Karaka Yearling Sale
Q: Last year you purchased on the most expensive horses at the Karaka Yearling Sale. What, according to you, is the best combination of physical looks, performance potential, and pedigree which is the hallmark of really high-quality Thoroughbreds? Where is the horse now?
A: At the Karaka Book 1 sale this year I bought a Savabeel colt out of Make A Wish for $1.4 million. Named "No Limits", this colt has been most impressive in two trials to date. We are just giving him plenty of time and taking the patient approach, intending to have him ready to race in the New Year. He is as good a looking colt as you will ever see, with a top pedigree and is a very high-class thoroughbred that we hold in high regard. The horse is currently in training at Te Akau Racing and has a superb mix of physical magnificence and elite pedigree credentials.
Q: Which key sires would you say is the highlight of the 2020 Karka Yearling Sale?
A: There are some proven stallions that are very well represented in the 2020 Karaka Sale such as Savabeel, Darci Brahma, Ocean Park, Reliable Man, Per Incanto, Iffraaj etc. However, there are also several up and coming stallions with yearlings on offer including Belardo, Preferment, Rageese, Tarzino, Telperion, Tivaci, Turn Me Loose and Vadamos so I am looking to commencing my yearling inspections very soon.
Q: Could you please tell us a bit more about Te Akau Racing's association with this sale? How long have you been attending this sale? Which was the most expensive horse you ever bought at this sale? Where is he or she now and what are his/ her top successes?
A: Te Akau Racing has been buying at the National Sales since 1982 and has bought every year since then. The reason I keep going back to Karaka is that we have had great success with horses purchased from this sale - every year we seem to secure top horses and this is a sale where the stand-out horses that are valued for money come from. I have bought many high price horses that come to mind - Darci Brahma at $1.1 million, Burgundy $1.3 million, Embellish $750,000, Rock'n'Pop $1 million – all colts that are now standing at stud.
Q: Which sales do you attend annually? What is your process of choosing horses to visit with intent to buy after the catalogue is released?
A: I like to attend and purchase at all New Zealand Bloodstock sales plus I always enjoy the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale from which we have had success, plus the Sydney Sale at Easter. I like to visit the yearlings before the sale on-site where they are being prepared, and by the time we are at the sale, we have inspected each horse. I enjoy meeting the breeders and talking about the success that they have achieved in the past 12 months. I particularly enjoy visiting and inspecting the yearlings in their environment and then having another look at them again at the Karaka Sale so I can see how they have continued to develop in that time.
Q: With 2020 fast approaching, where do you see Te Akau Racing in the next ten years? And are the top two things on your bucket list to achieve by 2030?
A: We would like to think that Te Akau Racing continues to be a major player in New Zealand and Singapore, where we are leading both country's Training Premierships through Jamie Richards (NZ: and our Singapore trainer Mark Walker. Mark looks on target to achieve his third Premiership title in just nine years leading our Kranji operation - adding to our total of eight Premiership titles across both countries. Both are world-class horsemen and have superb teams around them. The bucket list - well - just keep buying more horses like Te Akau Shark and Melody Belle.
Q: And finally, what is the best book you have read recently and why was it a great read?
A: My favourite read is whatever the current sale catalogue happens to be - I enjoy studying and researching every horse being offered at auction.