Inglewood Stud sire Zacinto had just two yearlings in the NZB Premier Sale at Karaka last month, but the pair made Zacinto one of the talking points of the sale, each selling for a whopping $240,000.
The colts were sold through the draft of Valachi Downs, the breeding arm of Kevin Hickman, who makes up a quarter of the ownership group of Zacinto.
The first colt through the ring was the subject of a huge amount of interest largely due to his stunning walk and international pedigree. The bay colt was knocked down to renown Queensland trainer Liam Birchley, who has made of habit of successfully bringing horses back across the Tasman for the Karaka Million, winning the race in 2010 and 2015 with Sister Havana and Hardline.
Later in the day, the Zacinto half brother to the Karaka Million winner Vespa, also fetched $240,000 to the bid of Irishman Jim Ryan, and will head directly to Coolmore Australia before entering the Sydney stable of Peter and Paul Snowden. The result was a hugely satisfying one for the team at Inglewood as Kevin has been such an avid supporter of Zacinto. It was terrific to see him rewarded for his faith in the stallion. The two prices smashed the record for the highest yearling price by a South Island based stallion at Karaka.
