Experienced bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne played a superb game of brinkmanship to secure a royally-bred filly on the first evening on the annual NZB National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Hawthorne found himself on the backfoot during the closing stages of an intense bidding war for Lot 48, a Tavistock filly from outstanding broodmare Bagalollies. The upstanding bay filly is a full sister to 2015-16 Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther as well as Gr. 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Gobstopper and Gr. 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) placegetter Milseain.
Left languishing after his $450,000 bid was trumped twice in quick succession, Hawthorne pulled an ace from the deck with an offer of $500,000 that quelled any resistance from his opposition.
"We were going up in $10,000 bids and once we lost out with $450,000 we were going to be on the back foot again if we came in at $480,000," said Hawthorne. "We went for it at $500,000 and it paid off."
Purchased on behalf of Australian clients, GSA Bloodstock, the filly will spend the next six months in New Zealand before being transferred to an Australian stable.
