Ghibellines colt sold for $82,500 to Hong Kong owner

Brookby Stables, based at Brookby (Auckland) and operated by trainer Danny Walker on behalf of Danny Wong, of Hong Kong, bought a colt by Ghibellines from Upclosenpersonal for $82,500 offered by White Robe Lodge in Book 2 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sale at Karaka.

Wong races horses in NZ, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and Macau, He raced Spin Around, winner of the 2009 Counties Cup when trained by Steven Cooper.

"We sell most of our horses,'' said Walker, who has been six years at Brookby Stables.

Upclosenpersonal is the dam of Gallant Defender (three wins).

Markwood Lodge Limited, who have Zabay and a Jakkalberry 2yr-old in the WRL stable, paid $35,000 for a Ghibellines - Personal Column colt in Book 2 and $22,000 for a Ghibellines - Turn The Page colt in Book 3 offered by WRL. Personal Column has left four winners from as many foals to race - Confused (10 wins), Golden Flag, Kurgan and Structure. Golden Flag (by Raise The Flag) won an $A35,000 race over 2350m at Warrnambool on Tuesday (February 5). He is trained by Patrick F Ryan at Warrnambool.

Turn The Page is the dam of Ranger, a 2yr-old Ghibellines gelding who finished third at Te Rapa in November in his only start. Ranger, co-owned by Markwood Lodge and a $53,000 yearling purchase, is trained by Debbie Sweeney at Te Awamutu.

Markwood Lodge Ltd is a Waitoa (Waikato) company operated by brothers Frank, Andrew and Milan Matijasevich. They won a race with a WRL-bred and trained Markwood (Raise The Flag - Pernote) at Wingatui in November.

Zabay (Stravinsky -Obey), winner of three races was purchased from Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan after the filly had been passed in at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock premier yearling sale. She had a reserve of $100,000. Andrew was at Wingatui on Saturday to see Zabay finish a close second to stablemate Taieri Gem.

Victor Matijasevich (father) won races with Blazing Girl  (Blazing Keel - Micala) at Wingatui and Gore in 1999 -2000 when the mare was trained at WRL. Markwood Lodge had a second with Stella at Oamaru in 2015 from the same stable. Stella (Fast 'N' Famous - Comedy Mill) won races at Paeroa and Tauranga from the Clotworthy stable. Her first foal, a filly by Ghibellines, died.

WRL principals Brian and Lorraine Anderton also sold a colt by Rip Van Winkle - Our Zara for $25,000 to Ronball, Victoria and a Ghibellines - Whare Creek colt for $20,000 to Woodville trainer Neil Connors in Book 2 at the 2019 National sale.

They passed in a colt by Ghibellines from Ruby's Rose, who had a reserve of $10,000 in Book 3.