Flemington trainer Glen Thompson is keen to build up his stable numbers and was pleased to come away with a pair of colts by Sword of State at Tuesday’s Book 2 session of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales.
Thompson, who trained in partnership with Mike Moroney until the legendary horseman's death in February last year, lost several of his higher-rated horses, with Ballymore Stables absorbed by Lindsay Park.
But Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) winner Benagil has been a headline act for Thompson's small stable alongside Flemington Group Three winner Whisky On The Hill.
“The stable is starting to build now. It has taken a little bit of time, but I’ve just had to be patient,” Thompson said.
“I've got a fair few yearlings and two-year-olds there at the moment, so the next 12 months it should really start to pick up.
“I've got 18 boxes, 12 in work at the moment, so it's nice to get a few more.
“We have got the good mare Benagil, she has a jump out on Friday and will run in a fortnight at Flemington and we will head towards the Australian Cup (Gr.1, 2000m).
“She has come back really well. It's just a shame she struck that really heavy track last run at Flemington (Gr.1 Champions Stakes, 2000m). I think that really pulled her up.”
Thompson went to $150,000 to purchase a Sword of State colt out of the Snippetson mare Palace Whispers from the draft of Woburn Farm.
“He’s a good strong colt,” Thompson said. “He's a pretty hot stallion at the moment. That was what I came here looking for, something a bit earlier.
“He definitely looks like he should be up and going early, but I guess time will tell.
“I couldn't get near them in Book 1, so it was good to be able to get him in the second session.”
Thompson said he had found the new format of a two-day Book 1 Sale and one-day Book 2 Sale as a positive, with the 848 horses catalogued across the two sessions all on the Karaka Sales complex at once.
“It's been good. You get to see them all and compare them close together. It's been a good couple of days,” he said.
“There are still definitely shares available, but there would be a good chunk of him sold already.”
Thompson also secured a value colt by Sword of State out of Rose’s Girl from the draft of Curraghmore for $30,000. – NZ Racing Desk
