Koolman short-lists Equiano at Karaka

Sydney agent Anton Koolman was under-bidder for the top-priced lot at the NZ Bloodstock 2YO Sale on Thursday but he did come away from Karaka with a strapping son of Swettenham Stud sire Equiano.

Koolman missed out on the $460,000 sale-topper – a full brother to Savabeel Group 2 winner Diademe – after a heated bidding duel with Warwick Farm trainer Bryce Heys. He resurfaced later in the session to buy an Exceed And Excel – Diamond Masque colt for $430,000 and the Equiano – Check in Time colt for $150,000.

“We put in plenty of hours of study and narrowed our short-list down to those three colts,” Koolman said. “I really liked the Equiano colt. And for that sort of money, he was definitely worth a punt.”

Lyndhurst Farm offered the Equiano colt after pin-hooking him for $80,000 at the Adelaide Magic Millions earlier this year. He was bred by Bryan and June Terry who raced his dam to win a Murray Bridge maiden in just a handful of starts as a summer three year-old.

The South Australian couple also have a yearling colt and a filly foal by Equiano out of Check in Time.

Koolman will send his colt to Sydney this week before choosing a trainer. “I bought him for some friends and clients in Hong Kong. He’s a big type so we won’t be pushing him too early.”

Equiano (Fr) has a draft of 20 foals catalogued for the Tattersalls December Sale commencing next Wednesday, November 26. Among them is the full-sister to Equiano filly Ventura Shadow (Lot 1323) who won by three lengths last time out at Redcar.