Waterhouse bid wins Pins filly at Karaka

Gai Waterhouse got validation for her judgment of the highest order soon after making the successful $650,000 bid on a Pins filly out of Procure at Karaka yesterday.

The Sydney trainer bought the filly out of the Whakanui Stud draft on behalf of Hong Kong owner Leung Kai-Fai, who raced Hong Kong Mile winner Lucky Owners.

''We'd identified her as the loveliest filly in today,'' Waterhouse said.

''I told Mr Lucky Owner there was one filly you must purchase but it wouldn't be cheap. Sir Patrick Hogan and James Bester, on behalf of Coolmore, were the underbidders so that's a great compliment to his judgment.

''Two of the southern hemisphere's finest breeders were fighting it out with us.''

Sir Patrick was the underbidder on the colt, shaking his head after his $625,000 was surpassed.

Waterhouse, who came to New Zealand straight from the Perth sale where she was a buyer for the first time, has been a regular visitor to Karaka sales in search of her next staying star.

She said the strength of New Zealand breeding was in producing stayers and she was only interested in looking at yearlings by sires that fitted that criterion.

''Studs want to show us their yearlings by Encosta De Lago and Redoute's Choice and they ask why when we say we don't want to see them,'' Waterhouse said.

''But I told them I've come here to buy horses for Derbies, Oaks and Cups. We come to New Zealand to buy staying horses and for any staying race, you look for the New Zealand suffix.''

Whakanui studmaster Tim Bodle was thrilled.

''It was a fantastic result. She was a beautiful filly and we expected a reasonable result but nowhere near that much,'' he said.

''It's great to see Gai coming back to New Zealand and buying here again.''

The Pins filly is a half-sister to Gr II winner Hips Don't Lie and Group performer Azevedo.

Waterhouse also bought a Zabeel-Power And Grace colt for $475,000 to ''win a Melbourne Cup''.

''We bought him for the owners of Sebring. They said we've already won a Golden Slipper now we want to win the Melbourne Cup.''

Waterhouse also bought a Zabeel-Sarajay colt for $270,000 and an O'Reilly-Sienna colt for $200,000.

- © Fairfax NZ News