Western Australian trainer Ben Pearce has enjoyed his first visit to the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales at Karaka and on Wednesday went to $75,000 to secure a Reliable Man filly from the Book 2 draft of Westbury Stud.
“I’ve always wanted to come here. A couple of our owners in Perth have bought here previously and they’ve always spoken highly of the sale and horses bred over here, so that was the main idea of coming here and I am really happy with what I’ve seen and what I’ve purchased,” Pearce said.
“I thought she possibly could be a mile to 2000-metre Champion Fillies type of horse. She’s out of a Redoute’s Choice mare, so there’s good dam lines there.
“She’s a lovely filly, she’s a November foal, so she’s going to keep developing as time goes and I am really impressed with her.
“She’ll leave next week. She’ll go through Melbourne and from Melbourne she’ll come across to WA.”
Pearce, who trains in partnership with brother Daniel at Karnup, was also active during the Book 1 Sale, securing a Tivaci filly from Waikato Stud for $50,000.
“I bought a nice Tivaci filly. She’s well-balanced and a big strong girl. I’ve bought her for a client and he was really impressed with her.
Pearce also liaised with bloodstock agent and fellow Sandgroper John Chalmers, who is a regular visitor to New Zealand.
“I’ve been chatting to John a fair bit. I picked this filly out and I quite liked her, so I got John to have a look and he was really keen on her as well,” he said.
Pearce also revealed that breeder Gerry Harvey was keen to retain a share in the filly, who will be the first horse the powerhouse racehorse owner has had an interest in in Western Australia.
“We’re stoked to have Gerry Harvey staying in the horse. It’s great to have him involved and she’ll race in his colours in WA, so hopefully we can have a bit of success for him,” Pearce said.
The Pearce brothers are currently third on the trainers’ premiership behind Adam Durrant and Neville Parnham.
“We’ve had a really good season,” Pearce said.
“We’ve been in partnership for five years now and this is our best season so far. We’ve got some really nice, progressive horses coming through. Black Fantasy and Queen Alina are probably a couple of the main ones over the next 12 months. They’re going to be pretty exciting to see.”
