Lot 354's dam is a sister to Gr1-winning sire Foxwedge (pic: Steve Hart)

There's a reason why the 2017 Kia Ora Stud Inglis Easter Draft averaged $502,000 across 5 lots. This operation is the epitome of the boutique pointy end of the yearling market. Why? Serious distaff pedigrees. Highly commercial sires. Elite preparations on an elite property irrigated by the Page River. Winning racehorses like Magic Millions-placed 2YO Candika and stakes-winners like Ravi. 

The Kia Ora 2018 Draft continues the theme of excellence with 9 lots: 6 colts and 3 fillies all with impressive residual upside. 

The draft opens as expected with the first of the fillies (Lot 88), by reigning Australian Champion Sire Snitzel from Gr3-winning US bred and raced Dehere mare Decelerator. This is a nick that just works as corroborated by 16 runners for 13 winners, including Magic Millions 2YO runner-up Chauffeur. It's a deep family overall that traces to 3rd dam and Gr1 winner Fabulous Notion.

Just shy of 20 lots later (104) the first of the colts will be centre stage. By another Champion Australian Sire and 2YO production machine Exceed and Excel from another US bred stakeswinning mare in Dream Play, this is the half-brother to imposing Gr2 VRC Sires' Produce winning colt Zululand. Again, it's another US family dripping with black type all down the page. 

Next up is Lot 159, a colt by twice leading Australian 2YO sire More Than Ready from Galileo mare Gunawati. This cross has produced 4 winners from 5 runners and the dam is a half-sister to Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude-winning filly One Last Dance. Plus 2nd dam One World, winner of the Gr3 VRC Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes is a sister to Gr2 VRC Maribyrnong Stakes winning filly Langoustine.

The Kia Ora Stud draft boasts 2 lots by dual Champion Australian Sire Fastnet Rock. The first is Lot 175 from Hennessy mare Inglorious, Champion 3YO Filly in Canada in 2011. This is only her second foal and it's a family the astute buyer would latch onto in its infancy. The dam is a half-sister to US Gr3 winner Dixie Strike as well as stakes-placed gelding Sebastian's Song. The second Fastnet Rock is also a colt (Lot 268) from O'Reilly mare and Joint Top NZ 2YO Filly of 2013-14 O'Marilyn. This is an outstanding family with the dam being a half-sister to Champion 3YO and Gr1 Australian Derby winner Headturner, Gr1 Caulfield Guineas winner Anacheeva and Gr2 Premiere Stakes winner Kroner. The data further supports the mating with this nick having a 21% SW/R percentage including $1 million winner Fast 'n' Rocking.

Splitting the two Fastnets in the line-up is the second of the fillies (Lot 215) by the all powerful I Am Invincible from Gr2 Edward Manifold runner-up Maastricht, a half-sister to Gr1 Goodwood winner Velocitea. If this filly didn't have 2YO precocity you'd probably go looking for the warranty. 

The Kia Ora Stud draft also includes two yearlings by highly respected first season sires. The first (Lot 354) is by Gr1 Caulfield Guineas winner and son of the ill-fated Northern Meteor in Shooting To Win. He's from Fastnet Rock mare She's A Fox, a sister to Gr1 William Reid Stakes winner and successful sire Foxwedge. Enough said. The second offering by a first season yearling sire is Lot 410, the colt by another outstanding son of Northern Meteor in Shooting To Win's full-brother Deep Field from Lonhro mare Twirl. The page 3 news is that the dam is a half-sister to stakes-placed filly Emotional Circus. The Front Page news is that the 3rd dam is Piccadilly Circus, dam of Champion Sire Fastnet Rock. 

Lot 434 rounds out this outstanding Kia Ora draft. She's the final filly and she's by yet another Leading Australian Sire in Not A Single Doubt. The Zabeel line dam is Listed-winning Warpath, a half-sister to Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Limestone. This is another family blessed with natural speed but with the dam-line suggestion that a mile won't be a problem down the track.