Prowess Auctions Sells for NZ$1.452 Million – Gavelhouse Plus Success
On Thursday, August 8, 2024, the star mare Prowess (NZ) was sold for NZ$1,452,500 to Downtown in a bidding war at the Gavelhouse Plus auction. Downtown outbid other interested parties, including Cambridge Stud, to add the dual Group 1 winner to their broodmare group.
Prowess had an impressive racing career, winning eight out of 12 starts in distances ranging from 1200 to 2050 meters. She was recognized as the Champion Middle Distance Horse in New Zealand and secured two Group 1 victories, along with a notable placement in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
Her dam, Donna Marie (NZ), was bred to Proisir last season and is expected to be bred again this spring. Prowess’s full-sister, Seychelles (NZ), was sold for NZ$1.6 million at the recent New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale to trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
The successful sale of Prowess at the Gavelhouse Plus auction highlights the strong demand for quality broodmares in the industry. It also demonstrates the value of top-performing horses with winning pedigrees, like Prowess, in the breeding market.
Investing in promising bloodlines and proven racehorses can lead to lucrative returns for breeders and owners. The sale of Prowess for over NZ$1.4 million is a testament to the competitive nature of auctions and the willingness of buyers to pay top dollar for elite racing prospects.
As the breeding season approaches, breeders and buyers will be looking to acquire top-quality mares like Prowess to enhance their breeding programs and produce future champions on the racetrack. The success of the Gavelhouse Plus auction reaffirms the significance of thoroughbred sales in shaping the future of the racing industry.