A service to champion stallion Microphone will be auctioned to charity at the 2020 NZ Bloodstock Weanling Sale
One lucky racehorse breeder may soon have a budding champion racehorse on their hands, and the added benefit of
supporting ground-breaking research into a cure for spinal cord injury-caused paralysis, with the internationally
renowned Darley thoroughbred stud to auction off an exclusive “service” to one of Australasia’s most sought after
stallions at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale.
Darley stud, based at Kelvinside in New South Wales, has announced that a service to 2019 Gr.1 Sires’ Produce Stakes
winner Microphone will be offered at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) Weanling Sale on June 21, with all proceeds
from the sale to be donated to The CatWalk Trust.
The annual auction, which must be held online via the Gavelhouse Plus platform this year due to restrictions of the
COVID-19 pandemic, includes a service to Microphone, whose debut season at stud is already fully booked – with the
exception of the service on offer through the weanling sale.
The auction presents the only remaining chance for breeders to secure a spot to the exciting young sire this breeding
season.
Microphone is a son of Exceed and Excel, one of Australia’s most successful stallions, and was champion two-year-old of
his year. In addition to his win at the Sires’ Produce stakes, he never failed to place any worse than second throughout
his racing career.
Darley’s head of sales, Alastair Pulford said that Darley, as well as its owner Sheikh Mohammed, the Vice President and
Prime Minister of the UAE, were delighted to offer the last nomination in Microphone on behalf of The CatWalk Trust.
Alastair said that studmasters and breeders from across Australia and New Zealand agreed that Microphone was hot
property, and this was reflected in the horse’s stallion fee of A$38,500.
“CatWalk raises funds that go directly to spinal research for a cure for spinal cord injury -paralysis, and given the
prevalence of such injuries in the equestrian industry, this has to be a cause close to the heart of anyone that works
with these magnificent animals.”
“We’re proud to be supporting the CatWalk Trust: they are big picture people who work for big picture results. It’s not
just about one person, it’s about thousands of people. People you and I know. They want to help get them out of their
wheelchairs and back on their feet,” he said.
Alastair’s advice to potential bidders?
“You’ll be bidding on something that’s really worthwhile, and you’ll be supporting so much more.”
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of spinal cord injury in the western world. The CatWalk Trust works tirelessly
to secure the significant funding required to support ground-breaking and innovative research in the area, as well as to
build greater public awareness of the issue, and the desperate need for a cure.
In 2020, The CatWalk Trust will commemorate 15 years fighting for a world free of paralysis caused by spinal cord
injury.
CatWalk Trust founder and former top equestrian competitor Catriona Williams, MNZM, said Darley’s recognition and
support of the importance of research into spinal cord injury was immensely generous given the value of a single service
could fetch.
“We are so close to finding a cure and whoever secures the service to Microphone is not just making a donation, they are
making a potentially huge difference to the lives of the many people affected by spinal cord injury-caused paralysis,”
she said.
Williams also gave her thanks to New Zealand Bloodstock and gavelhouse.com , who had given a great deal of support in making the auction happen.
To register as a bidder for the New Zealand Bloodstock auction, visit https://plus.gavelhouse.com/.
The catalogue will launch on New Zealand Bloodstock subsidiary Gavelhouse Plus on June 11 at 5pm and will run through
till the final countdown of bids begin on June 21 at 3pm.
Bidders are encouraged to create their accounts well in advance so the New Zealand Bloodstock finance team can grant
bidding approval.
To donate to the CatWalk Trust, please visit their website at www.catwalk.org.nz.