The South Island Sale has forged a reputation over many years for offering good types of 2YOs with plenty of untapped potential. The sale attracts buyers from all over Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and New Zealand alike. One of its best products has been the Wellington Cup winner and Melbourne Cup placegetter Second Coming.

The line-up for Friday's sale includes the South Island-based very exciting son of Storm Cat, Felix the Cat, who stands at Glyn and Edwina Morris’ Wynyard Lodge. A total of 17 of his progeny will be offered, the fact that 14 of these are colts or gellings will add extra appeal, particularly for Asian buyers.

White Robe Lodge’s resident Personal Escort is another southern sire with a good representation of 7 colts and 2 fillies.

The solid representation of Southern horses is well complemented by the strong contingent from the North.

Top preparers such as Anzac Lodge, Curraghmore Stud, Esker Lodge, Fairdale Stud, Glenmorgan, Little Avondale and Lyndhurst Farm have all got some cracking types making the trip down to Christchurch.

Highly regarded and exciting young sires such as Al Akbar, Anziyan, Bahhare, Bijou d’Inde, Daggers Drawn, Danasinga, Danske, Danzero, Gold Brose, Grosvenor, Kingfisher Mill, Pentire, Sandtrap, Stark South, Towkay, Volksraad and Woodborough will be represented at the sale.

The weekend wins by Hustler and Silver Archer at Riccarton may have come at opposite ends of the scale, but they were still timely reminders of the annual South Island Sale’s worth as a source of quality racehorses.

Silver Archer, who claimed favouritism for next Saturday’s Grand National Steeplechase with his Koral Steeplechase win, is the veteran of the 1993 South Island Sale when he was sold by White Robe Lodge for $8000.

That was to the bid of Matamata bloodstock consultant Paul Moroney and the Random Chance 11-year-old has since done wonderful service for his Tauranga trainer and part-owner Craig Amrein.

Hustler, who took his record to two wins from two starts in Saturday’s Magic Ring-Haunui Farm 1200, went through last year’s sale in the Grangewilliam Stud draft. He sold for $12,000 to Paul Harris, but again Moroney played his part as adviser to the Rangiora trainer.

The Harris team was in great form at Riccarton on Saturday, winning three races and including a quinella for good measure. Hustler fronted a notable trifecta result Akbar in the quality three0year old sprint, beating home fellow Canterbury gelding Liston and nothern Filly Glazin.

Al Akbar will again be represented at this Friday’s South Island Sale with three two-year-old colts in the offering. Harris, not surprisingly, will also be there backed by Moroney and veterinarian Jim Marks.

"I bought five there last year," he commented after Saturday’s big result, "and I’m looking forward to checking out the individuals this week."