Esteemed New Zealand bloodstock expert Ric Wylie (left) of Ric Wylie Bloodstock in Manamata, New Zealand, will be inspecting yearlings on stud farms for the 2025 Cape Premier Sale.
Mike de Kock said on Sunday: “Ric is a very knowledgeable horseman I met during my travels. We became good friends. He came racing with me at Turffontein yesterday and will be spending some time with me in KZN next Saturday.”
Ric runs his own business, consulting to a varied group of owners and breeders around the world. These include the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Kevin Hickman of Valachi Downs Stud and Racing Stables, Alan Osburg, original owner of Exceed & Excel. He also manages several portfolios of horses in New Zealand that are nurtured through to racing careers in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong as well as in New Zealand.
Ric said about yearlings: “Yearling selection can be a varied science as the different training regimes and facilities influence one’s final decisions. Types and pedigrees differ around the world, e.g. what suits Newmarket or Chantilly may not be suitable on Singapore or Hong Kong training tracks, so understanding the requirements of the future experiences that the horse will encounter are paramount to my choices. My specialty is confirmation and assessing what a horse may develop into. I am always excited by a unopened catalogue on my desk!”
