Berkley Stud's O'Reilly colt provided the highlight of today's South Island Sale of Two-Year-Olds & Mixed Bloodstock, fetching the top price of $145,000.

At Lot 68, the colt is a brother to the triple stakes winning filly and 2006 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Ombre Rose (O'Reilly) and half-brother to 10-time Australian winner Crabs (Danasinga).

The hammer came down to the bid of Mr NC Chan of Hong Kong and the strength of the dam side was one of the features that drew him to the two-year-old.

"I liked this colt because the dam line is very strong and his sire O'Reilly is a very successful stallion in Hong Kong.

"He will be pre-trained in New Zealand for a year but I haven't decided where yet and, depending on how he develops, I intend to send him to Hong Kong.

"I will be my first season with a permit in Hong Kong so I have come here to buy a few horses and I will take the best up to Hong Kong next year."

The leading purchaser of the Sale, Mr Chan also secured the second-top lot of the day, a Falkirk gelding at Lot 44 for $85,000.

After 167 lots 107 horses have sold for $1,171,050 at an average of $11,108 and a clearance rate of 72%.

The leading vendor by aggregate for the eighth year was Edwina Morris and Alan Jones' Berkley Stud selling 15 horses for total takings of $338,500. They were also leading vendor by average with $22,567, ahead of North Island based Phoenix Park with an average of $20,850.