The two day Karaka Premier Yearling Sale kicked off Monday, with a strong international buying bench fueling sharp increases across the board. A total of 158 lots sold (76%) from 209 offered–two points above 2014's clearance rate–grossing NZ$28,097,500 (£12,722,944/€16,705,958), an increase of 26% on last year's Day 1 gross of NZ$22,317,500. Foreign buyers–from such far off locales as Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland, Japan, Macau, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, South Africa, Malaysia and, of course, Australia–accounted for 67% of the gross. Twenty-seven horses were hammered down for NZ$300,000 or above, compared to 14 in 2015. The average rose 22% to NZ$177,832 from NZ$145,866, while the median of NZ$150,000 was 36% above last year's figure of NZ$110,000 from the same number of lots catalogued, at 230.
“There was a great atmosphere around the sale grounds today with plenty of interest from buyers, the general public and a hive of media,” commented Andrew Seabrook, Managing Director of NZB. “To achieve the results we have see today is very encouraging. All of our key figures have increased with strong competition across the board. To have a median price higher than the average price of last year at the same point of the sale is a great feat, it shows the depth of the catalogue is strong and there is confidence in New Zealand Thoroughbreds.”
Continued Seabrook, “The international buying bench has been very strong as shown by the number of our top lots heading to buyers from different parts of the globe. However, the leading buyer was New Zealand's David Ellis who has been the biggest buyer at Karaka for the past 10 years.”
Topping the first day was lot 200, a strapping dark bay son of Waikato Stud stalwart Savabeel (Aus) (Zabeel {NZ}), who was secured for NZ$775,000 (£350,930/€460,792) on the bid of New Zealander David Ellis of Te Akau Racing. Consigned by Waikato and out of Bling (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), he is a full-brother to G1SW Diademe (NZ) and established a new record as the highest priced horse ever sold by Waikato, the leading consignor at the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for the past two years.
“This Savabeel colt is quite outstanding, he is one that Te Akau had on the must-have list and to get what you want sometimes you have to exceed your budget,” commented Ellis, who celebrated Te Akau Racing's first winner in Ireland in 2015 through the Tommy Stack-trained 101-rated Torcedor (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).
Ellis had a busy first day Monday, signing for 12 yearlings for NZ$3,207,500, as he bids to become the sale's leading buyer for the 11th consecutive year.
“It has been a very successful sale so far with very strong prices. There have been a number of bidding duels on the good horses and I've found it difficult to buy this year as the international buying bench has been so strong.”
Monday's early session leader was lot 29, a brown son of Savabeel (Aus) out of the placed Queen of Avalon (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}), a half-sister to MG1SW Monaco Consul (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}). He sold for NZ$550,000 to Irish bloodstock agent Hubie De Burgh from the consignment of Windsor Park Stud. Lot 29 helped Savabeel top all sires by yearling average on Day 1, with his 22 yearlings sold coming in at an impressive NZ$252,045.
De Burgh explained, “My instructions were to buy a Derby winner and, for me, he was the best looking colt in the sale. He's by a sire that can get you a Classic horse, out of a Montjeu (Ire) mare and is a really good, athletic looking horse. He was just a standout horse and his temperament is amazing. The nearer he got to the ring he never flinched or sweated up and he walked around like a champion.”
Another Windsor Park offering that attracted a lot of attention was lot 113, a white filly by High Chaparral (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) out of The Opera House (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who shared top-priced filly honors with lot 85 and lot 169. A large crowd assembled to see the filly, from the same family as dual Australian Horse of the Year Might and Power (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), go through the ring and it was Hideo Takadaru of Japan's Dearest Club who signed the docket for NZ$450,000. It was Takadaru's first visit to Karaka.
Australian Anthony Mithen of Rosemont Stud purchased Cambridge Stud consignee lot 85, a filly by Exceed And Excel (Aus) (Danehill) out of a full-sister to G1 Australian Derby hero Don Eduardo (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and a half to MG1SW Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {NZ}) for NZ$450,000. The final filly to equal that price was lot 169, a daughter of Fastnet Rock (Aus) (Danehill) out of Amazing Beauty (Ire), who was knocked down to Rider Horse NZ from the Curraghmore consignment. McEvoy Mitchell Racing paid the same amount for another member of that draft, lot 169, a colt by High Chaparral (Ire). The bay's second dam is a full to Australian champion and successful sire Fastnet Rock (Aus).
Waikato Stud led all vendors by aggregate at NZ$4,325,000, while Curraghmore's nine offerings topped all consignors by average at $242,778. Sire Reliable Man (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) topped all other first season sires with an average of NZ$252,045 (three or more sold).
The second day of the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale begins at 11 a.m. local time Tuesday. For full results go to www.nzb.co.nz/.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
