A decrease in domestic spend was blamed for the hit figures took at this week's New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale, which concluded its three-day run at Karaka on Friday. International buyers accounted for 42% of the horses bought, spending NZ$10.8 million (52% of the sale's aggregate), while domestic buyers secured 252 horses for NZ$9.86 million (48% of the sale's aggregate). Australian buyers accounted for a quarter of the overall spend with activity also from Hong Kong, Singapore and Great Britain.
A total of 437 yearlings were traded over the three days for NZ$20,679,500, which was down from NZ$26,326,700 last year when 19 more were sold. The clearance rate dropped three points to 76%, while the average was down 18% at NZ$47,363, and the median dipped 15.8% to NZ$40,000.
“Our flat domestic racing industry has had a disappointing effect on the Select Sale and the negative impact it is having is even more evident when looking at the Premier and Select sessions from this week combined,” said New Zealand Bloodstock Managing Director Andrew Seabrook. “Over the past five days over NZ$6.5-million less has been spent by domestic buyers who have historically underpinned the middle market.”
The top-priced lot on the sale's final day was, fittingly, the final yearling to go through the Karaka ring by perennial leading sire O'Reilly (NZ), who died in January 2015 from a ruptured aorta. Lot 1097, a colt from Waikato Stud, which stood the sire, was knocked down to trainer Roger James for NZ$200,000. The colt is the second foal out of the winning miler Toss Up (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and is from the family of triple Group 1 and Classic winner Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {NZ}).
“There were only two colts I had earmarked as Derby types and he was at the top of that short list,” said James. Commenting on the market, he added, “Because of the current situation with our domestic racing it's been hard to attract owners and I've come with a significantly lower budget this year, which has made it tough going.”
Waikato Stud's Mark Chittick said, “O'Reilly is responsible for where Waikato Stud stands in the market now and it's a sad moment because he was part of the family. However, his legacy will continue on through his youngstock, broodmares and his sire-sons with the likes of Shamexpress being leading first- season sire at Premier this year, and our own Sacred Falls, whose first yearlings will be sold next year.”
Cambridge Stud sold the session's most expensive filly (lot 1065), a daughter of its young sire Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), who has his first 2-year-olds this year. She was hammered down to leading syndicator David Ellis of Te Akau Racing for NZ$145,000.
Westbury Stud, which was the Select Sale's leading vendor by aggregate with 40 sold for NZ$2,079,500, sold the day's third-highest priced lot: a Swiss Ace (Aus) colt picked up by Singapore trainer Stephen Gray for NZ$135,000 (lot 1024).
“We were quite concerned after day one but were able to sell plenty out of their boxes and then during the course of the sale it gained momentum and we got some healthy prices,” said Westbury Stud manager Russell Warwick. “The buyers will be there for nice horses and today we had some good types going through and their prices reflected that.”
Novara Park first-season sire Jakkalberry (Ire) (Storming Home {GB}) topped the sire standings by average, with three selling for an average of NZ$92,500. Jakkalberry, who stands for NZ$6,000, also enjoyed a top price of NZ$440,000 at the Premier sale for a half-brother to G1 Victoria Derby and G1 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient (NZ).
After a one-day break, the NZB yearling sale series will conclude on Sunday with the single-session Festival sale.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
