KARAKA 2010: More Fireworks For Final Day of Karaka Premier Sale

2 February 2010

The staggering results of Day One at New Zealand Bloodstock's Premier Sale flowed into Day Two today at Karaka, with a $2 million colt by New Zealand's own champion sire Zabeel eclipsing yesterday's millionaire lot.

The third-equal highest price ever to go through the Karaka sale ring, Lot 373 from the Danehill mare Diamond Like was knocked down to the bid of Sydney-based bloodstock agent James Bester.

Cambridge-Stud-26-Premier-Yearlings-021

�2010 Karaka Premier $2 million�Sale-topper - Lot 373 by Zabeel from Diamond Like.

Bester was glowing in his praise for the colt from Cambridge Stud.

"What attracted me to this colt was his quality. Physically he's the best yearling I have ever seen in the southern hemisphere.

"Chiefly I buy on conformation and this colt was exceptional, but to also present with the best page in the sale is extraordinary. Zabeel on Danehill is outstanding, and a very fast mare more to the point to counter Zabeel's staying influence.

"It was easy to spend that sort of money when you know the background the horse has had, and being from Cambridge Stud, from that family, I had every confidence."

Bester purchased the colt for a small group of Australian owners who race horses with a number of trainers and are yet to decide the lucky stable that this colt will join.

One of Lot 373's underbidders, David Ellis, was more successful later on in the sale when he secured Lot 431 for the second highest price of the day at $1,300,000.

The Redoute's Choice three-quarter brother to Darci Brahma offered by Pencarrow Stud will form part of a syndicate of four colts purchased by Ellis over the past two days.

Ellis was equally enamoured with both of today's top colts.

"They were both outstanding colts prepared by the best studs in the southern hemisphere and it was impossible for me to split them. But I'm thrilled to have got this one. He has the same qualities as Darci Brahma and has been a beautiful individual since the day he was born.

"It has been extremely hard work competing with the Aussies over the last couple of days. The sale has been incredibly strong but we're delighted with our selection."

The strength of the Karaka sale was evidenced by another set of remarkable figures from today's trade, with the final average the second highest in history at $183,119, up 26% on last year's $145,710.�

Turnover was up a massive $10 million for fewer horses sold, representing a 22.5% increase from $53,330,000 to $63,373,500.

The sale median ended up at $135,000, up 35% on last year's $100,000, and the clearance rate climbed steadily to 79%, ahead of last year's 77%.

With a buying bench stacked full of international buyers, it was kiwis Graeme Rogerson and David Ellis who took top honours.

Rogerson Bloodstock was back to the prominence seen in years past, ending the day as the leading Premier Sale�buyer by almost $1 million with 19 yearlings bought for $4,350,000. Rogerson's top price was $500,000, paid for the Encosta de Lago colt from Liberty Walk bought early in the sale at Lot 15.

The second top buyer was New Zealand's David Ellis of Te Akau Racing, who purchased 14 yearlings for $3,375,000 at an average of $241,071.

Bolting up the buyers list today was Melbourne trainer Danny O'Brien who bought 12 yearlings for $2,265,000 for an average of $188,750. His top price came at Lot 288, a Pins colt from Group 1 winning Zabeel mare, Bazelle, for $380,000.

Peter Moody bought another three today to bring his tally to 15 for $2,250,000 for 15 horses.

Accompanying them on the list of buyers who spent in excess of $1 million on their Karaka buys were Australian buyers Patinack Farm, Gai Waterhouse, James Bester, DGR Thoroughbreds, Hawkes Racing, Mark Kavanagh, Bart Cummings, plus the Hong Kong Jockey Club, International Bloodstock Consultants and Jayven See.

The leading vendor by aggregate for the 28th year in a row was Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud with 40 yearlings sold for just under $10 million at an average of $248,588.

Next was Gordon Cunningham's Curraghmore Stud, with 28 horses sold for $6,655,000.

The leading vendor by average was Tom & Shelley Murtagh's Esker Lodge, responsible for yesterday's million dollar Lot 102. The stud sold eight yearlings for $2.41m at an average of $301,250.

Brighthill Farm's Group 1 winning son of More Than Ready, Perfectly Ready edged in to be the leading first season sire with four sold for an average of $150,000. Topping his offering was Lot 160, a colt from Rich Hill Stud who sold for $290,000 to NZB as agent.

New Zealand Bloodstock Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela says the Premier session has been a huge success.

"We couldn't be happier with the results of the past two days. There are a lot of delighted vendors at Karaka tonight who have had their expectations completely surpassed. The strength of the buying bench has been thoroughly overwhelming and has demonstrated to us the hot demand there is for the product we offer here.

"There's still five days to go but we are thrilled with the outcome of the Premier Sale and are very grateful to both buyers and sellers for their support to post such successful results for the industry."

Selling continues at Karaka tomorrow with the first lot of the 2010 Select Sale at 11am. Selling can be viewed live online at www.nzb.co.nz.

2010 Premier Yearling Sale Statistics

2010 2009
Average $183,119 $145,710
Aggregate $65,373,500 $53,330,000
Median $135,000 $100,000
Lots Catalogued 483 503
Lots Sold 357 366
Clearance Rate 79% 77%
2010 Top Price - Zabeel x Diamond Like Colt (Lot 373) $2,000,000
2009 Top Price - Encosta de Lago x Giovana Colt (Lot 7) -$800,000
2008 Top Price - Redoute's Choice x Popsy Colt (Lot 299) $1,400,000
2007 Top Price - Zabeel x Sunline Colt (Lot 411) $2,000,000

Top Lots

Lot Type Breeding Vendor� Purchaser Price
373 B.C Zabeel / Diamond Like CAMBRIDGE STUD JAMES BESTER BLOODSTOCK (NSW) $2,000,000
431 B.C Redoute's Choice / Grand Echezeaux PENCARROW STUD MR DC ELLIS (TE AKAU) $1,300,000
102 B.C Fastnet Rock / Popsy ESKER LODGE� MR J SEE (SINGAPORE) $1,000,000
111 B.F Pins / Procure WHAKANUI STUD� MRS GM WATERHOUSE (NSW) $650,000
189 B.F O'Reilly / Star Affair PHOENIX PARK WAIKATO STUD (MATAMATA) $600,000
267 BR.C Pentire / Amritsar Jet RICH HILL THOROUGHBREDS� MR H KANEKO (AUCKLAND) $600,000
40 B.C Zabeel / Markisa WENTWOOD GRANGE DGR THOROUGHBRED SERVICES (NSW) $575,000
15 B.C Encosta de Lago / Liberty Walk HAUNUI FARM� ROGERSON BLOODSTOCK (HAMILTON) $500,000
113 B.C Encosta de Lago / Push a Venture CURRAGHMORE STUD� MAGUS EQUINE (HONG KONG) $500,000
264 C.F Encosta de Lago / Allez France CURRAGHMORE STUD� HAWKES RACING (NSW) $500,000
266 B.C Encosta de Lago / Amanusa CURRAGHMORE STUD� MR AS NG (HONG KONG) $500,000

Leading Purchasers by Aggregate

Purchaser Bought Aggregate Average Top Price
ROGERSON BLOODSTOCK 19 $4,350,000 $228,947 $500,000
MR DC ELLIS 14 $3,375,000 $241,071 $1,300,000
NZB as agent 16 $2,447,500 $152,969 $400,000
O'BRIEN THOROUGHBREDS 12 $2,265,000 $188,750 $380,000
MOODY RACING PTY LTD 15 $2,250,000 $150,000 $260,000
PATINACK FARM PTY LTD 9 $2,150,000 $238,889 $400,000
MRS GM WATERHOUSE 6 $2,080,000 $346,667 $650,000
JAMES BESTER BLOODSTOCK 1 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000
DGR THOROUGHBRED SERVICES 6 $1,945,000 $324,167 $575,000
HAWKES RACING 6 $1,830,000 $305,000 $500,000

Leading Vendors by Aggregate

Vendor Sold Aggregate Average Top Price
CAMBRIDGE STUD 40 $9,943,500 $248,588 $2,000,000
CURRAGHMORE STUD� 28 $6,655,000 $237,679 $500,000
WAIKATO STUD 33 $4,207,500 $127,500 $350,000
PENCARROW STUD 15 $4,145,000 $276,333 $1,300,000
TRELAWNEY STUD� 21 $3,717,500 $177,024 $350,000
WINDSOR PARK STUD LTD 26 $3,697,500 $142,212 $420,000
RICH HILL THOROUGHBREDS LTD 18 $3,315,000 $184,167 $600,000
HAUNUI FARM LTD 12 $2,485,000 $207,083 $500,000
ESKER LODGE LTD 8 $2,410,000 $301,250 $1,000,000
THE OAKS STUD 16 $2,205,000 $137,813 $480,000

Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)

Vendor Sold Average Aggregate Top Price
ESKER LODGE LTD 8 $301,250 $2,410,000 $1,000,000
PENCARROW STUD 15 $276,333 $4,145,000 $1,300,000
WENTWOOD GRANGE 8 $262,500 $2,100,000 $575,000
CAMBRIDGE STUD 40 $248,588 $9,943,500 $2,000,000
LONGLANDS STUD LTD 3 $243,333 $730,000 $450,000
WELLFIELD LODGE 8 $240,625 $1,925,000 $420,000
CURRAGHMORE STUD LTD 28 $237,679 $6,655,000 $500,000
WHAKANUI STUD LTD 6 $235,000 $1,410,000 $650,000
HAUNUI FARM LTD 12 $207,083 $2,485,000 $500,000
PHOENIX PARK 5 $199,000 $995,000 $600,000

Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)

Sire Sold Average Aggregate Top Price
Redoute's Choice 7 $454,286 $3,180,000 $1,300,000
Zabeel 41 $315,732 $12,945,000 $2,000,000
Encosta de Lago 13 $306,923 $3,990,000 $500,000
Fastnet Rock 11 $294,545 $3,240,000 $1,000,000
Flying Spur 4 $270,000 $1,080,000 $325,000
Fusaichi Pegasus 4 $210,000 $840,000 $260,000
Elusive City 3 $203,333 $610,000 $260,000
Starcraft 7 $201,429 $1,410,000 $360,000
Pins 39 $182,628 $7,122,500 $650,000
Pentire 16 $180,000 $2,880,000 $600,000

Leading First Season Sires by Average�(three or more sold)

First Season Sire Sold Average Aggregate Top Price
Perfectly Ready 4 $150,000 $600,000 $290,000
Darci Brahma 36 $140,972 $5,075,000 $480,000
Holy Roman Emperor 5 $97,000 $485,000 $200,000
Nadeem 6 $92,500 $555,000 $160,000
Lucky Unicorn 6 $68,083 $408,500 $130,000
Fast 'n' Famous 6 $65,833 $395,000 $100,000