Local Commitment Buoys Karaka 2019

30 January 2019

Karaka 2019 Sale-topper from the draft of Waikato Stud (Lot 192).
Karaka 2019 Sale-topper from the draft of Waikato Stud (Lot 192).

With 698 horses now under the hammer at the National Yearling Sales Series, the turnover has reached $67,206,500, representing an average of $137,437 for 489 horses sold. The median closed at $100,000 and the clearance rate 77%.

“I believe the market has held up well considering the lack of pin hooking activity – which traditionally underpins the middle market, the drop off from Singapore buyers due to falling prizemoney, and the continued lack of confidence in the local market,” commented New Zealand Bloodstock’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.

“There were 49 Australian trainers here with more arriving today, so again they’ve proven that they are our most important market. It’s also been great to see massive international names like Alastair Donald, Shadwell and Godolphin on the buying sheets.

“I’d also like to congratulate Waikato Stud and Cambridge Stud who supported NZB with 100% of their yearlings this year and were handsomely rewarded as a result.”

One of those handsome results being Waikato Stud’s seven-figure Savabeel yearling at Lot 192 who David Ellis of Te Akau Racing secured as a foundation member of his 2019 Colts Breeding syndicate.

Ellis has outlaid $7,825,000 to secure a total of 41 lots, including yearlings not only by proven sires but first season sires in Mongolian Khan (18 lots sold at an average of $107,778) and Contributer (11 lots at an average of $86,591). An ecstatic Ellis landed the leading buyer title for the 14th year in a row.

“We visited every farm in New Zealand and my wife Karyn and I came to the Sale really charged because they were the most athletic bunch of yearlings we have seen for a long time,’ he said.

“We put in a lot of research, did a lot of homework and in the end bought off I think 15 different drafts – now we’re looking forward to selling shares in them.

“I take my hat off to NZB, it is incredible the job they do year in and year out.”

Waikato Stud have topped the leading vendor table by both aggregate (for the sixth straight year) and average (three or more sold) with 71 yearlings from their draft selling for $16,115,000 in receipts and an average price of $226,972, while their resident sire Savabeel provided six of the top 10-priced lots at Book 1 of Karaka 2019, bolstering his figures with a total of 47 lots sold at an average of $297,021 and aggregate of $13,960,000.

“Savabeel was a very important facet to our Sale,” commented Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick.

“Our decision to sell 100% here has kept the reputation of our National Sale up, and that is very, very important to me, and to our operation.

“I’m really proud of breaking that million dollar barrier, selling the number one horse – he’s the highest priced horse to be sold here since 2013.

“It’s the effort, family and community we have created is what helps us to do this. You can’t be the best without the best.”

The high achievers on Day 4 of Book 1 came from two prominent vendors with both Pencarrow Stud and Waikato Stud selling equal top-priced yearlings for $500,000.

Pencarrow Stud’s Frankel filly (Lot 577) featured numerous European stakes winners throughout her extended pedigree, a feature that purchasers Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud valued, while European Bloodstock Agent Hubie de Burgh teamed up with Shadwell for the fourth time this week, sighting talent in Waikato Stud’s Savabeel colt (Lot 657).

The second leading vendor by average, Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Stud have traded 14 lots at an average of $200,000, while Cambridge Stud are the second leading vendor by aggregate with 100% of their draft (53 lots) sold for $7,505,000 in receipts.

Bruce Perry has been an active buyer across all four days of trading, purchasing 15 lots for $2,565,000 in receipts, closely followed by Graeme Rogerson who has nearly doubled his spend at this time in 2018 securing 13 lots for $2,510,000 under Rogerson Bloodstock.

The first day of Book 2 commences tomorrow with Lot 699 to Lot 900 going under the hammer from 11am.

All horses purchased at Karaka this week are eligible for the lucrative Karaka Million Series with two $1 million races available for graduates as two and three-year-olds. Nominations must be received by 5pm Tuesday 5 March 2019.

To make enquiries about any Passed Lots contact Regan Donnison on +64 21 512 466.

Catch the highlights from Day 4 and relive all the action online here.

2019 Book 1 Yearling Sale Statistics

  2019 BOOK 1 TOTAL 2018 BOOK 1 TOTAL
AGGREGATE $67,206,500 $83,549,000
AVERAGE $137,437 $155,007
MEDIAN $100,000 $110,000
CLEARANCE 77% 83%
CATALOGUED 698 700
SOLD 489 539
TOP LOT Lot 192 Savabeel - Make a Wish (B.C) $1,400,000 Lot 301 Savabeel - Katie Lee (B.C) $1,025,000

Top Lots

Lot Type Breeding Vendor Purchaser Location Price
192 BR.C Savabeel / Make a Wish Waikato Stud Mr DC Ellis Te Akau $1,400,000
67 B.C Redoute's Choice / Griante Cambridge Stud Aquis Farm / Bester Bloodstock Queensland $800,000
388 BR.F Savabeel / Scintillula Pencarrow Stud Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock Waikato $800,000
445 BB.C Savabeel / Suavito Waikato Stud Mr DC Ellis Te Akau $775,000
90 Ch.F Zoustar / Imanana Cambridge Stud Godolphin New South Wales $600,000
362 BR.F Savabeel / Rush Waikato Stud Mr GC Beemsterboer Netherlands $525,000
19 BR.F I Am Invincible / Exposed Little Avondale Stud de Burgh Equine / Shadwell Stud Ireland $500,000
147 B.F Snitzel / Lady Krovanh Cambridge Stud Rogerson Bloodstock Waikato $500,000
423 B.C Savabeel / Sparkling Waikato Stud Stuart Hale & Co (BAFNZ) Hong Kong $500,000
577 B.F Frankel / Assume Pencarrow Stud Cambridge Stud Waikato $500,000
657 B.C Savabeel / Cupid Waikato Stud de Burgh Equine / Shadwell Stud UK $500,000

Leading Purchaser by Aggregate

Purchaser Bought Aggregate Average Top Price Top Lot
Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) 41 $7,825,000 $190,854 $1,400,000 192
Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Wellington) 15 $2,565,000 $171,000 $360,000 14
Rogerson Bloodstock (Waikato) 13 $2,510,000 $193,077 $500,000 147
Go Racing (Auckland) 15 $1,885,000 $125,667 $260,000 316
de Burgh Equine / Shadwell Stud (Ireland) 4 $1,560,000 $390,000 $500,000 19
Pike Racing (Waikato) 7 $1,445,000 $206,429 $275,000 539
Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock (New South Wales) 9 $1,255,000 $139,444 $260,000 203
Cambridge Stud (Waikato) 7 $1,220,000 $174,286 $500,000 577
Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (Waikato) 2 $1,200,000 $600,000 $800,000 388
Ciaron Maher Racing (Victoria) 9 $1,180,000 $131,111 $250,000 280

Leading Vendor by Aggregate

Vendor Sold Aggregate Average Top Price Top Lot
Waikato Stud 71 $16,115,000 $226,972 $1,400,000 192
Cambridge Stud 53 $7,505,000 $141,604 $800,000 67
Windsor Park Stud 31 $3,005,000 $96,935 $230,000 146
Haunui Farm 23 $2,892,500 $125,761 $360,000 275
Pencarrow Stud 14 $2,800,000 $200,000 $800,000 388
Westbury Stud 27 $2,797,500 $103,611 $350,000 495
Curraghmore 16 $2,785,000 $174,063 $370,000 345
Little Avondale Stud 15 $2,630,000 $175,333 $500,000 19
Hallmark Stud 13 $1,842,000 $141,692 $475,000 100
Trelawney Stud 12 $1,835,000 $152,917 $375,000 573

Leading Vendor by Average (three or more sold)

Vendor Sold Aggregate Average Top Price Top Lot
Waikato Stud 71 $16,115,000 $226,972 $1,400,000 192
Pencarrow Stud 14 $2,800,000 $200,000 $800,000 388
Goodwood Stud 3 $550,000 $183,333 $280,000 335
Henley Park 3 $550,000 $183,333 $250,000 230
Woburn Farm 10 $1,800,000 $180,000 $320,000 376
Little Avondale Stud 15 $2,630,000 $175,333 $500,000 19
Curraghmore 16 $2,785,000 $174,063 $370,000 345
Beltana 3 $510,000 $170,000 $300,000 271
Trelawney Stud 12 $1,835,000 $152,917 $375,000 573
Koru Thoroughbreds 9 $1,320,000 $146,667 $290,000 74

Leading Sire by Average (three or more sold)

Sire Sold Average Aggregate Top Price Top Lot
I Am Invincible 3 $353,333 $1,060,000 $500,000 19
Zoustar 4 $326,250 $1,305,000 $600,000 90
Savabeel 47 $297,021 $13,960,000 $1,400,000 192
Sebring 3 $241,667 $725,000 $375,000 573
Teofilo 3 $200,000 $600,000 $300,000 325
More Than Ready 4 $195,000 $780,000 $240,000 114
Pierro 4 $179,375 $717,500 $260,000 348
Pins 18 $163,056 $2,935,000 $340,000 82
Pride of Dubai* 4 $160,000 $640,000 $220,000 246
Vancouver* 9 $142,222 $1,280,000 $260,000 332

* First season sire