International Buyers Feature at NZB’s Winter Sale

31 July 2015

International purchasers signed for the top three priced horses at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale.

Lot 27 - 15WMB Amathea

Amathea tops NZB Winter Sale at $250,000
Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

Group 1 producing mare Amathea (O’Reilly), catalogued at Lot 27, provided the highlight of the Sale, fetching $250,000 when purchased by Cambridge bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne on behalf of a duo of Australian clients.

“I purchased her for a partnership between GSA Bloodstock in Melbourne and Arrowfield Stud,” commented Hawthorne.

“Based on the market, as the dam of a Group 1 winner, she’s good value. The second foal looks promising also so she’s a mare that can leave things with a bit of ability.

“She has been purchased to go to Scissor Kick in his first year at stud, so for him to get a dam of a Group 1 winner in his first crop is a good start for him.”

Offered by Bluegables Farm, O’Reilly mare Amathea is the dam of this year’s Group 1 New Zealand Oaks winner Savaria (Savabeel) and is currently in foal to Lime Country Thoroughbred's sire Niagara.

The second foal out of Amathea is named Interstellar (Shamoline Warrior) and was purchased by David Ellis of Te Akau Racing for $125,000 at last year’s NZB Ready to Run Sale.

Jonathan Munz of GSA Bloodstock has been a long-time client of Hawthorne and the pair have combined to buy top-class racehorses before, including Group 1 winner Ferlax (NZ) (Pentire), bought from NZB's National Yearling Sale Series. Purchasing the top Lot of the Sale placed Hawthorne as the day’s leading buyer.

Bluegables Farm finished the Sale as the leading vendor by aggregate, selling their one entry for $250,000. The leading vendor by average (two or more sold) was JK Farm with two horses sold for an average of $92,250 and an aggregate of $184,500.

JK Farm offered the second top Lot of the Sale, Lot 17, purchased by Michael Wallace on behalf of the China Horse Club for $180,000. Catalogued in the broodmare section, Purcentage (Onemorenomore) is a winning 3YO filly who was stakes placed as a 2Y0 and is out of the stakes-winning mare Spurcent (Flying Spur).

The third top Lot of the Sale was Stunner (Lot 68), a filly catalogued in the racehorse section, selling for $50,000 to Michael Stedman Bloodstock of New South Wales. Offered by Haunui Farm, the Pentire filly is out of stakes-winning Danehill mare Danasia.

With a catalogue of 82 horses, 56 less than the 2014 Sale, the Sale finished with an aggregate of $728,050, a significant increase of 39% from last year’s $522,650. The clearance rate was recorded at 79% increasing from 72% last year, the average more than doubled from last year’s $6,374 to $12,776, and the median matched last years figure at $1,750.

A healthy crowd gathered earlier in the day to view the eight sires that attended the annual Karaka Stallion Parade.  Atlante, Burgundy, El Roca, Ferlax, He’s Remarkable, Little Wonder, Niagara and Proisir were presented, all stallions standing in the 2015 breeding season.

The next sale on New Zealand Bloodstock’s calendar is the Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds with entries closing on Friday 14 August 2015.

2015 Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale Results
  2015 2014
CATALOGUED 82 138
SOLD 57 82
CLEARANCE 79% 72%
AVERAGE $12,776 $6,374
MEDIAN $1,750 $1,750
AGGREGATE $728,050 $522,650
TOP PRICE $250,000 (Lot 27) $90,000 (Lot 12)
Top Lots
Lot Type Breeding Vendor Purchaser Price
27 B.M O'Reilly / Solano Bluegables Farm Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (Cambridge) $250,000
17 BB.F Onemorenomore / Spurcent JK Farm China Horse Club (China) $180,000
68 Ch.M Pentire / Danasia Haunui Farm Michael Stedman Bloodstock (NSW) $50,000
19 Ch.M Flying Spur / Sydney's Quest Rich Hill Stud Weowna Park (Matamata) $45,000
29 B.M High Chaparral / Peak Time Salisbury Park Ltd Bruce Perry Bloodstock (Masterton) $38,000
73 B.H Oasis Dream / Arabesque Glen Hall Farms Jamieson Park Ltd (Mangatawhiri) $25,000
33 B.M High Chaparral / Devil's Song Pencarrow Stud Okaharau Station Ltd (Otane) $16,000
5 BR.M Lonhro / Fuji Belle Rich Hill Stud NZB as agent (Taranaki) $11,000
53 B.F More Than Ready / Rhone Ranger Glen Hall Farms Mr MK Mullane (Auckland) $6,500
82 BR.H O'Reilly / Lodore Mystic Curraghmore Mr CB & Mrs HM Turner (Whanganui) $6,500
Leading Purchasers by Aggregate
Purchaser Bought  Aggregate   Average  Top Price
Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (Cambridge) 2  $250,600  $125,300 $250,000 (Lot 27)
China Horse Club (China) 1  $180,000  $180,000 $180,000 (Lot 17)
Michael Stedman Bloodstock (NSW) 1  $50,000  $50,000 $50,000 (Lot 68)
Weowna Park (Matamata) 1  $45,000  $45,000 $45,000 (Lot 19)
Bruce Perry Bloodstock (Masterton) 1  $38,000  $38,000 $38,000 (Lot 29)
Leading Vendors by Aggregate
Vendor Sold  Aggregate   Average  Top Price
Bluegables Farm 1  $250,000  $250,000 $250,000 (Lot 27)
JK Farm 2  $184,500  $92,250 $180,000 (Lot 17)
Haunui Farm 7  $60,900  $8,700 $50,000 (Lot 68)
Rich Hill Stud 3  $60,500  $20,167 $45,000 (Lot 19)
Glen Hall Farms 5  $47,500  $9,500 $25,000 (Lot 73)
Leading Vendors by Average (two or more sold)
Vendor  Sold Average Aggregate Top Price
JK Farm 2 $92,250 $184,500 $180,000 (Lot 17)
Rich Hill Stud 3 $20,167 $60,500 $45,000 (Lot 19)
Salisbury Park Ltd 2 $19,100 $38,200 $38,000 (Lot 29)
Glen Hall Farms 5 $9,500 $47,500 $25,000 (Lot 73)
Haunui Farm 7 $8,700 $60,900 $50,000 (Lot 68)