Sensational Start to Karaka 2010
1 February 2010
Expectations were blown out of the water at Karaka today, with Australasia's first million dollar yearling of the year heading a string of highlights for the first day of New Zealand Bloodstock's 2010 Premier Sale.
The top price of the day came at Lot 102, with the colt by Fastnet Rock from Popsy (Sir Tristram) knocked down to the bid of Singapore buyer, Jayven See, for $1,000,000.
Offered by Tom & Shelley Murtagh's Esker Lodge, the half-brother to the 2008 Karaka sale-topper ($1.45m, by Redoute's Choice) is the highest priced yearling ever sold to Singapore from the New Zealand sale ring.
Tom Murtagh says while a trainer hasn't been finalised for the colt the plan is to keep him in New Zealand.
"He has been bought to race here in New Zealand and possibly Australia into the future, but will definitely be entered for the Karaka Million as a two-year-old next year.
"Jayven had his first major success with a horse he bought from Esker Lodge (Revolte) so he was happy to go on my recommendation and try again. He likes Fastnet Rock and loved this colt as a type and we're thrilled that he's had the confidence in Esker to step out in such a big way."
After 242 lots, last year's figures were left in the dust as the turnover increased by almost $7 million compared with the same stage in the sale last year. The average and median followed suit with the current average price $184,181, 24% up on last year, and a very strong median of $140,000 up a whopping 40% from $100,000. The clearance rate is a shade under this stage last year at 76%.
A strong and diverse buying bench competed for the yearlings on offer, with the Australian buyers a dominant force.� Leading the list by the end of day one was Rogerson Bloodstock, with Graeme Rogerson accompanied ringside by prominent Melbourne owner, Nick Williams.
With 10 yearlings bought for $2.18m, the group's top price of the day was $500,000 paid for the Encosta de Lago colt from Liberty Walk (Zabeel) at Lot 15, from Haunui Farm.
The only other buyer in double figures so far is leading Caulfield trainer, Peter Moody, with 12 yearlings purchased for $1.77m. Moody's top price of the day was also by top Australian sire Encosta de Lago, with the colt at Lot 36 from the family of Alinghi secured for $260,000 from Curraghmore Stud.
Also amongst the leading buyers of the day are fellow Australian buyers Gai Waterhouse, Duncan Ramage, Patinack Farm, John Hawkes and Mark Kavanagh.
New Zealand Bloodstock Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela says the day's trade has surpassed all pre-sale expectations.
"The strength of the sale today has been overwhelming. For the median to be just over $5,000 shy of last year's final Premier Sale average is one of the clearest indicators of just how strong it was today.
"We were confident from the enquiries we'd had from around the world before the sale that our catalogue had been received well and that the buyers were very positive about the line up of horses on offer. But we hadn't expected to see such a dramatic increase on last year's results. To see the likes of Gai Waterhouse, Peter Moody, Bart Cummings, Graeme Rogerson and so on being so active is a great fillip for the sales and a huge confidence boost for the industry."
With a million dollar horse to his credit it was no surprise that Coolmore Stud's Fastnet Rock headed the sires table for the day, with three others sold for an average of $432,500.
As many anticipated, first season sire Darci Brahma has got off to a flying start with 19 yearlings sold for an average of $153,684 to make him the leading freshman sire of the day.
Cambridge Stud is on track to keep its 27 year reign intact, finishing the day the leading vendor by aggregate with 19 sold for an average of $207,632.
Des and Dean Hawkins' Wentwood Grange is having a fantastic Sale, currently the leading vendor by average with five of six yearlings sold for $1,745,000 at an average of $349,000.
Day Two of the Karaka Premier Sale will continue tomorrow from 11am (NZ time), starting at Lot 243.� The live lot-by-lot broadcast on Sky Sports 3 (NZ) and TVN (Australia) will commence half an hour before selling starts, with a round-up of Day One's events. The sale will also be streamed live on the New Zealand bloodstock website.
2010 Premier Sale Day 1 Statistics
| � | 2010 | 2009 Day 1 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $184,181 | $148,813 | $145,710 |
| Aggregate | $32,600,000 | $25,893,500 | $53,330,000 |
| Median | $140,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Lots Catalogued | 242 | 243 | 503 |
| Lots Sold | 177 | 174 | 366 |
| Clearance Rate | 76% | 77% | 77% |
| 2010 Top Price - Fastnet Rock x Popsy Colt (Lot 102) - $1,000,000 | |||
| 2009 Top Price - Encosta de Lago x Giovana Colt (Lot 7) - $800,000 | |||
2010 Premier Sale Day 1 Top Lots
| Lot | Type | Breeding | Vendor� | Purchaser | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 103 | B.C | Zabeel / Power and Grace | CAMBRIDGE STUD | MRS GM WATERHOUSE (NSW) | $475,000 |
| 202 | B.C | Redoute's Choice / Surprize Surprize | LYNDHURST FARM | DGR THOROUGHBRED SERVICES (NSW) | $460,000 |
| 229 | B.C | Pins / Velvet and Satin | PENCARROW STUD | MR DC ELLIS (Te Akau) | $460,000 |
| 101 | C.C | Encosta de Lago / Polish Princess | WINDSOR PARK STUD� | HAWKES RACING (NSW) | $420,000 |
| 161 | BR.C | O'Reilly / Shemiyra | BELTANA STUD | STEPHEN GRAY (Singapore) | $420,000 |
Leading Purchasers by Aggregate
| Purchaser� | Bought | Aggregate | Average | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROGERSON BLOODSTOCK | 10 | $2,180,000 | $218,000 | $500,000 |
| MOODY RACING PTY LTD | 12 | $1,770,000 | $147,500 | $260,000 |
| PATINACK FARM PTY LTD | 6 | $1,660,000 | $276,667 | $400,000 |
| MRS GM WATERHOUSE | 4 | $1,595,000 | $398,750 | $650,000 |
| DGR THOROUGHBRED SERVICES | 4 | $1,505,000 | $376,250 | $575,000 |
| NZB as agent | 9 | $1,185,000 | $131,667 | $290,000 |
| HAWKES RACING | 4 | $1,080,000 | $270,000 | $420,000 |
| HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB | 4 | $1,050,000 | $262,500 | $350,000 |
| MR J SEE | 1 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| MR MA KAVANAGH | 6 | $960,000 | $160,000 | $240,000 |
Leading Vendors by Aggregate
| Vendor | Sold | Aggregate | Average | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAMBRIDGE STUD | 19 | $3,945,000 | $207,632 | $475,000 |
| CURRAGHMORE STUD | 12 | $2,815,000 | $234,583 | $500,000 |
| WINDSOR PARK STUD | 12 | $2,460,000 | $205,000 | $420,000 |
| PENCARROW STUD | 9 | $2,090,000 | $232,222 | $460,000 |
| WAIKATO STUD | 16 | $2,085,000 | $130,313 | $350,000 |
| TRELAWNEY STUD | 11 | $2,075,000 | $188,636 | $350,000 |
| WENTWOOD GRANGE | 5 | $1,745,000 | $349,000 | $575,000 |
| LITTLE AVONDALE STUD | 9 | $1,620,000 | $180,000 | $250,000 |
| ESKER LODGE | 5 | $1,610,000 | $322,000 | $1,000,000 |
| HAUNUI FARM | 8 | $1,485,000 | $185,625 | $500,000 |
Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)
| Vendor | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WENTWOOD GRANGE | 5 | $349,000 | $1,745,000 | $575,000 |
| ESKER LODGE LTD | 5 | $322,000 | $1,610,000 | $1,000,000 |
| WHAKANUI STUD LTD | 3 | $293,333 | $880,000 | $650,000 |
| PHOENIX PARK | 3 | $263,333 | $790,000 | $600,000 |
| LYNDHURST FARM | 4 | $238,750 | $955,000 | $460,000 |
| CURRAGHMORE STUD LTD | 12 | $234,583 | $2,815,000 | $500,000 |
| PENCARROW STUD | 9 | $232,222 | $2,090,000 | $460,000 |
| CAMBRIDGE STUD | 19 | $207,632 | $3,945,000 | $475,000 |
| WINDSOR PARK STUD LTD | 12 | $205,000 | $2,460,000 | $420,000 |
| TRELAWNEY STUD LTD | 11 | $188,636 | $2,075,000 | $350,000 |
Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)
| Sire | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fastnet Rock | 4 | $432,500 | $1,730,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Pins | 24 | $197,292 | $4,735,000 | $650,000 |
| O'Reilly | 25 | $174,600 | $4,365,000 | $600,000 |
| Zabeel | 22 | $272,955 | $6,005,000 | $575,000 |
| Encosta de Lago | 8 | $277,500 | $2,220,000 | $500,000 |
| Redoute's Choice | 4 | $305,000 | $1,220,000 | $460,000 |
| Darci Brahma * | 19 | $153,684 | $2,920,000 | $400,000 |
| Thorn Park | 2 | $205,000 | $410,000 | $360,000 |
| Starcraft | 4 | $142,500 | $570,000 | $320,000 |
| Dehere | 3 | $165,000 | $495,000 | $320,000 |
* first season sire