Spring Sale Strong And Successful

Strong Sale with Average Price up 67%,
Turnover up 70%. Clearance up 8%.

There was a good crowd and more importantly plenty of buyers in attendance for what is generally regarded as one of the more low key sales on New Zealand Bloodstock's calendar. This year clearly buoyed by the inclusion of the Unreserved Dispersal of the Golden Horseshoe and Final Triumph group broodmares, plus some other prime lots, today's sale achieved results well in excess of last year and above pre-sale expectations.

UNRESERVED DISPERSAL OF THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE SYNDICATE

Although the sale got away to a reasonably slow start with the small offering of yearlings, 2yos, untried and racehorses, the tempo and quality picked up with the commencement of the Unreserved Dispersal of the Golden Horseshoe Syndicate through Westbury Stud as Agent.

The first of this 26 horse offering comprised 2 untried fillies by Gold Brose and O'Reilly which fetched $1,000 and $16,000 respectively. Then followed the offering which many had made the trip to Karaka for, the 24 broodmares, which prompted buyers from NZ, Australia and Asia to swing into action. Bidding was fast and keen on virtually all lots, resulting in an aggregate of $987,500 at an average price of $37,981.

Top price for the syndicate mares was $220,000, which was given for lot 52, River Flow (USA), a young mare with an international class pedigree, being by Affirmed out of the Riverman mare, Flood. River Flow was finally knocked down to the bid of New Zealand Bloodstock as Agent for an Australian client after spirited competition from several major players including Sir Patrick Hogan and a number of leading offshore buyers who joined in by telephone.

River Flow is a half sister to the dam of Landseer (by Danehill), winner of the Grp 1 French Two Thousand Guineas and of the Gr 1 Keeneland Turf Mile Stakes. This is also the family of top horses such as Triptych, Sabona and Generous.
River Flow was sold believed in foal to Generous, by whom she left her first foal last season.

The second top price of the dispersal mares was $130,000 which was given by John Foote Bloodstock, QLD, for Lot 62, Cryptavia. By Gold Brose x Nuravia by Nureyev, this young mare was a very capable galloper, counting the Grp 3 BTC Courier Mail Classic among her 3 wins. From the family of top French sire Bering, Cryptavia was sold believed in foal to champion sire Zabeel.

One of the two Nureyev mares secured the next highest price, at $120,000 for Lot 60, Athykaneyev (USA), by the legendary sire and from Athyka who is a daughter of the great Secretariat. This makes Athykaneyev a full sister to Gr 1 Oaklawn Hcp winner and now promising sire in the USA, Atticus. Athykaneyev has so far had 2 foals to the races for 2 winners and was sold believed in foal to NZ's current champion sire, Volksraad. She was purchased by leading agent and renowned judge, Robert McAnulty, of Auckland.

OVERALL BROODMARE SESSION RESULTS
Average up 67%

Thanks to the great start the Unreserved Dispersal provided to the broodmare offering, the remaining broodmares sold strongly through the main catalogue and the supplementary catalogue. At the end of the day 97 broodmares had changed hands for a total turnover of $1,659,750 at an average of $17,110, an increase of 67% over last year's broodmare average.

Top priced mare outside of the Golden Horseshoe Dispersal was Lot 194, Water Sprite, who was secured by Tony Bott of New South Wales for $105,000. Water Sprite (CAN) is impeccably bred, being by Secretariat out of Baltic Sea by Danzig. She is a half sister to the Top International Sprinter of his year, Caller One, whose biggest win came in the Grp 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Stakes. Water Sprite was sold by Chatham Lodge Thoroughbreds, believed in foal to exciting young sire Stravinsky.

Also cracking the $100,000 mark was Lot 116, Trisynd, a winning daughter of Sir Tristram from Grp 2 winning mare S