Successful Conclusion to Karaka 2012
5 February 2012
New Zealand Bloodstock's 86th National Yearling Sales Series concluded today at Karaka with a total of 1444 catalogued lots being presented to buyers from around the world over the course of the past seven days.
The smallest offering at Karaka since 2007, in the final analysis 985 horses have sold for $77,334,300 at a combined average of $78,512. This reflects a clearance rate of 75% across the week, with a $47,500 median, the highest posted since the record set in 2008.
Heading a very broad buying bench from around New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Netherlands, Japan, Ireland, USA and Malaysia, it was local buyer David Ellis who topped the buyers table with 31 yearlings purchased for $6,487,500.
This included the top price of the week, the Fastnet Rock colt at Lot 353 from Nureyev's Girl knocked down for $1.75m. This colt was the half-brother to last year's Karaka sale-topper, also purchased by Ellis, that time a colt by Red Ransom bought for $875,000.
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Sale-topper Lot 353 was purchased by David Ellis for $1.75m |
Confirming that 100% of the seven-figure colt has been sold, Ellis was upbeat in his summary of sales week at Karaka.
"It has been an unbelievably successful week for the industry given the recession that the country is slowly starting to work its way through. It's extremely refreshing to see that even in difficult economic times people are still wanting to invest in our great industry.
"Naturally I think the breeders will be disappointed to see the decreased Australian spend this year but it is simply a reflection of the serious nature of their own economy so entirely understandable."
Ellis also purchased the top priced filly of the Sale, with the daughter of Stravinsky from Jesmond's Gift (Magic of Sydney) at Lot 256 purchased for $740,000 from Cambridge Stud.
With his spend increasing by nearly $2 million from last year, Ellis contributed to a total New Zealand spend of $25,851,300 for 530 purchases.
Australia buyers, headed by John Chalmers, Gai Waterhouse & James Harron, Hawkes Racing, Bart Cummings & Duncan Ramage, John O'Shea Racing, Segenhoe Thoroughbreds, and a strong turnout of others, have accounted for a total spend of $32,757,000 for 293 horses, over 42% of the aggregate for the week.
This year legendary Melbourne trainer Bart Cummings was afforded a special tribute, being inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key prior to selling starting at the Premier Sale on Monday 30 January. Cummings didn't hide his appreciation for New Zealand horses, or his desire to pick up a bargain in his quest for his next Melbourne Cup winner. The result was the purchase of seven yearlings in his own name for $1,395,000 at an average of $199,286, with Duncan Ramage securing an additional eight for $1,392,500.
Hong Kong buyers were a notable presence this year with a 38% increase to their spend in 2011, with 102 horses purchased for $12,308,000 this week. Heading this list as the third leading individual buyer for the Sales Series was the Hong Kong Jockey Club with 12 purchases for $2,655,000. Also very prominent on behalf of a range of clients was Willie Leung's Magus Equine, including a top price of $800,000 for Mr P So's purchase of the High Chaparral colt at Lot 284 and $650,000 paid for the High Chaparral colt at Lot 130 bought by Mr WK Lee.
This year Singapore buyers also displayed an increased firepower, with their spend increasing 26% to $3,934,000 for 43 horses.
After an absence from Karaka for a few years, the South Africans returned this year with Andy Williams' World Wide Bloodstock securing six horses for $615,000.
"I love coming here and have had some luck so it's an easy trip to make," Williams explained earlier in the week. "New Zealand Bloodstock does such a wonderful job of looking after you and getting things organised that this is a great sale to work."
Citing the exchange rate, the pedigrees and the similar styles of racing as compelling factors for South Africans buying in New Zealand, Williams was active in the Premier Sale buying on behalf of Mary Liley who was back buying in New Zealand after 20 years.
"Mrs Liley bought some great horses in New Zealand, horses like Sun Monarch and Bold Monarch who were both champions in South Africa. She has been buying yearlings in Australia without much luck so she has decided to be back in New Zealand."
Providing five of the top ten priced lots of the Sales Series, it was no surprise that Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud should retain its title as leading vendor by aggregate for the 31st year in a row. The famous stud also topped the vendor table by average with 54 yearlings averaging $207,694.
Australian sires Fastnet Rock and Encosta de Lago claimed the top two spots on the leading sires tables with 10 and 11 yearlings sold respectively at an average of $360,500 and $236,364.
New Zealand stalwart Zabeel came in third with 21 yearlings sold for an average of 233,810.
The most represented sire at Karaka this year was High Chaparral who was seeing his final New Zealand bred crop offered through the ring. With the most yearlings sold of any sire, a total of 57 generated $10,364,500 in turnover for an average of $181,833 and a top price of $800,000 for the three-quarter brother to So You Think at Lot 284.
With vendors always anxiously awaiting the market's response to the first southern hemisphere crop of a host of freshman sires, this year it was Sebring who lead the first season sires with six entries sold for an average of $155,000 and a top price of $260,000 (Lot 290).
The leading New Zealand-based freshman sire was Wellfield Lodge's Alamosa, with a significant draft of 37 yearlings sold at an average of $68,149 across the week. This included a top price of $200,000 paid by Cambridge trainer Roger James for Lot 5.
For a complete listing of results from this Sale Series visit www.nzb.co.nz or contact [email protected] to request a hard copy.
2012 National Yearling Sales Series Combined Statistics
| 2012 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Aggregate | $77,334,300 | $88,094,250 |
| Average | $78,512 | $83,899 |
| Median | $47,500 | $45,000 |
| Clearance | 75% | 72% |
| Catalogued | 1444 | 1622 |
| Withdrawn | 134 | 163 |
| Offered | 1310 | 1,459 |
| Passed | 325 | 408 |
| Lots Sold | 985 | 1,050 |
| Top Price | $1,750,000 | $875,000 |
Top Lots
| Lot | Type | Breeding | Vendor | Purchaser | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 353 | B. C | Fastnet Rock / Nureyev's Girl | Cambridge Stud | Mr DC Ellis | $1,750,000 |
| 284 | B. C | High Chaparral / La Souvenir | Windsor Park Stud | Mr P So | $800,000 |
| 256 | Ch F | Stravinsky / Jesmonds Gift | Cambridge Stud | Mr DC Ellis | $740,000 |
| 314 | B. F | Stravinsky / Marquise | Cambridge Stud | Michael Wallace Bloodstock | $675,000 |
| 130 | BR. C | High Chaparral / Creil | Lyndhurst Farm | Mr WK Lee | $650,000 |
| 159 | B. F | High Chaparral / Diamond Like | Cambridge Stud | Gai Waterhouse/James Harron Bstk | $650,000 |
| 281 | B. F | Zabeel / La Quinta Gold | Cambridge Stud | Mr GC Beemsterboer | $600,000 |
| 475 | B. F | Fastnet Rock / Suitely | Curraghmore Stud | Mr A Penfold (as agent) | $570,000 |
| 374 | B. F | O'Reilly / Petit Verdot | Trelawney Stud Ltd | Mulcaster Bloodstock | $550,000 |
| 279 | BR. C | O'Reilly / Lafleur | Pencarrow Stud | John O'Shea Racing | $460,000 |
| 431 | B. C | High Chaparral / Sharp Point | Blandford Lodge | Gai Waterhouse/James Harron Bstk | $425,000 |
| 152 | B. C | Zabeel / Dawninsky | Cambridge Stud | Hawkes Racing | $420,000 |
| 312 | BB F | O'Reilly / Markisa | Wentwood Grange | Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia | $420,000 |
| 69 | G. C | High Chaparral / Barrachdail Lass | Windsor Park Stud | John Chalmers Bloodstock Services | $400,000 |
| 79 | BR. C | Zabeel / Better Alternative | Cambridge Stud | Bahen Bloodstock/Malua Racing | $400,000 |
| 240 | B. F | Zabeel / Howmuchyacharging | Fairdale Stud | Phill Cataldo Bloodstock | $380,000 |
| 120 | B. C | Stravinsky / Clarissa | Curraghmore Stud | Waikato Bloodstock Ltd | $380,000 |
| 245 | Ch F | More Than Ready / Imananabaa | Lyndhurst Farm | Mr BJ & Mrs J Lindsay | $370,000 |
| 329 | BB F | Pentire / Miss Katella | Hallmark Stud | Mulcaster Bloodstock | $360,000 |
| 119 | B. C | High Chaparral / Clarens | Windsor Park Stud | Mr JB Cummings | $360,000 |
Leading Purchasers by Aggregate
| Purchaser | Location | Bought | Aggregate | Average | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr DC Ellis | Te Akau | 30 | $6,487,500 | $216,250 | $1,750,000 (Lot 353) |
| New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd (as agent) | 78 | $4,631,500 | $59,378 | $240,000 (Lot 372) | |
| John Chalmers Bloodstock Services | Western Australia | 21 | $2,930,500 | $139,548 | $400,000 (Lot 69) |
| The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Hong Kong | 12 | $2,655,000 | $221,250 | $350,000 (Lot 432, 66) |
| Gai Waterhouse/James Harron Bstk | New South Wales | 7 | $2,125,000 | $303,571 | $650,000 (Lot 159) |
| Hawkes Racing | New South Wales | 7 | $1,400,000 | $200,000 | $420,000 (Lot 152) |
| Mr JB Cummings | New South Wales | 7 | $1,395,000 | $199,286 | $360,000 (Lot 119) |
| DGR Thoroughbred Services | New South Wales | 8 | $1,392,500 | $174,063 | $320,000 (Lot 420) |
| Mulcaster Bloodstock | New South Wales | 4 | $1,380,000 | $345,000 | $550,000 (Lot 374) |
| Rogerson Bloodstock | Hamilton | 10 | $1,050,000 | $105,000 | $350,000 (Lot 510) |
| John O'Shea Racing | New South Wales | 5 | $1,023,000 | $204,600 | $460,000 (Lot 279) |
| Michael Wallace Bloodstock | Cambridge | 6 | $993,500 | $165,583 | $675,000 (Lot 314) |
| Paul Moroney Bloodstock | Victoria | 17 | $959,000 | $56,412 | $160,000 (Lot 419) |
| Mr RA James | Cambridge | 12 | $956,500 | $79,708 | $200,000 (Lot 5) |
| Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia | New South Wales | 3 | $925,000 | $308,333 | $420,000 (Lot 312) |
| Worldwide Bloodstock | South Africa | 6 | $915,000 | $152,500 | $250,000 (Lot 416) |
| Lisa Latta Racing Stables | Palmerston North | 13 | $910,000 | $70,000 | $200,000 (Lot 901) |
| MJ Freedman/Michael Wallace Bstk | Singapore | 6 | $865,000 | $144,167 | $175,000 (Lot 398, 406) |
| Mr MA Kavanagh | Victoria | 5 | $860,000 | $172,000 | $320,000 (Lot 283) |
| Bruce Perry Bloodstock Ltd | Masterton | 11 | $816,000 | $74,182 | $200,000 (Lot 222) |
Leading Vendors by Aggregate
| Vendor | Sold | Aggregate | Average | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Stud | 54 | $11,215,500 | $207,694 | $1,750,000 (Lot 353) |
| Windsor Park Stud | 60 | $5,768,500 | $96,142 | $800,000 (Lot 284) |
| Curraghmore Stud | 36 | $4,863,500 | $135,097 | $570,000 (Lot 475) |
| Waikato Stud Ltd | 52 | $4,162,500 | $80,048 | $310,000 (Lot 512) |
| Westbury Stud | 64 | $4,054,000 | $63,344 | $250,000 (Lot 450, 496) |
| Haunui Farm | 47 | $3,481,000 | $74,064 | $230,000 (Lot 1096, 462) |
| Pencarrow Stud | 21 | $3,170,000 | $150,952 | $460,000 (Lot 279) |
| Lyndhurst Farm | 18 | $3,096,500 | $172,028 | $650,000 (Lot 130) |
| Trelawney Stud Ltd | 21 | $2,907,500 | $138,452 | $550,000 (Lot 374) |
| Little Avondale Stud | 25 | $2,783,000 | $111,320 | $350,000 (Lot 432) |
| Rich Hill Stud | 42 | $2,770,500 | $65,964 | $230,000 (Lot 205) |
| Hallmark Stud | 23 | $2,210,000 | $96,087 | $360,000 (Lot 329) |
| The Oaks Stud | 30 | $1,917,500 | $63,917 | $180,000 (Lot 171, 29) |
| Blandford Lodge | 16 | $1,735,000 | $108,438 | $425,000 (Lot 431) |
| Wentwood Grange | 13 | $1,652,000 | $127,077 | $420,000 (Lot 312) |
| Phoenix Park | 17 | $1,600,500 | $94,147 | $280,000 (Lot 182) |
| Mapperley Stud Ltd | 21 | $1,482,000 | $70,571 | $185,000 (Lot 489) |
| Wellfield Lodge | 17 | $1,188,000 | $69,882 | $190,000 (Lot 185) |
| Ascot Farm | 6 | $1,105,000 | $184,167 | $340,000 (Lot 445) |
| Belvedere Farm | 6 | $1,030,000 | $171,667 | $325,000 (Lot 315) |
Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)
| Vendor | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Stud | 54 | $207,694 | $11,215,500 | $1,750,000 (Lot 353) |
| Ascot Farm | 6 | $184,167 | $1,105,000 | $340,000 (Lot 445) |
| Lyndhurst Farm | 18 | $172,028 | $3,096,500 | $650,000 (Lot 130) |
| Belvedere Farm | 6 | $171,667 | $1,030,000 | $325,000 (Lot 315) |
| Eliza Park | 3 | $166,667 | $500,000 | $300,000 (Lot 68) |
| Pencarrow Stud | 21 | $150,952 | $3,170,000 | $460,000 (Lot 279) |
| Beltana Stud | 3 | $150,000 | $450,000 | $270,000 (Lot 13) |
| Trelawney Stud Ltd | 21 | $138,452 | $2,907,500 | $550,000 (Lot 374) |
| Curraghmore Stud | 36 | $135,097 | $4,863,500 | $570,000 (Lot 475) |
| Wentwood Grange | 13 | $127,077 | $1,652,000 | $420,000 (Lot 312) |
| Little Avondale Stud | 25 | $111,320 | $2,783,000 | $350,000 (Lot 432) |
| Blandford Lodge | 16 | $108,438 | $1,735,000 | $425,000 (Lot 431) |
| Windsor Park Stud | 60 | $96,142 | $5,768,500 | $800,000 (Lot 284) |
| Hallmark Stud | 23 | $96,087 | $2,210,000 | $360,000 (Lot 329) |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds Ltd | 7 | $95,286 | $667,000 | $300,000 (Lot 61) |
| Phoenix Park | 17 | $94,147 | $1,600,500 | $280,000 (Lot 182) |
| Waikato Stud Ltd | 52 | $80,048 | $4,162,500 | $310,000 (Lot 512) |
| Whakanui Stud Ltd | 9 | $79,500 | $715,500 | $200,000 (Lot 340) |
| Haunui Farm | 47 | $74,064 | $3,481,000 | $230,000 (Lot 1096, 462) |
| Mapperley Stud Ltd | 21 | $70,571 | $1,482,000 | $185,000 (Lot 489) |
Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)
| Sire | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fastnet Rock | 10 | $360,500 | $3,605,000 | $1,750,000 (Lot 353) |
| Encosta de Lago | 11 | $236,364 | $2,600,000 | $350,000 (Lot 66) |
| Zabeel | 21 | $233,810 | $4,910,000 | $600,000 (Lot 281) |
| More Than Ready | 5 | $213,000 | $1,065,000 | $370,000 (Lot 245) |
| Commands | 5 | $192,000 | $960,000 | $280,000 (Lot 127) |
| Exceed and Excel | 4 | $186,250 | $745,000 | $300,000 (Lot 68) |
| High Chaparral | 57 | $181,833 | $10,364,500 | $800,000 (Lot 284) |
| Testa Rossa | 4 | $157,500 | $630,000 | $230,000 (Lot 205) |
| Sebring | 6 | $155,000 | $930,000 | $260,000 (Lot 290) |
| Stravinsky | 20 | $149,475 | $2,989,500 | $740,000 (Lot 256) |
| Danehill Dancer | 4 | $145,000 | $580,000 | $200,000 (Lot 46) |
| O'Reilly | 51 | $120,500 | $6,145,500 | $550,000 (Lot 374) |
| Pentire | 33 | $111,364 | $3,675,000 | $360,000 (Lot 329) |
| Henrythenavigator | 5 | $108,000 | $540,000 | $175,000 (Lot 406) |
| Bernardini | 3 | $100,000 | $300,000 | $120,000 (Lot 347) |
| Stratum | 4 | $96,250 | $385,000 | $120,000 (Lot 339, 425) |
| Savabeel | 37 | $92,595 | $3,426,000 | $310,000 (Lot 512) |
| Flying Spur | 3 | $92,500 | $277,500 | $150,000 (Lot 404) |
| Northern Meteor | 5 | $91,700 | $458,500 | $160,000 (Lot 183) |
| Dubawi | 4 | $91,250 | $365,000 | $200,000 (Lot 912) |
Leading First Season Sires by Average (three or more sold)
| Sire | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sebring | 6 | $155,000 | $930,000 | $260,000 (Lot 290) |
| Henrythenavigator | 5 | $108,000 | $540,000 | $175,000 (Lot 406) |
| Northern Meteor | 5 | $91,700 | $458,500 | $160,000 (Lot 183) |
| Authorized | 3 | $80,000 | $240,000 | $110,000 (Lot 351, 848) |
| Alamosa | 37 | $68,149 | $2,521,500 | $200,000 (Lot 5) |
| Sir Percy | 17 | $56,588 | $962,000 | $150,000 (Lot 458) |
| Guillotine | 29 | $50,966 | $1,478,000 | $185,000 (Lot 489) |
| Sakhee's Secret | 27 | $50,722 | $1,369,500 | $180,000 (Lot 171, 29) |
| Myboycharlie | 4 | $41,750 | $167,000 | $65,000 (Lot 978) |
| Fully Fledged | 11 | $40,591 | $446,500 | $75,000 (Lot 619, 723) |
| Duke of Marmalade | 4 | $38,875 | $155,500 | $87,500 (Lot 175) |
| Astronomer Royal | 3 | $34,667 | $104,000 | $47,000 (Lot 927) |
| Mettre en Jeu | 3 | $15,333 | $46,000 | $18,000 (Lot 1293) |