There was an incredible surge of strength to the market on Day 2 of the Karaka Premier Sale, with results totally outstripping Day 1 as the predominantly international buying bench competed hotly for the 250 young horses on offer.

From the outset of selling a renewed strength was tangible, with Mark Kavanagh making an early mark on the day buying two of the top prices of the Sale in the first eight lots (Lot 256 for $540,000 & Lot 258 for $700,000).

That set the tone for the day, with the average and clearance rates both strengthening considerably, despite no million dollar horses sold this year.

By the close of selling total takings were $65,574,000 for 375 lots sold, agonisingly close to last year's $65,723,500, New Zealand Bloodstock's second-highest Premier Sale turnover.

Remarkably the median of $140,000 exceeds last year's figure to become NZB's second highest on record, indicating the middle market strength that was evident throughout the day.

With today's average tracking around $190,000, the final Sale average was $174,864, down just 4% on last year's $181,557. The clearance rate also strengthened to 79.45% for the two days, just shy of last year's 80%.

New Zealand Bloodstock Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela says there was a remarkable increase in strength to today's market.

"Right from the very start of the day the competition was intense and it never seemed to let up. To post the second highest median on record is an incredible result, and really demonstrates the firepower at the heart of the middle market.

"We had no million dollar lots this year yet we are less than $150,000 away from last year's aggregate, and less than 4% down on average, with our clearance rate holding up extremely well.

"Last year's Sale was our second best on record, which we never expected to match, so to be within striking distance of those figures is a fantastic result for the industry."

The top price of the day came at Lot 466 with the colt by Red Ransom fetching $875,000 to the bid of leading New Zealand buyer, David Ellis. The colt is the half-brother to the leading three-year-old filly in New Zealand this season in King's Rose (Redoute's Choice), trained by Jason Bridgman at Te Akau Racing.

"He is a terrific colt. He has an interesting pedigree and, given he performs on the track, would make a great stud prospect and would be a good match for New Zealand mares," commented Ellis.

"We had to fight off David Hayes and Chris Waller, both astute judges in their own right, to secure the horse, but we are thrilled that he will be staying in New Zealand."

"Today has seen a much stronger day overall; there were a lot of quality horses on offer which was reflected in the market as buyers bid hard for their desired lots."

With 25 yearlings bought for $4,433,500, Ellis was the second leading buyer of the Sale behind Connolly Bloodstock who purchased 16 horses for $5,055,000.

Connolly Bloodstock's 9 fillies and 7 colts included a top price of $650,000 paid for the Encosta de Lago filly from Whakanui Stud's Mrs Squillionaire (Lot 450), a half-sister to top Hong Kong performer Green Birdie (Catbird).

Rick Connolly was full of praise for his purchases.

"I think the Encosta de Lago filly from Mrs. Squillionaire was one of the standout lots of the day. She has an outstanding international pedigree and is a lovely type. So too was the Darci Brahma/Miss Distinction filly, her page is full of outstanding horses in their own right and she ticked all the boxes.

"The Casino Prince colt was one of the best I have seen; he was absolutely top shelf and another standout for me.

"Overall I think the sale has been very competitive. Today has seen some stronger competition as perhaps the line up of yearlings was a little stronger on pedigree and type. We are very happy with the sale, we have seen some nice yearlings go through the ring and we are thrilled with the horses we're taking home."

Australian buyers have had an enormous impact on the last two days, represented by eight of the top 10 buyers, and accounting for a total spend of over $43 million.

Also featuring in the top ten buyers was the Hong Kong Jockey Club, represented at Karaka by Mark Richards who bought 12 horses for $3,400,000.

Yesterday's top price of $800,000 was matched early in the day by Cambridge Stud's filly by Zabeel from Jesmond's Gift (Magic of Sydney) at Lot 372 bought by Adrian Nicoll's BBA Ireland. A half-sister to promising two-year-old Isle Be Ready, the filly is from a half-sister to Canny Lad and Canny Lass.

European bloodstock agent Adrian Nicoll was very pleased to secure the filly for his Sydney client, with a trainer still to be decided on.

"She's a magnificent individual, plenty of size and scope and a lovely walker. She'll eventually end up as a broodmare but if she can run she'll be worth a goldmine, with a current pedigree from the Canny Lad and Canny Lass family.

"We got down to two fillies on our list in the end, one by an unproven sire and this filly by a proven sire, so she was the obvious one to go for."

Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud held off a challenge from Windsor Park Stud for the top spot, ending the Premier Sale as the leading vendor by aggregate with 43 yearlings sold for $10,285,000 at an average of $239,186. Cambridge Stud is well on track to become the leading vendor at the National Yearling Sales Series for a remarkable 30th year in a row.

Windsor Park Stud was next with 43 yearlings sold for $8,970,000, at an average of $208,605.

Bob Emery's Belvedere Farm was the leading vendor by average with his four entries all selling for an average of $280,000.

Off the back of four individual Group 1 winners last season, New Zealand stalwart Zabeel headed the sires' tables with 27 entries sold at an average of $346,111, nearly double the Sale average. This included the top priced filly of the Sale today at Lot 372, and three of the top five lots of the Sale.

Selling continues at Karaka tomorrow with Day 1 of the Select Sale from Lot 504. Selling will commence at 11am and will be streamed live online. Click here to view any Passed Lots from the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale.

2011 Premier Yearling Sale Statistics
2011 2010 2009
Aggregate $65,574,000 $65,723,500 $53,330,000
Average $174,864 $181,557 $145,710
Median $140,000 $135,000 $100,000
Lots Catalogued 503 483 503
Lots Sold 375 362 366
Clearance Rate 79% 80% 77%
Top Price $875,000 $2,000,000 $800,000
2011 Top Price - Red Ransom x Nureyev's Girl (Lot 466) $875,000
2010 Top Price - Zabeel x Diamond Like (Lot 373) $2,000,000
2009 Top Price - Encosta de Lago x Giovana (Lot 7) $800,000
Top Lots
Lot Type Breeding Vendor Purchaser Price
466 B.C Red Ransom x Nureyev's Girl Cambridge Stud Mr DC Ellis $875,000
179 B.C Danehill Dancer x Ballycairn Cambridge Stud Mr DC Ellis $800,000
372 B.F Zabeel x Jesmonds Gift Cambridge Stud BBA - Ireland $800,000
258 B.F Zabeel x Dane Dancer Cambridge Stud Mr MA Kavanagh $700,000
261 B.C Zabeel x Danger Point Cambridge Stud Moody Racing Pty Ltd $675,000
450 B.F Encosta de Lago x Mrs. Squillionaire Whakanui Stud Ltd Connolly Bloodstock $650,000
293 B.C High Chaparral x Egoli Lass Windsor Park Stud Mr MB Lee $625,000
438 B.F Darci Brahma x Miss Distinction Hallmark Stud Connolly Bloodstock $625,000
1 B.C High Chaparral x Queen Caelia Windsor Park Stud Surf Coast Racing Pty Ltd $600,000
225 B.F Zabeel x Cat Shmea Curraghmore Stud Connolly Bloodstock $550,000
Leading Purchasers by Aggregate
Purchaser Bought Aggregate Average Top Price
Connolly Bloodstock 16 $5,055,000 $315,938 $650,000 (Lot 450)
Mr DC Ellis 25 $4,433,500 $177,340 $875,000 (Lot 466)
Hong Kong Jockey Club 12 $3,400,000 $283,333 $440,000 (Lot 193)
Mr MA Kavanagh 9 $3,250,000 $361,111 $700,000 (Lot 258)
Moody Racing Pty Ltd 10 $1,910,000 $191,000 $675,000 (Lot 261)
Danny O'Brien Racing 8 $1,785,000 $223,125 $375,000 (Lot 304)
Hawkes Racing 5 $1,680,000 $336,000 $520,000 (Lot 490)
DGR Thoroughbred Services 8 $1,575,000 $196,875 $400,000 (Lot 498)
Mrs GM Waterhouse 6 $1,445,000 $240,833 $350,000 (Lot 84)
Hudson Conway Racing Pty Ltd 5 $1,370,000 $274,000 $500,000 (Lot 37)
Leading Vendors by Aggregate
Vendor Sold Aggregate Average Top Price
Cambridge Stud 43 $10,285,000 $239,186 $875,000 (Lot 466)
Windsor Park Stud 43 $8,970,000 $208,605 $625,000 (Lot 293)
Curraghmore Stud 20 $4,755,000 $237,750 $550,000 (Lot 225)
Pencarrow Stud 16 $3,555,000 $222,188 $480,000 (Lot 233)
Waikato Stud 25 $3,276,500 $131,060 $330,000 (Lot 6)
Westbury Stud 19 $2,975,000 $156,579 $420,000 (Lot 345)
Haunui Farm 19 $2,847,500 $149,868 $540,000 (Lot 256)
Trelawney Stud 19 $2,340,000 $123,158 $300,000 (Lot 281)
Ascot Farm 15 $2,247,500 $149,833 $350,000 (Lot 207)
Wellfield Lodge 10 $2,110,000 $211,000 $450,000 (Lot 243)
Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)
Vendor Name Sold Average Aggregate Top Price
Belvedere Farm 4 $280,000 $1,120,000 $420,000 (Lot 340)
Hallmark Stud 8 $257,500 $2,060,000 $625,000 (Lot 438)
Whakanui Stud 5 $241,000 $1,205,000 $650,000 (Lot 450)
Cambridge Stud 43 $239,186 $10,285,000 $875,000 (Lot 466)
Curraghmore Stud 20 $237,750 $4,755,000 $550,000 (Lot 225)
Pencarrow Stud 16 $222,188 $3,555,000 $480,000 (Lot 233)
Beltana Stud 3 $213,333 $640,000 $420,000 (Lot 387)
Wellfield Lodge 10 $211,000 $2,110,000 $450,000 (Lot 243)
Windsor Park Stud 43 $208,605 $8,970,000 $625,000 (Lot 293)
The Oaks Stud 7 $206,786 $1,447,500 $500,000 (Lot 37)
Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)
Sire Sold Average Aggregate Top Price
Zabeel 27 $346,111 $9,345,000 $800,000
Red Ransom 5 $307,000 $1,535,000 $875,000
Encosta de Lago 15 $267,667 $4,015,000 $650,000
Danehill Dancer 5 $262,000 $1,310,000 $800,000
High Chaparral 31 $249,839 $7,745,000 $625,000
Shamardal 4 $228,750 $915,000 $325,000
Exceed and Excel 4 $212,500 $850,000 $420,000
Stratum 2 $210,000 $420,000 $280,000
Iffraaj 10 $208,500 $2,085,000 $540,000
Commands 5 $186,000 $930,000 $240,000
Leading First Season Sires by Average (three or more sold)
Sire Sold Average Aggregate Top Price
Iffraaj 10 $208,500 $2,085,000 $540,000
Bernardini 9 $169,444 $1,525,000 $330,000
Casino Prince 3 $156,667 $470,000 $340,000
Dylan Thomas 5 $149,000 $745,000 $240,000
Street Sense 3 $85,000 $255,000 $105,000

ENDS

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