Scorching Start to Karaka 2007

Scorching Start to Karaka 2007

In a vein familiar to thoroughbred auctions around the world, the first day of the 81st National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka has kicked off the week of selling in scorching style with record-breaking results.

A NZ$1,300,000 colt from champion racemare, Ethereal, topped a day of highlights which included a record median of NZ$120,000, up 50% from NZ$80,000 last year, and 33% up on the previous record of NZ$90,000 in 2005. At the same point in the Sale last year (after 230 lots), the median was NZ$90,000.

The Sale average - with half the Premier catalogue still to come - is currently NZ$146,898, up from a final Premier Sale average of NZ$127,072 and an average at the same point in the Sale last year of a shade under NZ$120,000.

At the end of Day One the session clearance rate was 81.6%, in line with a final session clearance rate of 81% last year.

New Zealand Bloodstock Marketing Manager, Petrea Vela, commented on the strength of demand at the half-way point of the Premier Sale: "The day has exceeded our pre-sale expectations and we are delighted that we have been able to achieve such successful figures this early in the Sale. Demand got stronger and stronger over the course of the day with the average and median climbing steadily to post the strongest opening session results ever recorded at Karaka."

"The buying bench is as large as we have seen at Karaka for some time, particularly from Australia, with a strong presence from Hong Kong in addition to active buyers from England, Ireland, Singapore and Japan. Overall it has been a great start to the 2007 Premier Sale and bodes well for the week ahead."

Leading New Zealand buyer, David Ellis, secured the only seven-figure lot of the

Lot 137 NZ$1,300,000 colt by Stravinsky out of Ethereal
day, the Stravinsky colt from Melbourne and Caulfield Cups winner, Ethereal (by Rhythm) offered by Pencarrow Stud. One of the most prominent lots in the build up to the Sale, the colt joins the successful Te Akau Racing team to become the fourth million dollar sale graduate to come under the guidance of leading trainer, Mark Walker.

Te Akau principal, David Ellis, said he has been a fan of the colt since he was a foal: "I have visited this colt many times and he has been a beautiful colt since day one. Mark and I have had insider knowledge since his half-sister, Uberalles, is in our stable and is a sensational filly and certain to win a Group 1 race. So we are thrilled to have secured her half-brother, one of the top colts of the Sale."

"I had unprecedented interest from new and existing owners wanting to share in him and he has been embarrassingly over-subscribed. But I am delighted to have retained him for the New Zealand industry."

Ellis was the leading buyer for the day with 10 lots purchased for NZ$3,082,500. Second was the Hong Kong Jockey Club which has bought 16 yearlings for NZ$2,525,000, including a top price of NZ$270,000 for Lot 166, a colt from Gaysutina by Towkay, sire of last night's Hong Kong Group 1 Steward's Cup winner, Armada.

It was New Zealand champion sire, Zabeel, who currently leads the sires table by average with three or more sold, with 13 yearlings sold for an average of NZ$222,692, and a top price of NZ$600,000 for Lot 178, a filly out of Brief Truce mare, Grace and Power.

Karaka Premier Sale Day 1 Statistics
Day 1 2007 After 230 in 2006 Overall 2006
Average $146,898 $119,956 $127,072
Aggregate $26,735,500 $20,512,500 $49,558,000
Lots Catalogued 230 230 516
Lots Sold 182 171 390
Clearance Rate 81.60% 74% 81%
Median $120,000 $90,000 $80,000
2007 Top Price - Stravinsky x Ethereal Colt (Lot 137) $1,300,000
2006 Top Price - Stravinsky x Grand Echezeaux Colt (Lot 341) $2,200,000
Day 1 Top Ten Lots
Lot Type Breeding Vendor Purchaser Price
137 B.C Stravinsky / Ethereal PENCARROW STUD MR DC ELLIS (Te Akau) $1,300,000
159 BR.F Redoute's Choice / Foxtrot LITTLE AVONDALE STUD ROBERT ROULSTON BLOODSTOCK (VIC) $700,000
198 BB.C Redoute's Choice / How About That ASCOT FARM MR DC ELLIS (Te Akau) $680,000
178 B.F Zabeel / Grace and Power PENCARROW STUD NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK (as agent) $600,000
119 B.C Zabeel / Diamond Lover CAMBRIDGE STUD FREEDMAN BROS (VIC) $425,000
138 B.F General Nediym / Etoile Centieme WAIKATO STUD DORMELLO STUD (Hamilton) $380,000
195 C.C Jungle Pocket / Hello Dolly RICH HILL THOROUGHBREDS MR K YOSHIDA (Japan) $360,000
32 C.F Fusaichi Pegasus / Allez France CURRAGHMORE STUD JAMES BESTER BLOODSTOCK (NSW) $330,000
176 B.F Encosta de Lago / Good Faith CURRAGHMORE STUD RAMSEY PASTORAL (NSW) $310,000
134 B.C Montjeu / Endless Joy LYNDHURST FARM DOMINION BLOODSTOCK AGENCY (Putaruru) $300,000
Day 1 Top Ten Buyers
Name Bought Aggregate Average Top Price
MR DC ELLIS 10 $3,082,500 $308,250 $1,300,000 (Lot 137)
HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB 16 $2,525,000 $157,813 $270,000 (Lot 166)
DORMELLO STUD 9 $1,630,000 $181,111 $380,000 (Lot 138)
ROBERT ROULSTON BLOODSTOCK 7 $1,325,000 $189,286 $700,000 (Lot 159)
NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK (as agent) 4 $965,000 $241,250 $600,000 (Lot 178)
MR D O'BYRNE 5 $855,000 $171,000 $270,000 (Lot 223)
MR JB CUMMINGS 4 $845,000 $211,250 $290,000 (Lot 6)
JOHN CHALMERS BLOODSTOCK 8 $790,000 $98,750 $200,000 (Lot 168)
MR DOMINIC KK LI 4 $590,000 $147,500 $260,000 (Lot 41)
ROGERSON BLOODSTOCK 3 $515,000 $171,667 $240,000 (Lot 103)
Day 1 Top Ten Vendors by Aggregate
Stud Sold Aggregate Average Top Price
CAMBRIDGE STUD 22 $3,245,000 $147,500 $425,000
PENCARROW STUD 10 $3,060,000 $306,000 $1,300,000
WAIKATO STUD 15 $2,545,000 $169,667 $380,000
WINDSOR PARK STUD 17 $1,853,500 $109,029 $300,000
CURRAGHMORE STUD 7 $1,690,000 $241,429 $330,000
LITTLE AVONDALE STUD 6 $1,480,000 $246,667 $700,000
RICH HILL THOROUGHBREDS 7 $1,245,000 $177,857 $360,000
HAUNUI FARM 9 $1,072,500 $119,167 $240,000
ASCOT FARM 4 $1,005,000 $251,250 $680,000
Day 1 Top Ten Vendors by Average
Stud Sold Aggregate Average Top Lot
PENCARROW STUD 10 $3,060,000 $306,000 $1,300,000
ASCOT FARM 4 $1,005,000 $251,250 $680,000
LITTLE AVONDALE STUD 6 $1,480,000 $246,667 $700,000
CURRAGHMORE STUD 7 $1,690,000 $241,429 $330,000
BLOOMSBURY STUD 1 $180,000 $180,000 $180,000
RICH HILL THOROUGHBREDS 7 $1,245,000 $177,857 $360,000
WESTBURY STUD 3 $520,000 $173,333 $220,000
MONOVALE HOLDINGS 1 $170,000 $170,000 $170,000
WAIKATO STUD 15 $2,545,000 $169,667 $380,000
LYNDHURST FARM 5 $782,500 $156,500 $300,000
Day 1 Top Ten Sires by Average
Sire Sold Aggregate Average Top Price
Zabeel 13 $2,895,000 $222,692 $600,000
Encosta de Lago 5 $1,090,000 $218,000 $310,000
Stravinsky 20 $4,250,000 $212,500 $1,300,000
Rock of Gibraltar 3 $565,000 $188,333 $225,000
Flying Spur 3 $540,000 $180,000 $220,000
Montjeu 11 $1,962,000 $178,364 $300,000
Giant's Causeway 3 $535,000 $178,333 $250,000
No Excuse Needed 3 $450,000 $150,000 $290,000
Volksraad 3 $410,000 $136,667 $300,000
Pins 10 $1,340,000 $134,000 $250,000
Day Two of the two-day New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale will commence at 11am tomorrow (30 January) at Karaka with a further 229 lots catalogued for sale. Full results from the opening session can be viewed at http://www.nzb.co.nz/. The live webcast continues tomorrow at http://www.nzb.co.nz/ from 11am.

Ends

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