Big Move for 2014 NZB South Island Sale

New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2014 South Island Sale is set to make a bold move from its traditional August timeslot and be brought forward to April of next year.

The move to earlier in the year will mean that the 2014 Sale will relinquish its identity as a unique sale of untried two-year-olds and will instead form part of the 2014 National Yearling Sales Series as the new ‘South Island Session’.

As such, yearlings offered through the Sale will have the added benefit of now being eligible for the Karaka Million Series featuring the $1 million Karaka Million (Res.L) for two-year-olds and the $100,000 Karaka 3YO Mile (Res.L) for three-year-olds.

New Zealand Bloodstock has been working in conjunction with South Island breeders in recent weeks in an effort to enhance the Sale’s appeal to buyers and vendors alike, and the resulting changes have received widespread support.

Leading South Island breeder Edwina Morris, co-principal of Berkley Stud with Alan Jones, has been instrumental in the change and believes moving the Sale will benefit everyone who takes part.

“The market has changed over the years and we need to change with it,” commented Morris.

“People are now looking for quicker returns when they buy racehorses and many buyers have commented that buying unbroken August two-year-olds puts them too far behind as they struggle to get the horses up-and-running, even as early three-year-olds.

“Moving the Sale to April means that we will be offering our horses earlier as yearlings which will better meet buyers’ requirements. It also benefits the vendors as it’s a lot easier to prepare a horse for an April Sale and hopefully, given its close proximity to the Karaka Yearling Sales, North island vendors will be encouraged to support the Sale as well.”

Miles Gordon, President of the Canterbury Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, agrees with Morris and says that breeders from the region have wholeheartedly supported the change.

“Everyone is in agreement that this is a good move,” said Gordon. “Preparing horses for an April sale will be cheaper and far more convenient for breeders and will mean a winter preparation is a thing of the past.

“We are hoping the changes will drive up the demand for horses in the Sale which would provide better returns for breeders.”

NZB’s South Island Bloodstock Representative, Clint Donovan, met with South Island breeders earlier this month and is confident that shifting the Sale will have a positive impact.

“South Island breeders were very keen for a change and I think what we have come up with will be good for the Sale,” said Donovan.

“Being able to nominate horses for the Karaka Million is a good incentive for buyers and the new date means that breeders from all around the country that offer yearlings at auction now have the additional option of offering horses a bit later than January. That will be beneficial for vendors who have yearlings that just need that bit of extra time.

“An added bonus is that the Sale could also become a good hunting ground for people pinhooking yearlings for the Ready to Run Sale in November as the demand for horses out of that Sale is growing rapidly.”

The 2014 South Island Sale will continue to have mixed bloodstock sessions included in the format.

The 2014 Sale is currently scheduled for Sunday 13 April. Entries will be called for at the same time at the 2014 National Yearling Sales Series but will have the later closing date of 10 February 2014. Nominations for the Premier, Select and Festival Sales are due by 8 July 2013.

This year’s edition of the South Island Sale of 2YOs & Mixed Bloodstock is set to take place on Friday 9 August 2013, with catalogues available from the first week of July.  NZB will also be accepting supplementary entries for this Sale, with a closing date of Friday 2 August.