Cambridge Stud Pledges Support of Karaka 2009

Following Cambridge Stud's resounding success at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sales in January this year, Sir Patrick Hogan has confirmed his decision to sell exclusively again at Karaka in 2009.

"My decision to sell all Cambridge Stud's yearlings at Karaka earlier this year proved to be absolutely the right one. We had a wonderful sale in New Zealand and buyers took a lot of confidence from the fact that everything I had to sell was at the one sale," Sir Patrick said.

"This time last year I backed the New Zealand sales to be on the way up, and there's no doubt that earlier this year the Karaka Sales Series proved that it is reasserting itself as a world class yearling auction. I'm proud of the revitalisation that the industry is going through and with Cambridge Stud's draft of horses this year being amongst the strongest we have had to offer, I know that there will be a lot to appeal to buyers again this year at Karaka."

"New Zealand horses are experiencing a wave of success throughout Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and other parts of Asia and there is a tangible resurgence of people who want New Zealand bred and reared horses in their stables."

"As the auction market gets more and more competitive I think that the message to buyers that if you want our product you have to come to New Zealand to get it is immensely important. The future for breeders here depends on that and, considering you can get as good results in New Zealand as Australia without the added risk and uncertainty that comes from taking horses away, the decision to sell exclusively at home in 2009 was a very easy one for me to make."

The Cambridge Stud selection for Karaka 2009 is shaping up to be a stellar crop, with the 82 entries representing the impressive Cambridge Stud stallion roster of Zabeel, Stravinsky, One Cool Cat, Viking Ruler and Keeper, past resident sire Cape Cross, plus other sires such as Encosta de Lago, Exceed and Excel, Anabaa, Pins, Show A Heart, Redoute's Choice, Dehere, Dubawi, Galileo, Duelled and General Nediym.

Amongst the selection is:

• 14 yearlings by Zabeel, including colts from the blueblood mares La Quinta Gold, Silk Slipper and Miss Power Bird, and fillies from Group 1 winning racemares Honor Bound and Honor Babe;
• 19 yearlings by Stravinsky, including colts from the desirable pedigrees of Love Diamonds, Marquise and Diamond Cashel, and a filly from Group 1 winner Smiling Like;�
• 25 yearlings by leading New Zealand-based European first-season sire this year in One Cool Cat.

The leading vendor at the New Zealand Bloodstock Sale for the 27^th year in a row this year, Cambridge Stud had an outstanding line-up of young horses at Karaka 2008 which resulted in a sale average of $254,524 and gross receipts of $15,780,000 for the 68 yearlings on offer. This included four of the top seven lots of the Sale, including a top price of $925,000 for the One Cool Cat - Diamond Cashel filly bought by Patinack Farm.

New Zealand Bloodstock Marketing Manager Petrea Vela was overwhelmed with the show of support from Cambridge Stud.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have the support of an industry leader such as Sir Patrick Hogan in this way," Vela said.

"When Patrick told us about his decision he spoke of his confidence in our industry, in the Karaka sales and in the New Zealand Bloodstock team's ability to deliver him the best results possible which was an incredible endorsement. As was evident this year, that commitment provides an enormous boost to the entire Sales Series for the buyers and for other vendors and we are hugely grateful for his support."