Fastnet Rocks Day 1 of Karaka 2013
28 January 2013
It has been a gun start to New Zealand Bloodstock’s 87th National Yearling Sales Series today at Karaka, with the much-anticipated colt at Lot 63 delivering fireworks early in proceedings when knocked down for NZ$1,975,000.
By Coolmore Stud’s Fastnet Rock from the Peintre Celebre mare Celebria, the half-brother to Group 1 winner Gathering offered by Curraghmore Stud is from the star-studded family of Redoute’s Choice and Platinum Scissors. After a three-way bidding battle with Peter Moody and David Ellis, the colt was secured by Coolmore Stud’s Tom Magnier for the fifth highest price ever fetched at Karaka.
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| Tom Magnier with Top Lot 63 which he purchased for $1,975,000 |
“He was definitely one of the horses we wanted, he is a very nice colt with lots of quality and the family is doing very well,” commented Magnier.
“The horse will go to David Hayes at this stage and then we will just see how it goes. He is by the right stallion in Fastnet Rock and we just need a bit of luck now.
“Gordon [Cunningham] does a terrific job with all of the horses and this one was no exception. It’s a great place to raise horses over here and the horses look great.”
Lot 63 highlighted a strong day’s trade that has seen the average, aggregate and clearance all ahead of the results from Day 1 last year. With 40 fewer horses catalogued today compared with 2012, turnover is ahead at $25,490,000, reflecting an average of $161,332 versus $145,985 at the end of Day 1 last year. The clearance rate is a very healthy 77% and shows signs of strengthening again tomorrow.
The top priced filly of the day, and the second top price of the Sale so far, was the Zabeel filly at Lot 103, a half-sister to New Zealand’s leading three-year-old filly this season in Fix (Iffraaj) bought for $800,000 by Alan Bell.
The former Racing NSW Chairman was impressed with the quality on offer and thrilled with his purchase from Haunui Farm, destined for Tim Martin’s stable.
“She’s a world class filly. She’s by a sire that is both a wonderful sire of race fillies but he’s a broodmare sire par excellence,” remarked Bell.
“She is that sharp type of Zabeel filly that won’t take too much time to get rolling so she’s going to fit Aussie racing. She’s going to run up to a mile and maybe beyond.
“She’s a rare individual by a stallion that has no peer.”
Bell purchased a total of four yearlings today, two fillies and two colts, for $1,430,000.
“The horses are great here. I bought horses today that would be the equivalent of any sale anywhere in the world and when you can do that you want to come.”
Currently threatening to end Cambridge Stud’s 31-year reign at the top of the Karaka vendor table is Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud which sold today’s top lot. With all 15 of Curraghmore’s entries for today now sold, the stud has an aggregate of $6,270,000 at an average of $418,000.
Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham always rated his star colt and wasn’t surprised by the result.
“He was a colt that I rated very highly from the very first time I saw him and I am grateful to John Camilleri for having given me the opportunity to sell him,” he commented.
“I wasn’t surprised at the result as well bred colts of his nature will always be sought after by the major players and I’m delighted that Coolmore have bought him.
“Regardless of figures I knew that this was the best draft we have offered and I am grateful to everybody that has bid on our horses and wish them the best of luck.”
Curraghmore Stud has 7 Premier yearlings still to be offered tomorrow, including another colt and filly by Fastnet Rock.
The leading buyer for the day has been the Hong Kong Jockey Club purchasing 6 yearlings for $2,115,000 at an average of $352,000. They have paid a top price so far of $480,000 for the High Chaparral colt at Lot 42.
“He’s a cracking colt,” commented HKJC representative Mark Richards on Lot 42. “He has a powerful hind quarter and a great temperament. He is from a fast Encosta de Lago mare who won at two, who is in turn out of a Danehill mare, and it’s a quality family so he is an exciting colt.”
Australian buyers have been the biggest force on the salegrounds today, so far accounting for over $13 million worth of stock, over half today’s aggregate. New Zealand – lead by Te Akau principal David Ellis spending $1.7m – has spent just over $7 million in total so far. Also active today were buyers from Singapore, South Africa, Malaysia and Macau.
Providing much of the action at the top end of the Sale, Fastnet Rock currently heads the sires table with 10 lots sold for $4,725,000 at an average of $472,500. The third top price of the day was the Fastnet Rock filly from Episode at Lot 129, bought from Curraghmore Stud by Bart Cummings for $700,000.
Also in high demand today were Encosta de Lago, Zabeel, High Chaparral and O’Reilly.
With six days of selling yet to go, NZB Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela is pleased with how Karaka 2013 has got underway.
“It has been an extremely pleasing start to Sales Week. We’re thrilled with the turnout of buyers, the salegrounds are as busy as ever, and there’s been lots of spirited bidding right throughout the day.
“Leading into the week it was hard to predict how things were going to unfold but vendors are doing well to meet the market and the mood on the grounds is very positive. The clearance rate at 77% is a great start and is likely to strengthen even further tomorrow.”
Selling continues on Day 2 of the Premier Sale tomorrow at 11am (from Lot 221), with coverage continuing live on Sky Sports 2 (NZ) and TVN (Australia), and also online at www.nzb.co.nz.
2013 Premier Sale Day Statistics Day 1
| 2013 Premier Sale Day 1 | 2012 Premier Sale Day 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| AGGREGATE | $25,490,500 | $24,817,500 |
| AVERAGE | $161,332 | $145,985 |
| MEDIAN | $117,500 | $120,000 |
| CLEARANCE | 77% | 70% |
| CATALOGUED | 220 | 260 |
| SOLD | 158 | 170 |
| TOP LOT | Fastnet Rock x Celebria (Lot 63) - $1,975,000 | Stravinsky x Jesmonds Gift (Lot 256) - $740,000 |
2013 Premier Sale Day 1 Top Lots
| Lot | Type | Breeding | Vendor | Purchaser | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | B. C | Fastnet Rock / Celebria | Curraghmore Stud | Mr T Magnier (NSW) | $1,975,000 |
| 103 | B. F | Zabeel / Destined | Haunui Farm | NZB as agent (NSW) | $800,000 |
| 129 | B. F | Fastnet Rock / Episode | Curraghmore Stud | Mr B Cummings (NSW) | $700,000 |
| 42 | B. C | High Chaparral / Bombay | Curraghmore Stud | Hong Kong Jockey Club (HK) | $480,000 |
| 130 | BR. C | O'Reilly / Escada | Waikato Stud | Hong Kong Jockey Club (HK) | $460,000 |
| 132 | B. C | Encosta de Lago / Ethereal | Pencarrow Stud | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $425,000 |
| 173 | B. C | Fastnet Rock / Gypsy Princess | Curraghmore Stud | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $410,000 |
| 109 | B. C | Fastnet Rock / Distinctly | Curraghmore Stud | Hong Kong Jockey Club (HK) | $400,000 |
| 216 | B. F | Zabeel / La Etoile | Cambridge Stud | Mr BJ Lindsay (AKL) | $360,000 |
| 206 | B. C | O'Reilly / Know All | Waikato Stud | Moody Racing (VIC) | $320,000 |
Leading Purchasers by Aggregate
| Purchaser | Bought | Aggregate | Average | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZB as agent | 15 | $2,962,500 | $197,500 | $800,000 (Lot 103) |
| Hong Kong Jockey Club | 6 | $2,115,000 | $352,500 | $480,000 (Lot 42) |
| Mr T Magnier | 1 | $1,975,000 | $1,975,000 | $1,975,000 (Lot 63) |
| Mr DC Ellis | 11 | $1,700,000 | $154,545 | $425,000 (Lot 132) |
| Chris Waller Racing | 8 | $1,205,000 | $150,625 | $230,000 (Lot 196) |
| Rogerson Bloodstock | 6 | $885,000 | $147,500 | $200,000 (Lot 165, 46) |
| Mr T Moore | 4 | $800,000 | $200,000 | $300,000 (Lot 150, 58) |
| Moody Racing | 5 | $707,500 | $141,500 | $320,000 (Lot 206) |
| Mr B Cummings | 1 | $700,000 | $700,000 | $700,000 (Lot 129) |
| Cameron Cooke Bloodstock | 3 | $590,000 | $196,667 | $310,000 (Lot 213) |
Leading Vendors by Aggregate
| Vendor | Sold | Aggregate | Average | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curraghmore Stud | 15 | $6,270,000 | $418,000 | $1,975,000 (Lot 63) |
| Cambridge Stud | 22 | $3,030,000 | $137,727 | $360,000 (Lot 216) |
| Haunui Farm | 10 | $2,080,000 | $208,000 | $800,000 (Lot 103) |
| Waikato Stud | 12 | $1,935,000 | $161,250 | $460,000 (Lot 130) |
| Pencarrow Stud | 8 | $1,435,000 | $179,375 | $425,000 (Lot 132) |
| Westbury Stud | 9 | $1,315,000 | $146,111 | $270,000 (Lot 127) |
| Windsor Park Stud | 12 | $1,015,000 | $84,583 | $200,000 (Lot 3) |
| Blandford Lodge | 6 | $930,000 | $155,000 | $280,000 (Lot 167) |
| Trelawney Stud | 8 | $910,000 | $113,750 | $160,000 (Lot 85) |
| Little Avondale Stud | 5 | $635,000 | $127,000 | $200,000 (Lot 215) |
Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)
| Vendor | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curraghmore Stud | 15 | $418,000 | $6,270,000 | $1,975,000 (Lot 63) |
| Haunui Farm | 10 | $208,000 | $2,080,000 | $800,000 (Lot 103) |
| Pencarrow Stud | 8 | $179,375 | $1,435,000 | $425,000 (Lot 132) |
| Waikato Stud | 12 | $161,250 | $1,935,000 | $460,000 (Lot 130) |
| Lyndhurst Farm | 3 | $160,000 | $480,000 | $300,000 (Lot 18) |
| Hallmark Stud | 3 | $156,667 | $470,000 | $220,000 (Lot 57) |
| Blandford Lodge | 6 | $155,000 | $930,000 | $280,000 (Lot 167) |
| Westbury Stud | 9 | $146,111 | $1,315,000 | $270,000 (Lot 127) |
| Cambridge Stud | 22 | $137,727 | $3,030,000 | $360,000 (Lot 216) |
| Wellfield Lodge | 4 | $136,250 | $545,000 | $210,000 (Lot 4) |
Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)
| Sire | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fastnet Rock | 10 | $472,500 | $4,725,000 | $1,975,000 (Lot 63) |
| Encosta de Lago | 4 | $277,500 | $1,110,000 | $425,000 (Lot 132) |
| Zabeel | 13 | $213,846 | $2,780,000 | $800,000 (Lot 103) |
| High Chaparral | 10 | $186,000 | $1,860,000 | $480,000 (Lot 42) |
| O'Reilly | 13 | $181,731 | $2,362,500 | $460,000 (Lot 130) |
| Starcraft | 3 | $176,667 | $530,000 | $310,000 (Lot 52) |
| Alamosa | 5 | $125,000 | $625,000 | $210,000 (Lot 4) |
| Thorn Park | 6 | $124,167 | $745,000 | $200,000 (Lot 3) |
| Pins | 13 | $122,885 | $1,597,500 | $280,000 (Lot 167) |
| Pentire | 11 | $113,909 | $1,253,000 | $230,000 (Lot 196) |