Flurry of Late Bids Closes Out Strong Second Day
29 January 2024
After a record-breaking opening session, Day Two of NZB’s Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale rounded off with a late flurry of bids, cementing a strong day of trade.
At the close of selling, the aggregate reached a record $58,905,500, while the average settled at $176,893, a 27% and 15% increase respectively when compared to the same time last year.
Leading buyer David Ellis of Te Akau Racing continued his dominance in the ring, securing the highest priced lot today in Lot 360 (Snitzel x Rondinella colt) for $825,000 from Haunui Farm.
Ellis commented on his prospective stallion acquisition.
“We can see him being in the Karaka Millions. You could spell him for a week then line him up for the Golden Slipper,” he said.
“He has a beautiful temperament and a great pedigree, I can see him standing at stud in the future.”
A total of 14 lots have been purchased for $500,000 or more at the end of Day Two, compared to six lots during the entire Book 1 session in 2023.
One of those was Lot 442, another from the Karaka-based nursery of Haunui Farm. The Savabeel filly out of Stolen Gem was knocked down to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock for $650,000.
Mills was delighted to secure the half-sister to Group One performer To Catch a Thief (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) after being underbidder on several lots during the opening session.
“I have been looking for another Savabeel filly for a while now, when this filly stepped out, I had an inkling I had found her,” he stated.
“With the boost and hype around racing in New Zealand, we are definitely being swept in.
“When I looked at her, my first thought was aiming her for the Karaka Millions, before a Blue Diamond even,” he added.
NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was pleased with the results on Day Two.
“It was a strong, solid day of trade and the New Zealand pinhookers came out to play.”
“It was great to see so many markets active but the key buyers today were the Hong Kong Jockey Club,” he added.
“They purchased seven horses for $2.3 million, and they are not done yet.”
Selling continues on Tuesday for Day Three of Book 1, where lots 481 – 682 will go through the ring from 10am (NZT) at Karaka.
To enquire about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz, or Andrew Buick on +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz .
Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Day Two online.
View the full Book 1 results here.
Karaka 2024: Book 1, Day Two Statistics (at end of selling)
| 2024 BOOK 1, DAY ONE & TWO | 2023 BOOK 1, DAY ONE & TWO | 2022 BOOK 1, DAY ONE & TWO | 2021 BOOK 1, DAY ONE & TWO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGGREGATE | $58,905,500 | $46,425,000 | $41,142,500 | $34,711,000 |
| AVERAGE | $176,893 | $154,236 | $146,415 | $124,860 |
| MEDIAN | $140,000 | $135,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| CLEARANCE | 77% | 76% | 74% | 80% |
| CATALOGUED | 480 | 440 | 440 | 390 |
| SOLD | 333 | 301 | 281 | 278 |
| TOP LOT | Lot 21 Proisir - Donna Marie (Ch.F) $1,600,000 | Lot 294 Too Darn Hot - Lady Sayyida (B.C) $750,000 | Lot 161 Savabeel - Chandelier (B.C) $1,000,000 | Lot 94 Zoustar - Scintillula (B.F) $800,000 |
Karaka 2024: Book 1, Day Two Top Lots
| Lot | Sire | Dam | Sex | Vendor | Purchaser | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0360 | Snitzel | Rondinella | Colt | Haunui Farm | Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) | $825,000 |
| 0442 | Savabeel | Stolen Gem | Filly | Haunui Farm | Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (Victoria) | $650,000 |
| 0409 | Savabeel | Simply You | Colt | Waikato Stud Ltd | The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) | $620,000 |
| 0479 | Savabeel | Thee Auld Floozie | Filly | Jamieson Park | Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Wellington) | $620,000 |
| 0480 | Proisir | The Fairy's Kiss | Filly | Kilgravin Lodge | Gandharvi (USA) | $600,000 |
| 0397 | Per Incanto | She's Apples | Colt | Riversley Park Ltd | Jamie Richards / Andrew Williams Bloodstock (Hong Kong) | $500,000 |
| 0302 | Savabeel | Pendant | Colt | Waikato Stud Ltd | Go Bloodstock Australia / Catheryne Bruggeman / Paul Moroney Bloodstock (New South Wales) | $440,000 |
| 0438 | Hello Youmzain | Steer by the Stars | Colt | Cambridge Stud | Chris Waller / Mulcaster Bloodstock (Waikato) | $425,000 |
| 0405 | Justify | Shoulders | Colt | Jamieson Park | Gandharvi / Michael Freedman Racing (USA) | $420,000 |
| 0275 | Ardrossan | O'Misty | Filly | Elsdon Park | Ladbrokes Racing Club / Newgate (New South Wales) | $390,000 |