KARAKA 2005: Great Start to Premier Sale

A fantastic day of selling at Karaka saw an extremely strong international buying bench compete fiercely for the 174 lots on offer today.

The highlight of the day was within the first half hour, when the regally bred Zabeel x Marquise (Gold and Ivory) colt offered by Cambridge Stud at Lot 13 was sold for NZ$950,000.

On the day the 2004 Karaka sales topper, Darci Brahma (Danehill x Grand Echezeaux) won his racetrack debut, four of the much anticipated last southern crop of yearlings by his super-sire, Danehill, were offered today. Three sold for an average of NZ$433,333 putting Danehill at the top of the sires table for Day 1, followed by NZ champion sire, Zabeel, with six sold for an average of NZ$334,167.

But while Danehill was a big attraction this year, the international crowd battled it out at the top of the market buying stock from the full range of sires on offer. The end of the day saw the average, median and the aggregate all up significantly after the same number of lots sold last year (174).

The average was a record $131,275 a huge 22% increase from last year, and the aggregate rose by nearly NZ$1m to NZ$15,753,000. The median was up 24% from NZ$72,500 to NZ $90,000 showing growth in the market right throughout the session.

New Zealand Bloodstock Marketing & PR Manager, Petrea Vela commented, "Right from the first lot of the morning there was tough competition for top quality yearlings making for the strongest opening session we have ever seen at Karaka. There was an extensive buying bench comprising some of the world's leading bloodstock buyers from England, Ireland, Australia and Hong Kong, with New Zealand buyers also very active. There is certainly high demand at the top of the market, and if this momentum can continue for the next couple of days it promises to be a very successful Premier Sale."

The leading buyers at the end of the first session were Shadwell Australia with 4 yearlings purchased for NZ$1,005,000, BBA Ireland with 3 purchased for NZ$935,000 and Rogerson Bloodstock with 6 purchased for NZ$830,000.

Leading buyer, Angus Gold of Shadwell Australia, said "I am delighted to be back in New Zealand - where we have had great success in the past when we bought Zabeel as a yearling - and to see the advance in the industry since I was last here is very exciting. I'm thrilled to have been able to procure four outstanding horses for Sheik Hamdan to race in Australia."

STATISTICS FROM DAY 1 - 2005 PREMIER SALE

FIRST SESSION AVERAGE (174 Lots Offered) = $131,275
18% increase from 2004 after 174 Lots
2004 Average after 174 Lots = $108,007
2004 Final Premier Sale average = $111,955

1ST SESSION AGGREGATE = $15,753,000
2004 Aggregate at same stage = $14,905,000

1ST SESSION LOTS CATALOGUED = 174
2004 1st Session Lots Catalogued = 215

1ST SESSION LOTS SOLD = 120
2004 1st Session Lots Sold = 164

1ST SESSION CLEARANCE RATE = 76.4%
2004 1st Session Clearance Rate = 80%
2004 Final Premier Sale Clearance rate =83%

1ST SESSION MEDIAN = $90,000
24% increase from same stage last year
2004 Median after 174 Lots = $72,500

1ST SESSION TOP PRICE = $950,000 Zabeel x Marquise (Lot 13)
2004 1st Session Top Price = $1,000,000 Danehill x Push A Venture (Lot 159)

1ST SESSION LEADING BUYER BY AGGREGATE = Shadwell Australia, 4 Purchased for $1,005,000

TOP 10 LOTS

LOT 13 (ZABEEL X MARQUISE) $950,000
Sold by Cambridge Stud, Purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock as agent

LOT 5 (DANEHILL X MAGICAL MOMENT) $600,000
Sold by Ascot Farm, Purchased by BBA Ireland

LOT 68 (DANEHILL X PAINT ME A DREAM) $400,000
Sold by Pencarrow Stud, Purchased by De Burgh/Farrington

LOT 166 (MONTJEU X STAR) $375,000
Sold by Trelawney Stud, Purchased by Shadwell Australia

LOT 174 (MONTJEU X STELUTA) $360,000
Sold by Little Avondale Stud, Purchased by Mr L Samba

LOT 155 (STRAVINSKY X SOLANO) $350,000
Sold by Karaka Downs / Soliloquy Lodge, Purchased by Stuart Hale & Co

LOT 135 (GALILEO X SEQUENZA) $310,000
Sold by Curraghmore Stud, Purchased by Colm Santry Bloodstock Ltd

LOT 144 (DANEHILL X SIERRA FINCH) $300, 000
Sold by Pencarrow Stud, Purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock

LOT 42 (GIANT'S CAUSEWAY X NICE DANCING) $300,000
Sold by Ascot Farm, Purchased by Mr Roger James

LOT 91 (O'REILLY X PROTEACEAE) $300,000
Sold by Te Mania Thoroughbreds, Purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock as agent

LOT 105 (ZABEEL X REBECCA SHARP) $300,000
Sold by Cambridge Stud, Purchased by Shadwell Australia

1ST SESSION LEADING SIRES BY AVERAGE (3 or more sold)

1ST = Danehill 3 sold for average $433,333

2ND = Zabeel 6 sold for average $334,167

3RD = Montjeu 11 sold for average $202,727

4TH = Catbird 4 sold for average $186,667

5TH = Carnegie 3 sold for average $176,667

1ST SESSION LEADING 1ST CROP SIRES BY AVERAGE (3 or more sold)

1ST = Keeper 4 sold for average $113,750

2ND = Fantastic Light 5 sold for average $108,000

3RD = Traditionally 7 sold for average $91,071

4TH = Black Minnaloushe 12 sold for average $73,125

5TH = Viscount 3 sold for average $71,667

1ST SESSION LEADING BUYERS BY AGGREGATE

1ST = Shadwell Estate 4 Lots $1,005,000

2ND = BBA - Ireland 3 Lots $935,000

3RD = Rogerson Bloodstock 6 Lots $830,000

4TH = Mr D C Ellis 11 Lots $732,500

5TH = Mr R A James 4 Lots $592,000

1ST SESSION LEADING VENDOR BY AVERAGE (3 or more sold)

1ST = Ascot Farm 4 sold for average $307,500

2ND = Pencarrow Stud 4 sold for average $242,500

3RD = Curraghmore Stud 5 sold for average $187,500

4TH = Little Avondale Stud 3 sold for average $169,167

5TH = Cambridge Stud 16 sold for average $169,063

1ST SESSION LEADING VENDOR BY AGGREGATE

1ST = Cambridge Stud 16 sold for $2,705,000

2ND = Trelawney Stud 12 sold for $1,825,000

3RD = Windsor Park Stud 11 sold for $1,525,000

4TH = Ascot Farm 4 sold for $1,230,000

5TH = Pencarrow Stud 4 sold for $970,000

A full list of results, including selling history, can be viewed online at www.nzb.co.nz.