New Records Set at 2013 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka
20 November 2013
NZB’s 2013 Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs concluded today at Karaka, with spirited bidding providing a string of highlights including a new record average, median, turnover and, after six years, a new leading vendor.
With 437 two-year-olds catalogued over the past two days – 30 more than last year – 232 were sold for a record turnover of $18,462,500, up 3% on the previous record set last year of $17,852,000 where 13 more horses were sold.
The final Sale average was $79,580, up 9% on last year’s record of $72,865. Similarly the median of $50,000 set a new record, up 4% on last year’s $48,000. The clearance rate improved through the day to end up at 62%.
“There has been some very good competition over the past two days, particularly at the top end of the market,” commented NZB Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela.
“We would have liked to see the clearance rate strengthen even further, but the returns are still ahead of last year with some very pleasing results. We are grateful for the support of all who have participated this week, and wish buyers the very best of luck with their Karaka purchases.”
BUYERS
With notable buying strength at the top of the market, yesterday’s top price of $320,000 for Lot 201 was surpassed twice today. The first time was with the O’Reilly colt at Lot 319 bought by Sydney-based Round Table Racing & James Harron Bloodstock for $340,000.
The half-brother to last weekend’s Group 3 winner Floria (Savabeel) was knocked down to the bid of Bruce Slade, director of Round Table Racing.
“He was our number one pick of the Sale,” commented Slade. “He’s not only physical but we did a lot of stride analysis and he has a great gallop as well as probably the best pedigree in the Sale. He picked himself really. Thankfully we had enough to secure him.”
“Gai Waterhouse will be training him. We will target three-year-old middle distance races in Australia with him as he fits into that category and the New Zealand breds have it to themselves.”
“We’ve selected this Sale because it has been getting results and with these horses we’re one step closer to getting to the races for the owners.”
Later in the day came the top price of the two-day Sale, with the High Chaparral colt at Lot 401 bought by David Ellis for $430,000. The colt offered by Regal Farm is from the unraced Zabeel mare Deduction, a three-quarter sister to Might and Power and a half-sister to Miss Power Bird and Lucky Owners.
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Top Lot 401 purchased by David Ellis for $430,000. |
“I genuinely think this is the nicest colt I’ve bought here at Karaka since Darci Brahma,” commented Ellis. “He’s an absolutely stunning colt, on the same cross as It’s a Dundeel.”
“At the Karaka Sales in January I bought four colts for a syndicate that had the misfortune of losing the Fastnet Rock colt when he broke his leg at trackwork just a couple of weeks ago. So I have bought this colt to replace him.”
“He’s a colt that we could send to Christchurch for the 2000 Guineas and then train on for the New Zealand Derby and the big staying races in Australia.”
“This is a Sale that we enjoy coming to and that we’ve had a lot of success from so that keeps us coming back. There have been a lot of very nice horses presented here and I’m sure there will be a lot of good horses that will come from the Sale.”
David Ellis was the leading purchaser of the Ready to Run Sale with seven two-year-olds purchased for $910,000 at an average of $130,000. Spending from $40,000 to $430,000 per horse, Ellis also bought colts by Iffraaj, Keeper, Murtajil, Nicconi, Guillotine and a gelding by Shinko King.
Notwithstanding Ellis’s presence, the day’s results reflected the broad international buying bench that has been in action throughout the Sale, with buyers from Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, China, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The second leading buyer was Singapore trainer Shane Baertschiger, with seven Lots purchased including a top price of $170,000 paid for the Align colt at Lot 398 from Westbury Stud.
Amongst the notable new faces was the China Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group, the third leading individual buyer at the Sale with six Lots purchased for $655,000 at an average of $109,167. Amongst the Group’s purchases was a top price of $220,000 paid for the Holy Roman Emperor colt at Lot 371, and half-brother to Group 1 winner Young Centaur offered by Regal Farm, plus colts by Savabeel (2), Iffraaj, Alamosa and filly by Align.
“The good price and good quality are the main reasons we are targeting New Zealand horses,” commented Mr Lang. “Compared with other racehorse sales in the world, Irish and American for example, the horses in New Zealand are more affordable, especially because of the free trade agreement between New Zealand and China.”
“We have purchased over 400 horses from New Zealand since last year and recently met with New Zealand’s Ministry of Agriculture who told us that China imports 20% of resources from New Zealand.”
“Of the horses we have purchased at this Sale the Savabeel [Lot 26] and the Holy Roman Emperor [Lot 371] will remain in New Zealand and we will target the New Zealand Derby and hopefully other Australasian races. The Iffraaj and the Alamosa will be going back to China.”
Australia has been the most dominant force at the Sale for the third year in a row, with a spend of nearly $5.5 million on 49 horses. After Australia was Hong Kong with 41 horses bought for $4.8 million. New Zealand buyers have secured more than 60 horses for $3.2 million.
VENDORS
After an exceptional six-year reign at the top of the vendor tables, Lyndhurst Farm enjoyed another strong day’s trade but was edged out of the top vendor spot by Jeremy Whale’s Diamond Lodge.
With 21 of its 29 entries sold for $2,426,000, Diamond Lodge’s tally today included colts sold for $340,000 (Lot 319 by O’Reilly), $280,000 (Lot 327 by New Approach) and $220,000 (Lot 328 by Postponed).
“I am over the moon, I made the decision early to pledge my full draft to New Zealand Bloodstock and it has paid off,” commented Whale. “It is only our fourth year doing the Sale and to be topping the Sale on aggregate was a goal when we started but I didn’t think it would come this quick so I’m really pleased.
“The highlight was the O’Reilly colt out of Aria, he was a lovely colt and was very popular. We always thought he was going to make good money but we didn’t think he was going to make that much but it just shows you that all you need is two people that really like the horse.”
On the Vendor list by average (with three or more sold) Bruce and Maureen Harvey’s Ascot Farm took top honours, with three sold at an average of $190,000. Lyndhurst Farm was second with 15 entries sold at an average of $150,067.
George & Maryanne Simon’s Mana Park was third on the list by aggregate, with their 22 Lots sold including the highest priced filly of the Sale. Lot 323 by Fastnet Rock from Astonish (Cape Cross) was bought by Hong Kong’s Nestor Chan for $200,000.
SIRES
With representation by over 100 sires in this year’s catalogue there was wide diversity of demand. Of those individual sires with three or more Lots sold, New Zealand sires Savabeel, O’Reilly and Pentire filled the top three spots respectively by average, with Savabeel at the top with eight lots sold at an average nearly double that of the Sale average at $153,750. Savabeel’s top priced lot was Lot 373 bought by Queensland bloodstock agent John Foote for Hong Kong-based trainer David Hall.
Full results from this week’s 2013 Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs can be viewed online. To make enquiries about any Passed Lots visit www.nzb.co.nz.
2013 Ready to Run Sale Statistics
| 2013 Ready to Run Sale | 2012 Ready to Run Sale | |
|---|---|---|
| AGGREGATE | $18,462,500 | $17,852,000 |
| AVERAGE | $79,580 | $72,865 |
| MEDIAN | $50,000 | $48,000 |
| CLEARANCE | 62% | 72% |
| CATALOGUED | 437 | 407 |
| SOLD | 232 | 245 |
| TOP LOT | $430,000 (B.C. High Chaparral / Deduction) | $480,000 (B.C. Fastnet Rock / Oraia) |
Top Lots
| Lot | Type | Breeding | Vendor | Purchaser | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | B. C | High Chaparral / Deduction | Regal Farm | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $430,000 |
| 319 | BR. C | O'Reilly / Aria | Diamond Lodge | Round Table Racing/James Harron B/S (NSW) | $340,000 |
| 201 | B. C | Holy Roman Emperor / Rule the Waves | Lyndhurst Farm | Fraternity Thoroughbreds (NSW) | $320,000 |
| 122 | BR. G | Bernardini / Miguelita | Lyndhurst Farm | Magus Equine (Hong Kong) | $300,000 |
| 327 | B. C | New Approach / Bal des Sirenes | Diamond Lodge | Mr CK Leung (Hong Kong) | $280,000 |
| 167 | B. C | Northern Meteor / Pastel Rose | Diamond Lodge | Gary Moore Racing (Macau) | $270,000 |
| 304 | B. C | O'Reilly / Zaire | Lyndhurst Farm | Aquanita Racing (VIC) | $260,000 |
| 373 | BR. G | Savabeel / Chai Latte | Regal Farm | John Foote Bloodstock (QLD) | $260,000 |
| 241 | B. G | Encosta de Lago / Starspangled | Ascot Farm | Flemington Bloodstock/Gangemi Racing (WA) | $250,000 |
| 307 | B. G | Savabeel / Zephyr Song | 888 Bloodstock Ltd | Cameron Cooke Bloodstock (VIC) | $240,000 |
| 155 | B. C | Exceed and Excel / On Hallowed Ground | Mana Park | Fraternity Thoroughbreds (NSW) | $240,000 |
| 365 | BB G | Domesday / Cashcade | Esker Lodge | Round Table Racing/James Harron B/S (NSW) | $240,000 |
Leading Purchasers by Aggregate
| Purchaser | Location | Bought | Aggregate | Average | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr DC Ellis | Te Akau | 7 | $910,000 | $130,000 | $430,000 (Lot 401) |
| NZB as agent | 13 | $699,500 | $53,808 | $130,000 (Lot 427) | |
| Mr S Baertschiger | Singapore | 7 | $690,000 | $98,571 | $170,000 (Lot 398) |
| China Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group | China | 6 | $655,000 | $109,167 | $220,000 (Lot 371) |
| Round Table Racing/James Harron B/S | New South Wales | 2 | $580,000 | $290,000 | $340,000 (Lot 319) |
| Fraternity Thoroughbreds | New South Wales | 2 | $560,000 | $280,000 | $320,000 (Lot 201) |
| John Chalmers Bloodstock | Western Australia | 4 | $530,000 | $132,500 | $220,000 (Lot 63) |
| Mr M Chang | Hong Kong | 4 | $475,000 | $118,750 | $170,000 (Lot 81) |
| Magus Equine | Hong Kong | 2 | $450,000 | $225,000 | $300,000 (Lot 122) |
| Mr NC Chan | Hong Kong | 8 | $440,500 | $55,063 | $200,000 (Lot 323) |
Leading Vendors by Aggregate
| Vendor | Sold | Aggregate | Average | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Lodge | 21 | $2,426,000 | $115,524 | $340,000 (Lot 319) |
| Lyndhurst Farm | 15 | $2,251,000 | $150,067 | $320,000 (Lot 201) |
| Mana Park | 22 | $1,935,000 | $87,955 | $240,000 (Lot 155) |
| Regal Farm | 14 | $1,930,000 | $137,857 | $430,000 (Lot 401) |
| Beatson Stables Ltd | 15 | $936,500 | $62,433 | $170,000 (Lot 429) |
| Westbury Stud | 12 | $824,500 | $68,708 | $170,000 (Lot 398) |
| Anzac Lodge | 7 | $815,000 | $116,429 | $170,000 (Lot 81) |
| Ascot Farm | 3 | $570,000 | $190,000 | $250,000 (Lot 241) |
| Kilgravin Lodge | 10 | $523,000 | $52,300 | $110,000 (Lot 160) |
| Venture Thoroughbreds Ltd | 9 | $492,500 | $54,722 | $120,000 (Lot 15) |
Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)
| Vendor Name | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascot Farm | 3 | $190,000 | $570,000 | $250,000 (Lot 241) |
| Lyndhurst Farm | 15 | $150,067 | $2,251,000 | $320,000 (Lot 201) |
| Regal Farm | 14 | $137,857 | $1,930,000 | $430,000 (Lot 401) |
| Anzac Lodge | 7 | $116,429 | $815,000 | $170,000 (Lot 81) |
| Diamond Lodge | 21 | $115,524 | $2,426,000 | $340,000 (Lot 319) |
| Esker Lodge | 4 | $97,750 | $391,000 | $240,000 (Lot 365) |
| Mana Park | 22 | $87,955 | $1,935,000 | $240,000 (Lot 155) |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds Ltd | 5 | $82,000 | $410,000 | $130,000 (Lot 334) |
| Phoenix Park | 6 | $81,417 | $488,500 | $140,000 (Lot 432) |
| Windsor Park Stud | 5 | $76,000 | $380,000 | $150,000 (Lot 227) |
Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)
| Sire | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savabeel | 8 | $153,750 | $1,230,000 | $260,000 (Lot 373) |
| O'Reilly | 11 | $141,364 | $1,555,000 | $340,000 (Lot 319) |
| Pentire | 5 | $107,000 | $535,000 | $200,000 (Lot 192) |
| Align | 4 | $106,250 | $425,000 | $170,000 (Lot 398) |
| Bachelor Duke | 6 | $103,833 | $623,000 | $210,000 (Lot 139) |
| Postponed | 5 | $97,000 | $485,000 | $220,000 (Lot 328) |
| Mastercraftsman | 8 | $96,250 | $770,000 | $220,000 (Lot 63) |
| Manhattan Rain | 3 | $80,000 | $240,000 | $100,000 (Lot 275, 51) |
| Darci Brahma | 6 | $76,667 | $460,000 | $130,000 (Lot 427) |
| Any Suggestion | 3 | $75,000 | $225,000 | $130,000 (Lot 219) |