Record $2.4m Filly Hits Crescendo on Day Two
27 January 2025
Day Two of NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series was one for the history books, with the sale of a $2.4 million filly the highlight on a strong day of selling.
At the close of trade for the second day of Book 1, the aggregate reached $56,830,000 for 331 lots sold, with the average reaching $171,692 and clearance rate improving to 77%.
The fairytale story of the day came early, when Lot 345, a full-sister to Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel x Symphonic) was knocked down for an incredible $2.4 million, the highest price recorded for a filly sold at Karaka, and highest priced yearling in twenty-five years.
Purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller, who lead the buyers table after two days of selling, Guy Mulcaster was pleased to secure the record-breaking filly.
“She’s a beautiful filly, and the sister (Orchestral) winning on Saturday night really helped.”
“We’re lucky we’ve got a very good client that has a number of horses with us.
“We probably went a wee way past where we wanted to, but it’s an auction. We’ve got a beautiful filly, we’ll take her back to Australia and see where she ends up.”
Offered by Haunui Farm on behalf of breeders Barneswood Farm, Mark Chitty reflected on the historic moment.
“We’re just doing our job, but you dream about of these sorts of results.”
“It’s special. It just doesn’t happen every year, or every ten years.”
“When you get to those numbers, it’s all about the individuals that are taking in the auction, wanting to purchase a beautiful filly.
“She did 178 parades, and everyone looking at these yearlings have a fair bit of skin in the game.”
“The Barneswood team have spent a lot of money buying yearling fillies over the last decade, and it’s great to see them get a result,” he added.
Just ten lots earlier, a Proisir filly out of Strada Cavallo (Lot 335) reached $700,000 when offered by Curraghmore and sold to the buying group of DGR Thoroughbred Services, John Sargent Racing and Spicer Thoroughbreds.
“She was a particularly athletic filly and looks much like Powers Of Opal,” commented Duncan Ramage.
“We know through her we’ve already got a lot of residual value in this filly.
“The last time we bought a filly here for $700,000 it ended up being First Seal, so we’re hoping she can follow in her footsteps.”
After a strong day of trade, the clearance and average increased from Day One figures, while twelve countries were represented on the buyers list.
“The general consensus was that the second day of Book 1 was a superior day to the first day and that was reflected in the results, so we’re delighted that the figures, after two days, are on par with last year,” commented NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.
“I said at the start of the Sale that if we can match last year’s figures we’d be absolutely thrilled, and it looks like that might be achievable.”
Selling continues on Monday for Day Three of Book 1, where lots 481 – 661 will go through the ring from 10am (NZT) at Karaka.
The Sale is televised live in New Zealand on SKY Country TV channel 81 (Book 1), Freeview Channel 200, as well as on NZB’s website, online bidding platform and Facebook page. For those watching from Australia, Book 1 is streamed live on Racing.com.
Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Day Two online here.
View the Book 1 results here.
To enquire about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham at +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz or Andrew Buick at +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz.
Karaka 2025 Book 1, Day Two Statistics (as at the end of selling)
| 2025 BOOK 1, DAY ONE & TWO | 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 | $56,830,000 | $58,905,500 | $46,425,000 | $41,142,500 | $34,711,000 |
| AVERAGE | $171,692 | $176,893 | $154,236 | $146,415 | $124,860 |
| MEDIAN | $120,000 | $140,000 | $135,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| CLEARANCE | 77% | 77% | 76% | 74% | 80% |
| CATALOGUED | 480 | 480 | 440 | 440 | 390 |
| OFFERED | 428 | 430 | 396 | 382 | 343 |
| SOLD | 331 | 333 | 301 | 281 | 278 |
| TOP LOT | Lot 345 Savabeel - Symphonic (Br.F) $2,400,000 | 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 2025 Book 1, Day Two Top Lots
| LOT | SIRE | DAM | SEX | VENDOR | PURCHASER | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 345 | Savabeel | Symphonic | Filly | Haunui Farm | Mulcaster Bloodstock Ltd / Chris Waller Racing (NSW) | $2,400,000. |
| 335 | Proisir | Strada Cavallo | Filly | Curraghmore | DGR Thoroughbred Services (FBAA) / John Sargent Racing / Spicer Thoroughbreds (NSW) | $700,000. |
| 457 | Wootton Bassett | Aspen Colorado | Colt | Blandford Lodge | Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong) | $600,000. |
| 440 | Proisir | All Can Party | Filly | Highline Thoroughbreds | TFI / Michael Freedman Fillies / Michael Wallace (NSW) | $560,000. |
| 429 | Exceed and Excel | Addison | Filly | Trelawney Stud Ltd | Richard & Will Freedman (NSW) | $500,000. |
| 356 | Savabeel | The Solitaire | Colt | Milan Park | The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) | $475,000. |
| 377 | Capitalist | Unique Magic | Colt | Wentwood Grange | Patella Bloodstock (Waikato) | $460,000. |
| 266 | Almanzor | Santa Catarina | Filly | Elsdon Park | Forsman Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock (Waikato) | $450,000. |
| 381 | Savabeel | Vamos Bebe | Colt | Trelawney Stud Ltd | Mulberry Racing (NSW) | $425,000. |
| 255 | Savabeel | Rondinella | Filly | Haunui Farm | Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Waikato) | $400,000. |
| 260 | Frankel | Russian Camilla | Colt | Woburn Farm | Pike Racing (Waikato) | $400,000. |
| 277 | Almanzor | Sea Goddess | Filly | The Oaks Stud | Mr Gary Lechte (VIC) | $400,000. |
| 417 | Snitzel | Zayydani | Colt | Trelawney Stud Ltd | Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) | $400,000. |
| 461 | Sword of State | Astor | Colt | Trelawney Stud Ltd | KPW Bloodstock (QLD) | $400,000. |