Record Price Set For RTR Select Session

The Select Session of New Zealand Bloodstock's 2005 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka was completed today with a record top price set by New Zealand's champion sire, Zabeel.

The much-awaited colt by Zabeel from Foreign Copy (by Bold Venture) attracted bids from a number of competing buyers but was finally knocked down for NZ$420,000 to Ginger Tankard's Waikato Bloodstock. The colt, offered by Esker Lodge, is a full brother to multiple Group winners, Cronus and Pravda.

After a slow start early in the day, the bidding in the Karaka sales ring gathered momentum over the course of the afternoon as the expectations of buyers and sellers found common ground. Buyers were selective in their buying, but desireable lots faced fierce competition from a broad international buying bench.

The Select Session average finished up at NZ$59,992 down a fraction from $60,868 last year but the median recorded a huge 54% increase from NZ$32,500 last year to NZ$50,000 with 18 lots fetching NZ$100,000 or more. The Session grossed NZ$7,310,500 for 122 lots sold down from NZ$7,700,500 for 127 lots sold at this stage last year. The clearance rate was down from 66% to 63.8%.

New Zealand Bloodstock Marketing Manager, Petrea Vela, commented, "Overall it has been a satisfactory day of selling at Karaka. The trend we have seen in recent Sales has continued and strong entries sold very well but buyers were picky in their purchasing.

"We have been disappointed with the clearance rate, down from last year at just under 64%. However there are still a number of buyers here yet to secure the horses they were after so we hope to see this improve in the General Session tomorrow."

"We were thrilled to see such a large selection of international buyers present at Karaka. In particular, it was pleasing to see a strong Malaysian presence back in the market, having been absent for the past few years. There was also considerable buying power from Hong Kong plus Singapore, Macau, Australian and Korean buyers were all very active."

The leading buyer was Hong Kong bloodstock agent, Willie Leung of Magus Equine Ltd, who purchased 5 lots for a total of NZ$570,000. The top price he paid was for Lot 124, a colt from the first crop of Keeper from Eva's Belle (by Grosvenor), purchased for NZ$160,000.

The second top lot of the Sale was Lot 57, a colt by Kentucky Derby winning sire, Fusaichi Pegasus from Tremone Bay (by Last Tycoon). The colt was purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock as agent for a Hong Kong buyer, for NZ$250,000.

Lot 103, a colt by Galileo from top performing mare, Catamarca (by Gold Brose), was purchased by Hong Kong agent, Joseph Loong, for NZ$235,000. Loong also secured Lot 73, a colt by O'Reilly from Zangla (by Fabulous Dancer) which he purchased for NZ$100,000.

The General Session will commence tomorrow at 11am with 149 horses catalogued for sale.

Select Session Summary

Select Session Average = $59,922
($60,868 last year)

Colts Average = $68,338 ($70,007 last year)
Fillies Average = $54,028 ($47,833 last year)

Top Price = $420,000 for Lot 132
($270,000 last year)

Session Aggregate = $7,310,500 (122 lots sold)
($7,700,500 for 127 lots last year)

Clearance Rate = 63.8%
(66% last year)

Leading Individual Buyer by Aggregate:
Magus Equine Ltd, Hong Kong: 5 Lots for $570,000

Leading Vendor by Aggregate:
Esker Lodge: 5 Sold for aggregate $755,500 & average $151,100

2005 Ready to Run Sale Top 10 Lots