Record Price Tumbles at NZB Select Sale

28 January 2015

A new record price at the Karaka Select Sale of $525,000 was reached today, smashing the previous record of $300,000 set in the historic year of 2008.

Lot 610 ring6230sm

Record breaking Lot 610, sold for $525,000.

South Australian trainer Phillip Stokes saw off strong competition for Lot 610, purchasing the colt for Hong Kong based businessman Thomas Li.

Li races kiwi galloper �clair Big Bang (Savabeel), a Group 3 winner, and Group 1 winner Hucklebuck (Elvestroem) with Stokes. Stokes purchased the half-brother to �clair Big Bang for $130,000 from Phoenix Park yesterday at the Premier Sale, his only other purchase at Karaka this week.

�I bought [Lot 610] for Thomas who picked the pedigree out and asked me to look at him,� commented Stokes. �I liked the look of him and did a bit of research on Tartan Bearer before I bought him.

�He looked like a good type of staying horse. We�ll give him the time and aim him for the likes of Derbies.�

The colt is by unheralded sire Tartan Bearer, a son of Spectrum, who was a Group 2 winner in the UK and runner-up three times at Group 1 level, including finishing second to New Approach in the Group 1 Epsom Derby. He is also a full-brother to Group 1 producing sire Golan.

Tartan Bearer, whose oldest progeny are only yearlings, is agisted at Hallmark Stud for owner Andy Chui who has a selection of mares at Hallmark Stud which he breeds to the stallion each year. Lot 610 is the only horse by Tartan Bearer in the Select Sale, with one yearling by the sire entered in the Festival Sale this week. Tartan Bearer only has 12 foals from this crop.

The colt is out of Galileo mare Pink Pier, the dam of Group 2 winner Thunder Fantasy (Lucky Owners), also a runner-up in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas along with placings in the Group 1 Victoria Derby and Group 1 Australian Guineas.

The previous record at the Select Sale was $300,000 set in the bumper year of 2008, the year that the Select Sale's record aggregate, average and median prices were set which still stand today.

The figure of $525,000 is the third highest price at Karaka this week,with only two yearlings at the Premier Sale selling for more.

Stokes� one and only purchase was enough to make him the leading buyer on the first day of the Sale.

Aside from the record-breaking yearling, the first day of the Select Sale produced strong results, with the average and median prices well ahead of last year�s final figures.

Comparing to last year�s Sale, today was an encouraging start to the three-day Sale with the current average of $52,019, up by 13% on last year�s final average of $46,212. The median is currently $36,000, up from $35,000, with a clearance rate of 74%. With 135 horses sold from 207 horses catalogued, the day�s aggregate was $7,022,500.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club opened the Select Sale boldly with the 10th yearling through the ring (at Lot 455) secured for $240,000. The O�Reilly colt offered by Waikato Stud is from a winning Thorn Park mare in Kiwi Park. Waikato Stud gave buyers extra confidence by setting a $20,000 reserve on all their yearlings offered over the three-day Select Sale.

�It�s been a great start to the Select Sale,� commented NZB�s Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela. �The top Lot exceeded everyone�s expectations and just shows what can happen when two people have their hearts set on an outstanding individual.

�Beyond the excitement of the record price, the day�s selling was very strong. A lot of international buyers have stayed on from the Premier Sale and have been very active today. At the same time, we have seen domestic trainers, who have enjoyed a great success from this Sale, step up their activity as well.�

Local buyers are currently leading the charge, with $2,798,500 spent on 74 horses, with Australian buyers purchasing 34 horses today for $2,104,000.

First season sire Smart Missile was responsible for the third highest priced horse of the day with Palmerston North trainer Mike Breslin going to $220,000 to secure Lot 500 from Wellfield Lodge.

After one day of the Select Sale there has already been four horses sell for $200,000 or more, last year there was only one horse that cracked the $200,000 mark.

The fourth horse to reach $200,000 was Lot 560, a Thorn Park colt out Irish-bred mare Naturally (Mtoto), purchased by NZB as agent for a Queensland-based client from Lime Country Thoroughbreds.

International buyers currently dominate the leading buyers� list with Jamie Walter�s Proven Thoroughbreds, Melbourne trainer Henry Dwyer, Michael Freedman, Duncan Ramage, purchasing with Bart and James Cummings, and Liam Birchley all featuring in the leading individual buyers.

Local buyers were also prominent with trainer Donna Logan the second leading individual buyer with bloodstock agent Paul Moroney and domestic trainers Mike Breslin, Lisa Latta and Graeme & Debbie Rogerson all featuring inside the top ten buyers.

Leading the vendors by aggregate is the leading vendor from the Premier Sale, Waikato Stud, selling nine horses for $815,000. Unsurprisingly Hallmark Stud was the leading vendor by average with three horses sold for an average of $201,667.

The leading sire by average with three or more sold is O�Reilly with four sold for an average of $113,750. Leading the first season sires list is Pour Moi with four horses sold at an average of $62,250.

To view a highlights reel of today�s action, click here.

Selling continues from Lot 651 to 850 tomorrow from 11am at Karaka. All lots will be streamed live online at www.nzb.co.nz. Passed Lots from today can be viewed here.

2015 Select Sale Day 1 Statistics Day
2015 Select Sale Day 1 2014 Select Sale
AGGREGATE
$7,022,500
$19,224,000
AVERAGE
$52,019
$46,212
MEDIAN $36,000 $35,000
CLEARANCE 74% 75%
CATALOGUED 207 613
SOLD 135 416
TOP PRICE Lot 610 B.C Tartan Bearer x Pink Pier - $525,000 Lot 773 Br.C Savabeel x Run Brony Run - $200,000
2015 Select Sale Day 1 Top Lots
Lot Type Breeding Vendor Buyer Price
610 B.C Tartan Bearer / Pink Pier Hallmark Stud Phillip Stokes Racing (SA) $525,000
455 B.C O'Reilly / Kiwi Park Waikato Stud The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) $240,000
500 B.C Smart Missile / Lovetheoneyourwith Wellfield Lodge Mr MP Breslin (Palmerston North) $220,000
560 B.C Thorn Park / Naturally Lime Country Thoroughbreds NZB as agent $200,000
511 B.C Tavistock / Madam Forli Valachi Downs DM Logan Racing Stables (Ruakaka) $150,000
522 B.F Pour Moi / Mary Agnes Haunui Farm Henry Dwyer Racing (VIC) $140,000
530 BR.C Savabeel / Millililli Waikato Stud Proven Thoroughbreds (NSW) $140,000
570 B.C Savabeel / Now and Forever Fairdale Stud Paul Moroney Bloodstock (NSW) $140,000
589 B.F O'Reilly / Palin Waikato Stud LB Racing (QLD) $140,000
629 B.C Showcasing / Queens Move Haunui Farm Michael Freedman/Michael Wallace (Singapore) $125,000
Leading Purchasers by Aggregate
Purchaser Bought Aggregate Average Top Price
NZB as agent 17 $1,052,000 $61,882 $200,000 (Lot 560)
Phillip Stokes Racing (SA) 1 $525,000 $525,000 $525,000 (Lot 610)
DM Logan Racing Stables (Ruakaka) 3 $310,000 $103,333 $150,000 (Lot 511)
Proven Thoroughbreds (NSW) 3 $275,000 $91,667 $140,000 (Lot 530)
Paul Moroney Bloodstock (Matamata) 3 $245,000 $81,667 $140,000 (Lot 570)
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) 1 $240,000 $240,000 $240,000 (Lot 455)
Henry Dwyer Racing (VIC) 2 $222,500 $111,250 $140,000 (Lot 522)
Mr MP Breslin (Palmerston North) 1 $220,000 $220,000 $220,000 (Lot 500)
Lisa Latta Racing Stables (Palmerston North) 5 $211,000 $42,200 $65,000 (Lot 545)
Michael Freedman/Michael Wallace (Singapore) 2 $180,000 $90,000 $125,000 (Lot 629)
Rogerson Bloodstock (Hamilton) 2 $145,000 $72,500 $110,000 (Lot 646)
DGR Thoroughbred Services & Cummings & Cummings (NSW) 2 $140,000 $70,000 $110,000 (Lot 456)
LB Racing (QLD) 1 $140,000 $140,000 $140,000 (Lot 589)
Leading Vendors by Aggregate
Vendor Sold Aggregate Average Top Price
Waikato Stud 9 $815,000 $90,556 $240,000 (Lot 455)
Haunui Farm 11 $654,500 $59,500 $140,000 (Lot 522)
Hallmark Stud 3 $605,000 $201,667 $525,000 (Lot 610)
Westbury Stud 11 $585,000 $53,182 $110,000 (Lot 644)
Lime Country Thoroughbreds 5 $395,000 $79,000 $200,000 (Lot 560)
Little Avondale Stud 7 $344,500 $49,214 $90,000 (Lot 645)
Wentwood Grange 5 $224,000 $44,800 $82,500 (Lot 482)
Trelawney Stud 4 $222,000 $55,500 $110,000 (Lot 456)
Wellfield Lodge 1 $220,000 $220,000 $220,000 (Lot 500)
Fairdale Stud 2 $215,000 $107,500 $140,000 (Lot 570)
Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)
Vendor Sold Average Aggregate Top Price
Hallmark Stud 3 $201,667 $605,000 $525,000 (Lot 610)
Waikato Stud 9 $90,556 $815,000 $240,000 (Lot 455)
Lime Country Thoroughbreds 5 $79,000 $395,000 $200,000 (Lot 560)
Valachi Downs 3 $62,000 $186,000 $150,000 (Lot 511)
Haunui Farm 11 $59,500 $654,500 $140,000 (Lot 522)
Trelawney Stud 4 $55,500 $222,000 $110,000 (Lot 456)
Goodwood Stud 4 $53,750 $215,000 $95,000 (Lot 576)
Westbury Stud 11 $53,182 $585,000 $110,000 (Lot 644)
Little Avondale Stud 7 $49,214 $344,500 $90,000 (Lot 645)
Mapperley Stud 4 $48,500 $194,000 $90,000 (Lot 506)
Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)
Sire Sold Average Aggregate Top Price
O'Reilly 4 $113,750 $455,000 $240,000 (Lot 455)
Tavistock 3 $90,000 $270,000 $150,000 (Lot 511)
Showcasing 5 $71,200 $356,000 $125,000 (Lot 629)
Pour Moi* 4 $62,250 $249,000 $140,000 (Lot 522)
Savabeel 8 $59,375 $475,000 $140,000 (Lot 530)
Rip Van Winkle 5 $56,100 $280,500 $90,000 (Lot 506)
Redwood* 10 $52,700 $527,000 $110,000 (Lot 644)
Pins 7 $49,929 $349,500 $110,000 (Lot 646)
Cape Blanco* 6 $46,750 $280,500 $110,000 (Lot 456)
Nadeem 3 $45,833 $137,500 $67,500 (Lot 497)

*First Season Sire