Strong Results at Sunday's Spring Sale

New Zealand Bloodstock's auction ring was firing this afternoon with the final Spring Sale posting strong results for vendors.

In spite of this year's smaller catalogue being beset by several late withdrawals leaving just over 130 horses offered for sale, there was keen demand for what was on offer. The buying bench boasted an active presence from overseas buyers, in particular from Australia and Hong Kong, while local buyers were also eager to compete for the good quality entries.

Overall the sale average saw impressive 47% growth from last year to $15,082, and the overall sale turnover was $1,219,750 (from $1,429,600 in 2004) for 75 fewer lots sold.

Bidding got underway with yearlings, two year olds, untried and raced stock with Lot 5 an early highlight with a yearling by Australian Derby-winning sire, Don Eduardo, from Super Song (Mellifont), fetching $24,000.

The broodmare session gathered momentum over the course of the afternoon and saw hot competition amongst local and overseas bidders for quality mares, highlighted by the sale of Citidevil by Citidancer from Bright Devil (Harrisand) sold by Curraghmore Stud at Lot 99 for $80,000. Bought by New Zealand Bloodstock as agent for an Australian buyer, the mare is the dam of three winners from three to race and is in foal to promising sire, Montjeu.

The second leading priced broodmare was Tell Tale (Capote) at Lot 71, purchased by Auckland bloodstock agent, Michael Otto, for $75,000. The mare, from Gone West mare, Western Approach, was herself a winner at two and has not yet been to stud. Next leading broodmare was Lot 77, a Zabeel mare from the famed Eight Carat family sold by Cambridge Stud to Dean Hawthorne for $67,500.

The broodmare session was rounded off with 14 mares offered as part of Masey and David Benjamin's Fayette Park Stud unreserved broodmare dispersal sale. The Benjamin's strong sale saw them sell six of the ten top broodmare lots, headed by the Grosvenor mare, La Banca, which sold for $65,000. La Banca is a seven-time winner and was purchased by Keith Neylon's Grange Farm in foal to Postponed.

Vendors were realistic in their expectations and met the market with their offering, resulting in a healthy clearance rate of 79%. The broodmare session average saw a 35% increase from last year to $15,082, which also represented a huge 72% increase from the National Weanling & Broodmare Sale earlier in the year which saw mares average $8,794.

Marketing & PR Manager, Petrea Vela commented, "We were unsure heading into the Sale whether the huge number of withdrawals would have a big impact on today's outcome, but it was pleasing to see that there was still strong demand for the better quality stock. The noticeable improvement in the results at this Sale from Karaka's broodmare sale in May augers well for the changes to our calendar next year which sees our national broodmare sale scheduled for next July.

We're sad to see the final farewell from Fayette Park Stud who have been so active in the industry for so many years, but we are very happy for them that they recorded such good results today and wish them the very best of luck for the future."

Next year will see a change in format to New Zealand Bloodstock's sales calendar with the National Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale being moved from May to 24 & 25 July. There will be a dedicated National Weanling Sale on 7 & 8 May at Karaka and an Autumn Mixed Bloodstock Sale on 9th April.

The full list of Spring Sale results can be viewed at www.nzb.co.nz

BROODMARE RESULTS

STATISTICS

TOP BROODMARE LOTS

TOTAL SALE SUMMARY