With a brilliant closure to what has been an outstanding two days of trading, New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale broke their own record in the final moments of Day Two.
Sam and Hana Beatson’s Riversley Park offered the NZB record-breaking two-year-old, Lot 298 purchased for $700,000 in a bidding dual between Te Akau Racing’s Jamie Richards and Kingsclere Stables’ Roger James.
The prolific cross between Savabeel and the O’Reilly mare Miss Opulence caught the attention of super stable Te Akau who managed to come out on top, securing the colt for a record price.
Sam Beatson was wrapped with his final result, taking out the 2020 Ready to Run leading vendor title for the fourth consecutive year, selling 23 horses for a total turnover of $4,152,500.
“When we arrived at the sale complex we were busy from the get-go.”
“We knew he was a lovely colt and that he would bring some money in, but to make $700,000 was fantastic.”
“The online bidding has worked very successfully, people weren’t quite sure how it was going to go, but the overseas buyers got their heads around it and it has paid off,” he said.
Beatson has learned a lot from the unexpected circumstances due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
“Just give the buyers as much information on the horses as possible. They have their agents down here doing some work too but if they can see as much online as they can, that helps them and gives them confidence in what they are buying,” Beatson said.
With the help of David Ellis over the phone, Jamie Richard’s secured the Savabeel colt for a hefty price tag and Richard’s was enthusiastic about Te Akau’s new addition.
“He is a lovely colt, medium size, athletic and we thought he was the best colt in the Sale.”
“We saved the best for last and we are looking forward to getting all of our purchases back to Te Akau into the stable.”
“New Zealand Bloodstock need to be commended for the wonderful sale they have put on here at Karaka over the past few days,” he said.
“Everybody was nervous leading into the Sale and it’s unbelievable how well it has gone in the current climate and NZB really need to take a bow, they have done a wonderful job,” Richards said.
Earlier in the day, the powerhouse stable secured a Darci Brahma colt for $350,000 (Lot 219) from the newly established Lilywhites Lodge, with David Ellis claiming “he was the best Darci Brahma colt I have ever seen.”
This result attributed to Ellis’ 2020 leading purchaser title, having secured nine lots for an aggregate of $1,520,000.
Trainer John Bell purchased the second top lot of Day Two, an Exceed and Excel colt (Lot 169) out of Chateau d’Yquem for $525,000, equalling yesterday’s top price. The colt was in high demand at Karaka this year, with many domestic buyers flocking to Mark Treweek’s Lyndhurst Farm to inspect him prior to the Sale.
Bell said he never intended to spend that much although “the colt was the stand out of the Sale and he is going to Hong Kong.”
“We will trial him to see what he has got before he goes up,” Bell commented.
The third top lot of Day Two was secured by agent Bruce Perry, a Tavistock colt out of Mourasana (Lot 305) for $450,000 from Curraghmore.
Studmaster Gordon Cunningham was happy with the colt’s purchase price.
“It was a really pleasing result, he was a quality colt, very athletic by a top sire and his physique reflected his pedigree.”
“He was extremely popular from people on the ground at Karaka but we also had several overseas enquiries about him.”
“I’d really love him to fulfill his new owner’s dreams by winning a Derby in a couple of years,” Cunningham added.
The Sale bookended with a strong start on both days followed by the record-breaking result at the closure of Day Two.
Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was thrilled with the final outcome.
“It’s been an amazing success. At the start, we were cautiously optimistic but this has exceeded our wildest dreams.
“Our online bidding platform was so user friendly, worked incredibly well and is responsible for more than 31% of the total turnover.”
“To be honest we didn’t know how it was going to go but to sell 60 lots for $100,000 or more in this current climate is nothing short of phenomenal.”
To make enquiries about any Passed Lots contact Kane Jones +64 27 274 4985.
Catch all of the Ready to Run Sale highlights on NZB’s Sale TV channel here.
