A solid day of trading on Day Three of Book 1 has concluded New Zealand Bloodstock’s 95th National Yearling Sales Series with encouraging results for the New Zealand industry.
The turnover reached $50,998,000, representing an average of $123,184 for 414 horses sold. The median closed at $95,000, with the clearance rate climbing to an impressive 81%.
The conclusion of Book 1 brought a feeling of optimism to the domestic thoroughbred industry moving forward.
NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was heartened by the strong clearance rate, buyer participation and vendors willingness to meet the market.
“Going into this we were certainly navigating unchartered territories and it was amazing how our buyers stepped up.”
“Online bidding was massive, as well as all the work that the New Zealand-based trainers and agents did on the ground, it was great to see their support and willingness to help us out.
“We were hoping coming into the Sale that the kiwis would step up, there was that air of confidence, not just in the local economy but the domestic racing scene in general.
“Last year the kiwis were responsible for 38% of the Book 1 turnover, this year their overall spend reached 56%, so they have really stepped up and it’s been incredible.”
“That success, coupled with the online bidding has made it a successful Sale.”
Seabrook was also thankful for the vendors, who actively made Karaka 2021 the most open sale ever held at Karaka.
“I think the big winner in this whole digital online space is New Zealand. We’re the most remote country in the bloodstock world and I think going forward we will benefit more than any other country and it’s exciting.
“I would like to thank the vendors for the information they provided which enabled overseas buyers to be active in the most transparent sale ever held in New Zealand.
“We have three hundred horses to go on Wednesday and Thursday and there are plenty of nice horses still to be sold in Book 2.
“I think we can all be very encouraged by the success over the last three days and I’m really looking forward to the future,” Seabrook said.
The leading buyer by aggregate was none other than Karaka king pin David Ellis (CNZM), who purchased 38 yearlings for a total turnover of $7,425,000 at an average of $195,395.
Ellis was thrilled with the yearlings he secured this year.
“We bought horses at all price brackets and we have found there is a lot of people wanting to invest in this great industry.”
“When we first started looking at the yearlings a couple of months ago, we thought that the quality was a high as we have seen for many years.
“There is nothing I like more than seeing New Zealand trainers get involved in purchasing. If they want to train good horses, they have to come and buy them at Karaka because this is where most New Zealand breeders put their best horses.
“We are really confident that we have bought probably the best line up of horses that we have ever purchased out of this Sale.
“If we all stick together and put our best horses in this Sale going forward the sky is the limit,” declared Ellis.
The top lot of final session in Book 1 was Lot 520, a Savabeel colt out of Lovetessa purchased by Bruce Harvey on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $720,000 from Cambridge Stud’s draft.
There were a total of 596 unique online bids and 38% of yearlings offered were bid on by offshore buyers using NZB’s online bidding platform.
The likes of Guy Mulcaster, Danny O’Brien and Mike and Paul Moroney all targeted quality horses based on kiwi soil, using the new technology.
New Zealand-based stallions didn’t go amiss accounting for 10 of the 12 highest priced lots.
Cambridge Stud’s first season sire Almanzor had a brilliant sale, averaging $193,571 for 42 lots sold.
View the full results of Book 1 here.
To enquire about Passed Lots contact Regan Donnison on +64 21 512 466 or email regan.donnison@nzb.co.nz or Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email kane.jones@nzb.co.nz.
Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Day Three here.
All horses purchased at Karaka this week are eligible for the lucrative Karaka Million Series with two $1 million races available for graduates as two and three-year-olds, plus the CollinsonForex Karaka Cup for the duration of their career. Nominations must be received by 5pm Monday 1March 2021.
The first day of Book 2 commences tomorrow with Lot 580 to 750 going under the hammer from 1PM (NZT). View the catalogue online here.
