Historic Start to Karaka

Cambridge Stud took centre stage on the first day of New Zealand Bloodstock's Premier Sale at Karaka today, providing a host of highlights on a very solid opening day's trade.

The star of the day was Sir Patrick Hogan who led the very last yearling by Cambridge Stud's legendary sire Zabeel through the ring, the first yearling he has led through the ring in many years.

Retired from active duty last season, Zabeel is responsible for ten $1 million yearlings at Karaka including the highest ever price - $3.6 million paid for Don Eduardo in 2000, an Australasian record price that stood for 13 years.

As Lot 102 entered the ring there was standing room only in the auditorium at Karaka. It was packed with interested followers, scenes reminiscent of the day Don Eduardo entered the record books. He was eventually knocked down for $160,000 to Marcus Corban Bloodstock.

"It was an absolutely huge buzz and felt fantastic personally," commented Hogan. "It brought back lots of memories from when I used to lead each and every lot through the ring at Trentham and then, in later years, at Karaka.

"It was so exciting and is the part of the industry I miss the most, I would love to still be leading each lot through the ring today.

"He is a lovely horse and responded beautifully. Once I was in the ring, it all came flooding back and felt very natural."

"It is so lovely that Zabeel is still here at the age of rising 29 and left a Derby winner from his last three-year-old crop. Today was all about him and his success and it felt like a great chance to honour him."

The day's results are almost exactly in line with last year's Premier Sale statistics, with the average price increasing slightly to $145,866, the median price currently $110,000, and the clearance rate finishing at 74% today.

Cambridge Stud was in the thick of the action as they offered the two top-priced horses of the day. The highest price came at Lot 37, purchased for $470,000 by Melbourne trainer Peter Moody.The colt by More Than Ready is out of Group 2 winning mare Lovetrista (Rock of Gibraltar), a daughter of dual Group 1 winner Tristalove (Sir Tristram) who is the dam of three stakes winners including Group 1 winner Viking Ruler (Danehill). This is the family of Cambridge Stud's matriarch mare Eight Carat.

Moody is regular visitor to New Zealand, casting his eye over yearlings well before arriving at Karaka.

"This particular colt took my eye when I looked at him on Wednesday," commented Moody. "I saw him on the farm as a young horse and I've seen how much he's come on so I was very taken with him.

"With a horse like this out of that wonderful family of Sir Patrick's we should be able to split him up with some clients and hopefully he's going to have a few companions on the way home."

Moody bought six horses today for a total of $890,000 including two purchases with Dalziel Racing, already surpassing his spend over both days of last year's Premier Sale.

Moments before Lot 37 was knocked down, Graeme & Debbie Rogerson went to $450,000 to secure Lot 36, a colt by first season sire Cape Blanco out of another daughter of Tristalove in Love Diamonds, once again from Cambridge Stud.

Love Diamonds is also from the much sought after Eight Carat family being a winning daughter of Tristalove, making her a half-sister to Lovetrista along with Group 1 winner Viking Ruler.

On track to becoming the leading buyer at Karaka for the 10th consecutive year is Te Akau Racing's David Ellis, ending the first day with 13 yearlings purchased for $1,970,000. Ellis paid a top price of $400,000 for two of four horses knocked down at that level today.

Ellis bought Lot 58 for $400,000 from Lyndhurst Farm, a colt by Snitzel out of a stakes performed US-bred mare Mini Tales (Tale of the Cat). He went to $400,000 again to secure Lot 85 from Curraghmore Stud, a half-brother to Group 1 Doncaster Handicap winner Triple Honour (Honours List) by Fastnet Rock.

Ellis was also the underbidder on the historic Zabeel colt at Lot 102.

There was a strong Australian influence from the buying bench with Chris Waller, Duncan Ramage and Peter Moody all featuring in the top five individual buyers, along with Dean Hawthorne purchasing for his Victorian-based client.

Ramage purchased three horses for a total of $720,000 under his DGR Thoroughbred Services banner, and bought a further three horses for $425,000 with Bart & James Cummings, making total of six purchases so far for $1,145,000, and the second leading buyer behind Ellis.

Other Australian purchasers today included Kitchwin Hills Stud, Mick Price, Gai Waterhouse, Tom Moore, Pritchard-Gordon Racing, John Chalmers, Bahen Bloodstock/Gangemi Racing, Nigel Blackiston and more.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club was active once again with two purchases for $560,000 so far, the leading spend from Hong Kong.

Aside from Ellis, local buyers also featured heavily with Rogerson Bloodstock, Brendan & Jo Lindsay, Bruce Perry & Paul Moroney all featuring in top 10 individual buyers.

Last year's leading vendor by aggregate, Waikato Stud, is on track to defend its title with 20 horses sold for $3,625,000. The leading vendor by average with three or more sold was Hallmark Stud - responsible for selling last night's Karaka Million winner Hardline - selling three horses today for an average of $213,333.

The leading sire by average with three or more sold was Fastnet Rock, who has been the leading sire at Karaka for the past four years. The sire has seen his five yearlings sold for $1,350,000 at an average of $270,000, with a top price of $400,000. The second leading sire by average was New Zealand's leading sire Savabeel with 23 yearlings sold for $4,290,000.

Cambridge Stud was to the fore again with its first season sire Cape Blanco leading the freshman sire's list by average with eight horses sold for $1,180,000.

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

Selling continues on Day 2 of the Premier Sale tomorrow at 11am (from Lot 231), with coverage continuing live on Trackside and also online at www.nzb.co.nz . To view the passed in Lots from today, click here.

2015 Premier Yearling Sale Statistics

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