Strong Trade Continues at NZB Select

Strong trade on the second day of NZB's three-day Select Sale at Karaka has the average and median tracking ahead of last year's edition.

The average for the first two days of the Select Sale sits at $50,036 with one day of selling to go, 8% higher than last year's final Sale average of $46,212. The median is also tracking well, at $38,500 for the day and currently $36,750 overall, up 5% on last year's figure of $35,000.

Turnover so far is $13,309,500 for 266 horses sold, at a clearance rate of 74%.

The highest priced horse of the day came early at Lot 657 (17 lots into the Sale), purchased by Tony Pike for $210,000 for his Australian-based owner Colin Keane whose horses all carry 'Eagle' in their name. The colt becomes the fifth horse to reach $200,000 at this year's Sale, including yesterday's record breaking price of $525,000. Last year, only one horse fetched $200,000 or more.

Offered by Kirkwall Thoroughbreds, Lot 657 is by New Zealand's four-time Champion Sire O'Reilly from the winning Zabeel mare, Saheel. Legendary sire Zabeel is a prolific broodmare sire with 23 Group 1 winners as damsire to date.

"He's a colt we picked out a couple of days ago and we liked him from the start," commented Pike. "He cost enough but compared with what nice O'Reillys were selling for in K1 he was reasonably priced.

"It's a good cross with an extremely proven broodmare sire and I've had some luck with O'Reilly's progeny in the past with the likes of Sacred Falls, so hopefully this one turns out something like him."

O'Reilly is the leading sire at the Select Sale by average with three or more horses sold. The Waikato Stud sire has had nine yearlings sell for an average of $103,056. Following close behind is young sire Tavistock with six sold at an average of $95,167.

Tavistock, the sire of leading three-year-old Volkstok'n'barrell, was responsible for the day's third highest price with Lot 710 purchased for $185,000 by successful Ready to Run Sale vendor Shane Crawford of Regal Farm.

The second highest price of the day was $190,000 paid by Queensland trainer John Morrisey for Lot 833, a colt by Derby winning sire Authorized from Hallmark Stud.

Hallmark is enjoying a stellar week, providing both yesterday's record-breaking Lot and the Karaka Million winner Hardline. Having sold all ten horses in their draft so far, Hallmark Stud is the leading vendor by both aggregate and average with their ten horses selling for a total of $1,171,000 at an average of $117,100.

Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan purchased a further two horses today, taking her total spend to $427,500 on five horses. Logan is the second leading buyer behind Phillip Stokes, buyer of the top Lot yesterday.

The third leading buyer was Paul Chow's Tartan Meadow Bloodstock purchasing five horses for $405,000 with a top price of $100,000 for Lot 761.

Palmerston North trainer Lisa Latta has bought the most horses at the Select session so far, with eight purchases for $373,000, including a top price of $120,000 paid for Lot 653.

International buyers have had a strong presence at the Sale with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Jamie Walter's Proven Thoroughbreds, Morrisey and Henry Dwyer all in the top 10 buyers list, while kiwi bloodstock agents Bruce Perry and Paul Moroney also are inside the top 10 buyers.

Among the interesting buyers at Karaka today included international trainer Luca Cumani travelling from his base in Newmarket. Cumani was the successful bidder of Lot 840, buying in conjunction with local bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo. The pair went to $60,000 to secure the filly by Road to Rock from Little Avondale Stud.

New Zealand cricket captain Brendan McCullum also featured on the buyers list under his Vermair Racing banner, buying Lot 756 for $70,000 from Wellfield Lodge.

The leading first season sire is still Pour Moi with 10 horses sold for an average of $54,900 for a total of $549,000.

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

Selling continues from Lot 851 to 1035 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 and 2 Statistics

Top Lots Overall