It was a solid day's trade at the opening session of New Zealand Bloodstock's three-day Select Sale today at Karaka, highlighted by the $170,000 Pentire filly presented as the second to last lot of the day.
Offered by Mark & Denny Baker's Hallmark Stud, the filly from Redoute's Choice mare Eyes Light Up at Lot 724 was secured by John White Bloodstock.
"She was just a real smart filly, purchased for Bevan Laming in Queensland. He bought two fillies in the Sale, the one earlier in the day was Lot 526.
"He'll think about it over the next few days whether he sends them to his Brisbane or Melbourne stable."
Before the Pentire filly's (pictured) late run for top spot, the top price for most of the day was $160,000 paid for Lots 576 and 665.
The first came at Lot 576, when the colt by freshman sire Any Suggestion (Lion Hunter) was knocked down to the bid of Western Australia trainer Wally Mitchell. With Any Suggestion claiming Sunday night's Karaka Million winner, Ockham's Razor, Mitchell identified this colt as an ideal prospect for next year's $1 million incentive race.
"We bought him mainly for the Karaka Million and we will be aiming for that. He will stay with Murray Baker in preparation for the big race. We nearly made the field this year with Testimonial Mac and we are keen to have another go at it.
"He had a strength that drew me to him, I owned Placid Ark who was Horse of the Year and he reminded me a lot of him with a similar build through the shoulder.
"We were also the under-bidder on the three-quarter brother to So You Think and we were disappointed to not get him as we got to $775,000. We ended up purchasing Lot 69 by High Chaparral, the three-quarter brother to Monaco Consul (Lot 69), and overall we are very happy with what we've got at Karaka."
Later in the Sale Lot 665 shared the top spot when knocked down to South African agent Andy Williams' Worldwide Bloodstock. The colt by Towkay, offered by Little Avondale Stud, is from the Dance Floor mare Dancing Daze.
With the first of the 164 Select Sale entries being presented for sale today, 146 have sold for $6,684,750 at an average of $45,786, at a clearance rate of 76%.
New Zealand Bloodstock Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela is very pleased with how the session has started.
"It's been a good strong start to the Select Sale with lots of Australian and Asian buyers still here from the Premier Sale and a few more that have arrived particularly for this session. Also the local buyers are out there competing which is encouraging for the few days ahead. Our clearance rate is holding up very well which is pleasing and our figures are in line with last year so if we could maintain that momentum for the next two days it will be a good result."
With Lot 576 reflected in the buyers sheets under the John Chalmers Bloodstock banner, it is Chalmers who is currently the leading Select Sale buyer with four bought for $347,500 at an average of $86,875. Chalmers also secured 11 yearlings at the Premier Sale.
Also with four purchases so far is local buyer Trent Busuttin, the trainer of VRC Derby winner Sangster and recent Group 2 winner Six O'Clock News. Today he paid a top price of $115,000 for the Thorn Park colt at Lot 543.
"This is the first year I've walked on to Karaka with buying orders from owners and it has meant a lot of hard work from all our staff," commented Busuttin earlier in the week.
"I believe the biggest risk you can take as a trainer is taking no risk and that's the reason why I'm taking so much time to inspect a lot of yearlings as I want to buy quality horses to strengthen the depth of our stable."
Standing both Pentire and Any Suggestion, John & Colleen Thompson's Rich Hill Stud is having a strong hand at the Select Sale so far, with Pentire the leading sire of the session and the stud currently the leading vendor by aggregate.
Sam & Catriona Williams' Little Avondale Stud is heading the vendors list by average with five sold for $372,000 at an average of $74,400. Both Studs have a number of entries still to be offered tomorrow and Friday.
Selling will resume tomorrow from 11am, with Lots 726 to 930. The final day of the Select Sale will continue on Friday with Lots 931 to 1136.
To check out full sale details go to the Breednet Sales Centre.
2012 Select Sale Day One Statistics
2012 Day 1 |
2011 Select Sale |
|
Aggregate |
$6,684,750 |
$19,107,000 |
Average |
$45,786 |
$45,711 |
Median |
$35,000 |
$39,000 |
Lots Catalogued |
209 |
627 |
Lots Sold |
146 |
418 |
Clearance Rate |
76% |
73% |
Top Price |
$170,000 |
$290,000 |
2012 Top Price - Lot 724 B.F Pentire x Eyes Light Up - $170,000 |
||
2011 Top Price - Lot 540 B.F Iffraaj x Sayyida - $290,000 |