Million Dollar Moment Highlights Karaka Day 1

New Zealand Bloodstock saw an exhilarating start to its 96th National Yearling Sales Series, with a strong buying bench welcomed both on the grounds and online, at the Karaka Sales Centre. 

At the close of trading for the opening session of Book 1 at Karaka 2022, 126 yearlings sold for a total turnover of $20,042,500, with most key Sale indicators climbing significantly on 2021’s results.

Day One saw an 18% increase in total aggregate, while the average increased by 22% and the median climbed significantly by 25%.

NZB’s Director of Sales, Danny Rolston, was pleased with the increase in statistics.

“To have nearly every statistic up is fantastic, we would like a higher clearance rate obviously, but the turnover has been great and the push on the proven sires was there.”

“We have seen a really good day for the New Zealand breeding and racing industry. A million dollars is great, we don’t get a million dollar yearling every year and Savabeel has done that for us this year.

“The confidence level is really high and once the lots get above $400,000 or $500,000, what it takes is competition. You certainly need people to value them that highly, which is what we saw.

“A lot of the Australian-based New Zealanders that have come home have been so strong today. It was a huge advantage to have them here and is great to have that flavour added back into the Sale. This, coupled with the strength of our domestic buying bench, sees us anticipate another great five days of trading,” Rolston said.

The highlight on day one came during the afternoon, when Lot 161, a full brother to Group One-winner Mo’unga (NZ) was knocked down for $1,000,000 to Kacy Fogden on behalf of Mr T Fung and Annabel Neasham Racing.

The colt by New Zealand’s Champion sire Savabeel is out of prominent Waikato Stud broodmare Chandelier.

Fogden, who was in a bidding dual against New Zealand industry titian David Ellis to secure the colt, commented on the monumental purchase.

“It helps when you have a nice judge underbidding, but it probably isn’t a match I would like to do again in a hurry.”

”I think with Aquis owning Mo’unga he’s obviously a pretty special horse to us. We were prepared for it, we would have liked him to be not as much, but that is the colt he is, he’s a quality colt so you’ve got to buy the one you want.”  

“We love New Zealand, obviously I’m a little bit biased but it’s a beautiful Sale to come to and the stock is always fantastic. There’s horses that come out of here and perform on the world stage so we love it,” she said.

Kiwi expat Andrew Williams, in partnership with trainer Andrew Forsman and agent Bevan Smith, purchased the second highlight lot late in the session, after securing Lot 217 for $600,000 from Blandford Lodge’s draft. 

The filly by Snitzel out of Group One placed and Group Three-winning mare Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi) heralds from Sir Peter Vela’s blue-blooded Romanee Conti family.

Forsman knows the family well having trained Eleonora and explained what it is that drew him to her daughter.

“She was actually very similar to her mother so obviously that’s a nice trait because she was a very good racehorse and a horse we’ve had a lot to do with. Being by Snitzel with the pedigree behind, her she’s got a lot of residual value heading forward anyway.”

“We’re just wrapped to have secured her, we missed out of couple earlier today and that was the number we had settled on, so we were lucky to get her,” he said.

Still maintaining his throne as leading purchaser by aggregate, David Ellis of Te Akau Racing purchased 16 yearlings for a total spend of $4,020,000, averaging $251,250.

Ellis was elated to be a part of the ringside action during the opening of Karaka 2022.

“We have seen an incredible day given the circumstances and I’m proud to be a part of this great industry.”

“I just look at the horses and if I really want to train them, then I just have to buy them and we’ve purchased some excellent horses today.

“After looking at the quality of athletes in the Sale, I knew that it would achieve good results, but you have just got to take your hat off to NZB given the way that they run it,” Ellis said.  

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 One online.

View the full of Book 1 Day One results here.

Selling continues on Day Two of Book 1 tomorrow where a further 220 lots will go through the ring from 11AM (NZT) at Karaka.

Book 1 will feature on SKY Pop Up Channel 263 while Freeview Channel 200 will feature both Book 1 and Book 2. All six days will also be streamed live on NZB’s website and the online bidding platform as well as live streamed on NZB’s Facebook page. Sale highlights will go to air on racing.com and SKY Racing in Australia.

Each day of Book 1 will be bookended with a half hour preview show, commencing 10:30AM (NZT) prior to the opening of each sale day, and review show, after the close of selling each sale day. Hosted by Michael Guerin these shows will feature catalogue highlights, interviews with key personalities, sales analysis and colour from right around the Karaka Sales Centre.

Karaka 2022 Book 1 Day One Statistics