Waikato Stud Reigns at Karaka

New Zealand Bloodstock's 2014 Premier Sale has concluded with a new leading vendor taking top honours, as the Chittick family's Waikato Stud secured the leading vendor by aggregate title for the first time.

The commitment by Waikato Stud to pledge its entire draft to Karaka this year has been handsomely rewarded, selling 46 yearlings for a total of $7,655,000 at an average of ­­­­­­­­­­­­ $166,413, with their star resident sires O'Reilly, Savabeel and Pins providing many of the highlights.

"The thing was we knew we had an awesome draft and we've gone to every effort not to leave any stone unturned," remarked Mark Chittick. "With the help of various mates we just worked so hard and it all fell into place amazingly well and we've had a great two days. I just wish Lisa was here."

Amongst the selection was Waikato Stud's highest-ever priced yearling, with Lot 268, a colt by their leading resident sire Savabeel out of stakes winning mare Splashing Out, bought by David Ellis for $500,000. 

The top-priced filly for the Stud, and for the day, was Lot 344 by champion sire O'Reilly out of Zamfir, purchased by Sydney-based Bryce Heys under his new Ellerslie Lodge banner for $475,000.

Leading Vendors by Aggregate Top 5

Waikato Stud's results have highlighted a strong two days of selling at the Karaka sale complex, where a total of 326 yearlings have sold for $47,132,500 at a clearance rate of 78%, representing an average of $144,578 and a median of $110,000. 

A near-identical number of lots sold for $200,000 or more compared with last year (80 in 2013, 81 in 2014) showed the strength that has held up through the middle market.

NZB Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela says the company is pleased with the buoyancy of the market, but that the strong NZ dollar has had an influence on some international buyers.

"We're thrilled with the buying bench, and the catalogue, and reports from buyers are very positive about the selection of horses on offer. There's been clear strength throughout the past two days with some very spirited competition from a broad selection of local and international buyers. Talking to buyers it seems the only adverse factor is our strong dollar, but fortunately that doesn't affect the quality of the horses they're purchasing so hopefully they'll be just as well rewarded by their Karaka racehorses as ever."

With no seven-figure sale this year, yesterday's top price of $800,000 paid for Lot 73 (Fastnet Rock x Katie Lee colt) was not exceeded today, however the second top price yesterday of $700,000 was matched by Lot 385 purchased by David Ellis of Te Akau Racing from Pencarrow Stud, the same vendor as yesterday's $700,000 yearling (Lot 139).

David Ellis has been on an extraordinary spending spree, purchasing 35 yearlings for $6,420,000 including today's top lot, finishing the Premier Sale as the Leading Buyer for the ninth year.

"He is one of the most stunning horses that you would see in the world, you wouldn't find a better looking horse," commented David Ellis. "I've bought two out of the mare already and both of them have been stakes performers and this colt looks even better than those two.

"There has been plenty of competition on the good horses. It doesn't matter what the market is doing, buyers come out of the woodwork when there is a good horse. The market heated up a lot today which makes the horses we bought yesterday look like very good buys. I've purchased 35 horses in total which has been my biggest Sale.

"I keep coming back to Karaka because the horses I have bought from New Zealand Bloodstock have got me the results."

The leading buyer at the Premier Sale for the past nine years, Ellis increased his spend significantly from last year's $4,238,000 for 31 lots. Ellis lead a notably strengthened local market, as domestic buyers accounted for 42% of the total turnover, up from 30% at last year's Premier Sale.

Leading Purchasers by Aggregate Top 5

Along with David Ellis, Rogerson Bloodstock was once again active today finishing the Sale with 11 purchases for $2,090,000, including the highest price of the Sale (Lot 73), while other NZ-based buyers such as Bruce Perry, GO Racing, Brendan & Jo Lindsay, Lisa Latta Racing, Graham Richardson, Guy Mulcaster, Paul Moroney, Trent Busuttin, Murray Baker and many others have been supporting the Sale strongly.

With a number of new and budding operators making their presence felt, the second top price of the day went to Louis Le Metayer's Astute Bloodstock who purchased Lot 351 for $550,000. The colt by High Chaparral is out of Group 2 winning mare Alagant Satin from Windsor Park Stud.

"You look at a lot of horses until one grabs your attention and imagination and for me he looked like a superior stayer, he's definitely a Victoria or AJC Derby kind of horse," commented Le Metayer.

"He has great depth, strength and length and he has a superior attitude. I fell in love with him early in the week and I have been working all week to find a buyer for him. Ron and Judy Wanless of Queensland are his new owners - they also have raced the very good mare Lights of Heaven and Victoria Derby winner Amalfi - and he will be trained by Kris Lees in Newcastle."

Le Metayer has been buying as Astute Bloodstock for less than two years and is one of the many young buyers that have been active at the Premier Sale. Sydney-based Bryce Heys has also been very active in his first year of training, purchasing 5 for a total of $1,275,000, with Bruce Slade of Round Table Racing and James Harron buying for Gai Waterhouse, and New Zealander Glen Harvey spending $320,000 on his only purchase of the Sale so far at Lot 341.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been the second leading buyer of the Sale with 9 purchased for a total of $2,285,000. 34 have been purchased by Hong Kong based buyers with a total country spend of $5,855,000.

Australian based buyers increased their activity throughout the day with Duncan Ramage (DGR Thoroughbred Services), Gai Waterhouse Racing/James Harron Bloodstock, John Chalmers and Peter Moody Racing all featuring in the top 10 buyers for the Sale.

A wide-ranging Australian presence saw 39% of the turnover coming from across the Tasman, with purchases by Tom Magnier, Mick Price, Champion Thoroughbreds, B2B Bloodstock, Hawkes Racing, Bjorn Baker, John Foote, Jason Warren, Chris Waller, Spicer Thoroughbreds and many more.

There was a strong international presence this year with buyers from around the world including David Redvers, the Bloodstock Advisor for Qatar Bloodstock, BBA Ireland, Charlie Hills from England, along with purchasers from Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Netherlands and South Africa.

Fastnet Rock has retained his leading sire crown, finishing the Sale with the four highest priced yearlings of the Premier Sale, and a sale average of $352,188 across his 16 lots sold. The leading local sire was Zabeel, with 19 lots sold at an average of $190,789 and a top price (twice) of $320,000.

Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold) Top 5

There was hot competition for the line-up of freshman sires on offer, particularly Rip Van Winkle and Makfi who were both well-represented at the Premier Sale. In the end it was Windsor Park Stud's shuttle sire Rip Van Winkle who topped the table, with an average price of $132,500 across 28 lots sold, just ahead of Makfi with an average of $115,909 for 11 sold.

Last year's leading vendor by aggregate Curraghmore Stud were third on that table this year however were at the head of the leading vendor by average, selling 21 yearlings for an average of $240,114.

Selling continues at Karaka tomorrow with the first session of the three-day Select Sale, the source of eight individual Group 1 winners last season. Selling commences at Lot 470 from 11am with all lots streamed live online at www.nzb.co.nz.

2014 Premier Yearling Sale Statistics