Unique Ready to Run Sale Defies Odds

Media Release - Thursday November 18

Momentum continued on the final day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2021 Ready to Run Sale off the back of a positive first day, with a strong market demanding quality juveniles that fetched significant price tags.

Top lot on day 2 was this Pierro colt from Mary Lou that sold for $625,000.

NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was jubilant over the efforts of the auction house, consignors and agents.

“This is a culmination of a huge effort from all industry participants.”

“The consignors provided an exceptional level of service this year, not only with the standard of preparation but also the quality of their marketing via social media and other channels.

“The kiwi agents also made their presence felt by going above and beyond to assist clients both domestically and from afar.

“I am immensely proud of our team at NZB, with all the work they have put in behind the scenes to make the sale happen.

“I think what we have achieved with no international buyers on the grounds, and no horses physically present is phenomenal and I couldn’t be more pleased by what has been accomplished over the last two days,” Seabrook said.

Remarkably, the 2021 edition of the sale saw 37 two-year-olds sell over the $200,000 threshold, in comparison to 25 in 2020 and 30 in 2019.

The highlight of day two came via NZB’s online bidding platform, which served for another solid day of trading accounting for 51% of lots sold and turning over more than $9.5 million remotely. 

Mathew Becker of Group 1 Bloodstock purchased Lot 195 online from across the Tasman. The Pierro colt out of Fastnet Rock mare Mary Lou was purchased for $625,000, proving popular amongst domestic and international buyers.

Becker was thrilled to have secured the top-class colt in partnership with Busuttin Racing and Ozzie Kheir from Riversley Park’s draft.  

“The horse will be going to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, who have had great results out of the Ready to Run Sale.”

“We were keen to target some really nice lots and this guy was one of the top picks. We really only targeted two or three horses coming in and we’re so thrilled to be able to land him,” he said.

Becker was also involved in the purchase of Lot 218, with a suspenseful bidding dual taking place between the floor and online punters over the Sacred Falls colt out of Savabeel mare Movie (NZ) from Ohukia Lodge’s draft.

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$600,000 Sacred Falls colt from Movie.

The half-brother to recent Group One winner Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci) hails from the famous Waikato Stud family and was knocked down for $600,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing and Becker’s Group 1 Bloodstock banner.

The third highest purchase of the day was secured by renowned agent Dean Hawthorne, who purchased Lot 238 for $400,000 in partnership with prominent Hong Kong buyer Ricky Yiu.

The colt was by sire of the moment Deep Field out of Petit Cheval (Denman) and was secured from Riversley Park’s draft.

Hawthorne commented on his experience purchasing at the 2021 edition of the virtual sale.

“The market is very strong for the good horses, which surprised me,” he said.

“I can only imagine what it is going to be like when everyone is back in New Zealand. When you’ve got 150-odd people looking over them, the middle market will strengthen, so it can only get better.

“The top end has amazed me really, and it’s great to see the pinhookers going well.

“It holds the sale up and the pinhookers that do this for their living are very good at it. They produce great horses and that’s why the top end of this Sale will always hold up,” Hawthorne said.  

For the fifth consecutive year, Sam and Hana Beatson and their team at Riversley Park claimed their throne as the leading consignor by aggregate, selling $4,657,500 worth of two-year-old stock.

“We’re very proud, it was a bit unexpected this year but to pull that off again it was great,” commented Sam Beatson. “It’s all about doing the best for your clients and the horses, and if you can get a good average and top the sale then that’s a bonus.”

Regal Farm topped the leading consignor by average table, selling three horses for an average price of $213,333.

To make enquiries about any Passed Lots contact Kane Jones by calling +64 27 274 4985 or emailing kane.jones@nzb.co.nz or Regan Donnison by calling +64 21 512 466 or emailing regan.donnison@nzb.co.nz. 

Catch all of the Ready to Run Sale highlights on NZB’s Sale TV channel here.

2021 Ready to Run Sale Statistics

  2021 READY TO RUN SALE (VIRTUAL) 2020 READY TO RUN SALE 2019 READY TO RUN SALE
Aggregate $20,547,000 $17,639,500 $23,585,500
Average $121,580 $95,349 $91,772
Median $80,000 $60,000 $60,000
Clearance 66% 77% 74%
Catalogued 322 311 414
Offered 256 240 348
Sold 169 185 257
Top Lot Lot 107 $640,000 Savabeel - Etiquette (Br.C) Lot 298 $700,000 (B.C) Savabeel - Miss Opulence Lot 375 $550,000 (Br.C) Shamus Award - Exchanges

Top Lots

LOT TYPE BREEDING CONSIGNOR PURCHASER PRICE
107 BR.C Savabeel / Etiquette Ohukia Lodge  Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) $640,000
195 BR.C Pierro / Mary Lou Riversley Park  Busuttin Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock / Ozzie Kheir (Victoria) $625,000
218 BR.C Sacred Falls / Movie Ohukia Lodge Bjorn Baker Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (New South Wales) $600,000
44 BR.C Deep Field / Bang On Riversley Park  Mr Jimmy Ting (Hong Kong) $470,000
238 B.C Deep Field / Petit Cheval Riversley Park  Mr R Yiu / Mr D Hawthorne (Hong Kong) $400,000
64 B.C Deep Field / Carlina Regal Farm Mr Me Tsui (Hong Kong) $350,000
229 B.G Savabeel / Okahu Bay Woburn Farm Waikato Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Hong Kong) $350,000
114 BR.C Savabeel / Fast Company Riverrock Farm Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) $340,000
12 B.C Almanzor / Tricoteuse Phoenix Park McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Bevan Smith Bloodstock (South Australia) $330,000
103 Ch.C Capitalist / Emirates Comfort Kilgravin Lodge Mr R Yiu / Mr D Hawthorne (Hong Kong) $320,000
139 BR.G Per Incanto / Great Expectations Riversley Park  Annabel Neasham Racing (New South Wales) $310,000
291 BR.C Vadamos / Selenus Riversley Park  Trilogy Racing (New South Wales) $305,000
73 B.C Sacred Falls / Cheryl Moana Marie Ohukia Lodge  Busuttin Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock (Victoria) $300,000
161 BR.C Safeguard / Kerimba Woburn Farm Amanda Turner Racing (New South Wales) $300,000
271 B.C Real Impact / Roseito Woburn Farm Busuttin Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (Victoria) $290,000

Leading Purchasers by Aggregate

PURCHASER BOUGHT AGGREGATE AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT STATE
Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) 11 $2,050,000 $215,556 $640,000 107 Te Akau
Mr Jimmy Ting (Hong Kong) 3 $820,000 $273,333 $470,000 44 Hong Kong
Mr R Yiu / Mr D Hawthorne (Hong Kong) 2 $720,000 $360,000 $400,000 238 Hong Kong
Waikato Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Hong Kong) 3 $700,000 $233,333 $350,000 229 Hong Kong
Upper Bloodstock (Hong Kong) 3 $645,000 $215,000 $260,000 308 Hong Kong
Busuttin Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock / Ozzie Kheir (Victoria) 1 $625,000 $625,000 $625,000 195 Victoria
Bjorn Baker Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (New South Wales) 1 $600,000 $600,000 $600,000 218 New South Wales
Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Hong Kong) 3 $580,000 $193,333 $280,000 292 Hong Kong
Busuttin Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock (Victoria) 2 $550,000 $275,000 $300,000 73 Victoria
Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Victoria) 5 $502,000 $100,400 $260,000 321 Victoria

Leading Consignors by Aggregate

CONSIGNOR ENTRIES SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Riversley Park 34 22 $4,657,500 $211,705 $625,000 195
Ohukia Lodge 32 19 $3,985,000 $209,737 $640,000 107
Woburn Farm 22 12 $1,745,000 $145,417 $350,000 229
Kilgravin Lodge 16 12 $1,645,000 $137,083 $320,000 103
Riverrock Farm 11 6 $1,015,000 $169,167 $340,000 114
Phoenix Park 9 6 $805,000 $134,167 $330,000 12
Lilywhites Lodge 16 8 $777,500 $97,188 $250,000 247
Westbury Stud 31 16 $669,000 $41,813 $120,000 182
Regal Farm 4 3 $640,000 $213,333 $350,000 64
KB Bloodstock 12 8 $605,000 $75,625 $180,000 21

Leading Consignors by Average (three or more sold)

CONSIGNOR ENTRIES SOLD AVERAGE AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Regal Farm 4 3 $213,333 $640,000 $350,000 64
Riversley Park  34 22 $211,705 $4,657,500 $625,000 195
Ohukia Lodge  32 19 $209,737 $3,985,000 $640,000 107
Riverrock Farm 11 6 $169,167 $1,015,000 $340,000 114
Woburn Farm 22 12 $145,417 $1,745,000 $350,000 229
Kilgravin Lodge 16 12 $137,083 $1,645,000 $320,000 103
Phoenix Park 9 6 $134,167 $805,000 $330,000 12
Lilywhites Lodge 16 8 $97,188 $777,500 $250,000 247
Cheltenham Stables 8 6 $85,583 $513,500 $280,000 292
Leanach Lodge  5 3 $80,000 $240,000 $120,000 193

Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)

SIRE ENTRIES SOLD AVERAGE AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Savabeel 10 7 $286,429 $2,005,000 $640,000 107
Deep Field 9 7 $262,857 $1,840,000 $470,000 44
Sacred Falls 17 7 $255,714 $1,790,000 $600,000 218
Per Incanto 16 10 $154,500 $1,545,000 $310,000 139
Almanzor* 7 5 $154,000 $770,000 $330,000 12
Satono Aladdin* 8 4 $152,500 $610,000 $250,000 221
War Decree* 3 3 $146,667 $440,000 $225,000 204
Iffraaj 6 5 $137,200 $686,000 $260,000 308
Tarzino 14 4 $108,750 $435,000 $250,000 247
Shamexpress 6 4 $98,750 $395,000 $200,000 46


*First Season Sires 

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