Karaka Book 2 Finishes on a High

Media Release - Friday February 3

The final session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 Sale concluded on a high note, wrapping up a successful week of selling at Karaka 2023.

Key sale indicators have headed in an upwards trajectory over the six days of selling, with the final combined statistics easily surpassing pre-COVID results.

$160,000 Proisir colt from Savvy Walk was a star on Friday.

At the close of selling, the combined turnover reached $82,091,500. The average and median climbed to $111,235 and $80,000 respectively, while the clearance rate reached 77% (up from 75%).

The final Book 2 statistics also increased, with the total aggregate climbing to $11,516,000. The average reached $43,131 and median rose to $32,00, while the clearance rate closed at 71% for Book 2.

“We are very pleased by the results achieved over the six days,” commented NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.

“It was great to have our international friends back on the grounds at Karaka and we saw both the combined Australian and Asian spend substantially increase on last year’s results.

“Australian spend increased by $13 million on 2022, although it was disappointing to see the domestic spend down by $10 million. If the kiwis has spent what they did in 2022, the Sale could have been huge.

“The most heartening statistic is the solid increase in both our combined average and median results pre-COVID [2020].

“The combined average spend is up by 22 percent, and median increased by 45 percent, indicating the strength of the middle market.

“We must thank our vendors for preparing their horses to an outstanding level yet again, which was reflected by the results in the Sale ring,” Seabrook said. 

The leading purchaser by aggregate in Book 2 was Australian-based agent John Foote, securing eight lots for a total spend of $890,000.

Foote went to $160,000 to purchase the top two priced lots on the final day of Book 2.

He secured Lot 978, a Proisir colt out of Savabeel mare Savvy Walk (NZ) from Seaton Park, as well as Lot 1048 a Ribchester colt out of The Grey Lady (NZ) (Reliable Man) from Woburn Farm’s draft.

$160,000 Ribchester (IRE) colt from The Grey Lady.

The agent was pleased with the value found at Karaka, commenting on his purchases.

“I think Ribchester is a sire that is on the way up, he produces nice horses.”

“He’s made a great start in Australia and Europe, but I’m not here just to buy Ribchester, I’m here to buy nice horses.

“We like to purchase horses in this price range. It is hard to justify paying those high prices in Australia all the time. At Karaka you can buy a nice horse for a pretty sensible price,” he said.

Cambridge-based trainer John Bell secured the second highlight on Day Three, Lot 1066 a colt by Ardrossan out of Venetian Raider (NZ) (Rusty Spur) from Highline Thoroughbreds.

The second leading purchaser by aggregate in Book 2 was Hong Kong-based agent Paul Chow, who was purchasing under his Tartan Meadow Bloodstock banner. Chow secured four lots for a total spend of $422,500, including a highlight price of $160,000 for a Per Incanto colt (Lot 800).

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The Book 2 leading vendor by aggregate was Haunui Farm, selling 22 horses for a total aggregate of $1,123,000 and average of $51,045.

“It was a good, solid Sale. We had a number of horses sell above $50,000 which is a good testament, both colts and fillies,” said Haunui’s Studmaster, Mark Chitty.

“We’re delighted with the way Ribchester’s first New Zealand conceived crop sold, not only in our draft, but in other drafts too.

“They’ve gone to good homes and the popular horses were well found. I hope they go on and perform for their respective buyers,” he said.

Rich Hill Stud was the second Book 2 leading vendor by aggregate, selling 17 yearlings for a total turnover of $841,000, while averaging $49,471.

Studmaster John Thompson largely attributing the stud’s success to their resident stallion Proisir, who has sired four individual Group One winners in the 2022-23 season alone.

“He has really put his hand up as one of the country’s premier stallions.

“His commercial viability has gone to another level. His stock was consistently sought after by all our major markets.

“For me personally it was great to see them entering so many leading Australian stables.

“His future looks assured with the numbers and quality of the mares coming through over the next few years,” Thompson said.

The leading vendor by average was Kilgravin Lodge, who sold four lots for an average price of $90,625 and an aggregate of $362,500 in Book 2.

Final results for Karaka 2023 will be accumulated and published next week.

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 Book 2 online.

View the full results of Book 2 here.

Book 2 Statistics (at end of selling)

2023 BOOK 2 TOTAL

2022 BOOK 2 TOTAL

2021 BOOK 2 TOTAL

2020 BOOK 2 TOTAL

AGGREGATE

$11,516,000

$10,036,000

$8,853,000

$9,873,500

AVERAGE

$43,131

$40,632

$41,759

$35,012

MEDIAN

$32,000

$30,000

$30,000

$25,000

CLEARANCE

71%

64%

76%

69%

CATALOGUED

435

466

339

473

SOLD

267

247

212

282

TOP LOT

Lot 789 Proisir - Harriet Wilson (G.C) $180,000

Lot 1063 Tivaci - Short Tale (B.F) $250,000

Lot 725 Churchill - Astrid (Ch.F) $200,000

Lot 859 Vadamos - Silke Top (B.C) $185,000

Combined Statistics (at end of selling)

2023 COMBINED TOTAL

2022 COMBINED TOTAL

2021 COMBINED TOTAL

2020 COMBINED TOTAL

2019 COMBINED TOTAL

Aggregate

$82,091,500

$74,382,500

$60,996,500

$78,458,188

$79,396,750

Average

$111,235

$106,109

$94,276

$91,443

$89,714

Median

$80,000

$70,000

$62,500

$55,000

$55,000

Clearance

77%

75%

82%

76%

77%

Catalogued

1079

1103

918

1265

1284

Withdrawn

121

156

127

143

129

Offered

958

947

791

1122

1155

Passed

220

246

144

264

270

Lots Sold

738

701

647

858

885

Top Price

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$800,000

$900,000

$1,400,000

Book 2 Day Three Top Lots

Lot

Breeding

Vendor

Purchaser

Price

978

Proisir / Savvy Walk (Br.C)

Seaton Park

John Foote Bloodstock
(Hong Kong)

$160,000

1048

Ribchester / The Grey Lady (Br.C)

Woburn Farm

John Foote Bloodstock
(Hong Kong)

$160,000

1066

Ardrossan / Venetian Raider (B.C)

Highline Thoroughbreds

Bell Racing (Waikato)

$150,000

990

Ocean Park / Sha Tin Sunday (B.C)

Weowna Park

Brewers Bloodstock (Auckland)

$135,000

961

Vadamos / Rockabye Lady (B.C)

Hallmark Stud

Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock  / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato)

$120,000

974

Ribchester / Sapphire Lass (Br.C)

Haunui Farm

Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

$115,000

985

Vanbrugh / Severa (B.C)

Windsor Park Stud

Archer Equine Investments (Auckland)

$100,000

1050

Embellish / The Lady (B.C)

Woburn Farm

Magus Equine (Hong Kong)

$95,000

980

Ace High / Scrutiny (B.C)

Hallmark Stud

Mr RA James / Mr R Wellwood (Waikato)

$90,000

1065

Ardrossan / Underthemoonlight (B.C)

Kilgravin Lodge

PJ & DM Williams (Auckland)

$90,000

Book 2 Overall Top Lots

Lot

Breeding

Vendor

Purchaser

Price

789

Proisir / Harriet Wilson (G.C)

Rich Hill Stud

Brad Widdup Racing (New South Wales)

$180,000

800

Per Incanto / High Lady (Ch.C)

Milan Park

Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

$160,000

978

Proisir / Savvy Walk (Br.C)

Seaton Park Ltd

John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

$160,000

1048

Ribchester / The Grey Lady (Br.C)

Woburn Farm

John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

$160,000

1066

Ardrossan / Venetian Raider (B.C)

Highline Thoroughbreds

Bell Racing (Waikato)

$150,000

922

Sweynesse / Oscar's Shadow (Br.C)

Kilgravin Lodge

John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

$140,000

823

Redwood / Katespur (B.C)

Westbury Stud

Ascot Farm (Waikato)

$135,000

849

Ardrossan / La Sartiglia (B.C)

Little Avondale Stud

Mr LL Lee (Hong Kong)

$135,000

990

Ocean Park / Sha Tin Sunday (B.C)

Weowna Park

Brewers Bloodstock (Auckland)

$135,000

802

Vanbrugh / High Tail It (Ch.C)

Windsor Park Stud

John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

$130,000

Book 2 Leading Purchasers by Aggregate

Purchaser

Bought

Aggregate

Average

Top Price

Top Lot

John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

8

$890,000

$111,250

$160,000

978

Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

4

$422,500

$105,625

$160,000

800

Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock  / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato)

6

$407,000

$67,833

$120,000

961

Patella Bloodstock (Waikato)

9

$358,500

$39,833

$72,500

896

Lisa Latta Racing Stables (Manawatu-Whanganui)

8

$340,500

$42,563

$80,000

914

Mr PB Payne (Victoria)

3

$290,000

$96,667

$100,000

700

Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Wellington)

4

$255,000

$63,750

$90,000

671

Wexford Stables (Waikato)

5

$247,500

$49,500

$60,000

811

Paul Moroney Bloodstock  / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing (Queensland)

3

$185,000

$61,667

$90,000

672

Brad Widdup Racing (New South Wales)

1

$180,000

$180,000

$180,000

789

Book 2 Leading Vendor by Aggregate

Vendor

Entries

Sold

Aggregate

Average

Top Price

Top Lot

Haunui Farm

27

22

$1,123,000

$51,045

$115,000

974

Rich Hill Stud

27

17

$841,000

$49,471

$180,000

789

Westbury Stud

31

14

$830,000

$59,286

$135,000

823

Highline Thoroughbreds

13

9

$644,000

$71,556

$150,000

1066

Woburn Farm

19

11

$606,500

$55,136

$160,000

1048

Little Avondale Stud

17

14

$573,500

$40,964

$135,000

849

Windsor Park Stud

17

10

$507,500

$50,750

$130,000

802

Highview

17

12

$490,000

$40,833

$75,000

901

Seaton Park

15

11

$460,000

$41,818

$160,000

978

Hallmark Stud

5

5

$380,000

$76,000

$120,000

961

Book 2 Leading Vendor by Average (three or more sold)

Vendor

Entries

Sold

Average

Aggregate

Top Price

Top Lot

Kilgravin Lodge

6

4

$90,625

$362,500

$140,000

922

Hallmark Stud

5

5

$76,000

$380,000

$120,000

961

Milan Park

11

5

$74,000

$370,000

$160,000

800

Highline Thoroughbreds

13

9

$71,556

$644,000

$150,000

1066

Landsdowne Park

6

3

$60,667

$182,000

$100,000

744

Westbury Stud

31

14

$59,286

$830,000

$135,000

823

Highden Park

3

3

$58,333

$175,000

$100,000

700

Woburn Farm

19

11

$55,136

$606,500

$160,000

1048

Inglewood Stud

4

3

$51,333

$154,000

$80,000

844

Haunui Farm

27

22

$51,045

$1,123,000

$115,000

974

Book 2 Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)

Sire

Entries

Sold

Average

Aggregate

Top Price

Top Lot

Redwood

5

4

$83,750

$335,000

$135,000

823

Ardrossan

12

10

$70,250

$702,500

$150,000

1066

Ribchester

17

12

$64,500

$774,000

$160,000

1048

Grunt

4

4

$63,750

$255,000

$110,000

801

Vanbrugh

8

7

$60,643

$424,500

$130,000

802

Proisir

30

26

$57,635

$1,498,500

$180,000

789

Sweynesse

11

5

$57,200

$286,000

$140,000

922

Shocking

8

5

$52,000

$260,000

$100,000

700

Reliable Man

18

8

$51,250

$410,000

$100,000

695

Wrote

22

13

$46,538

$605,000

$75,000

901

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