$800,000 Wootton Bassett Filly Highlights Record Breaking Kara Book 1 Finale

Media Release - Tuesday January 30

Day Three of NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series concluded on Tuesday with a record-breaking Book 1 session for the 2024 edition. 

At the close of selling, the Book 1 aggregate reached just shy of $80 million, a 14% increase on last year, while the average rounded out at $168,257, an 11% increase. 

NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was highly impressed following the blockbuster session. 

“At the start of the week, I said if we could match last year's results we’d be very satisfied, but to increase the turnover by $9.5 million is a great result to go back into the pockets of our vendors,” he stated. 

“Seventeen yearlings sold for $500,000 or more, in comparison to six during last year's sale, which just shows the strength of the top end. 

“The Australian spend was up $7 million, while the domestic bench was up $2 million on last year. 

“There are some quality horses still to come in Book 2, where we hope to see the Kiwis out in force especially with the new Karaka Millions bonuses on offer,” he added. 

$800,000 Wootton Bassett filly from Via Napoli - image Trish Dunell

The top lot of Day Three came at Lot 513, a filly by the young sire Wootton Bassett out of Via Napoli who was knocked down to Belmont Bloodstock Agency and Cheung Shun Ching for $800,000 from Curraghmore’s draft. 

“She’s a standout on type, and I was initially attracted to the depth of her pedigree,” commented bloodstock agent Damon Gabbedy.  

“She’s equal to the best ones I’ve seen in Europe, so that gave me all the confidence to have a go at her.” 

Looking to secure his leading buyer title for the nineteenth consecutive year, Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis purchased 28 yearlings over the last three days for a total spend of $6,045,000. 

“I think we’ve bought the best lot of yearlings that we’ve ever bought at a yearling sale,” commented Ellis. 

“It is really exciting to have this quality of horse coming into our stables. 

“To see the delight on Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson's faces makes it all worthwhile knowing how pleased they are with the horses they will be training.” 

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Waikato Stud retained the leading vendor by aggregate title at the end of Book 1, selling 59 yearlings for a total turnover of $8,730,000.  

“The people are here, and they were active, that was very evident across the board,” commented Waikato Stud Principal Mark Chittick.  

“We were just short of 10,000 individual parades, since Monday a week ago. 

“The Australians were very busy, but the domestic buying bench were big supporters of ours this year. Those guys are gearing up for all that positivity that’s to come.”  

The results of Karaka 2024’s Book 1 Sale will be etched in the history books, highlighted by the highest priced filly to be sold at Karaka. Peter Moody went to $1.6 million for Lot 21, the full-sister to Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) on the opening day. 

The $1.6million Proisir filly from Donna Marie was the star of the show.

Bred and offered by Hallmark Stud, it made for a memorable session for the Te Kauwhata-based nursery who also claimed the leading vendor by average title, averaging $294,091 across 11 lots. 

Snitzel claimed the leading sire by average title for Book 1 at an average of $475,000, headed by David Ellis’ purchase of Lot 360 on Day Two, the colt out of Rondinella on account of Haunui Farm for $825,000. 

Attention now turns to Book 2 on Wednesday where the selling of lots 683 to 800 will get underway from 11am (NZT) at Karaka. 

Yearlings purchased at the Book 2 Sale are eligible for the $200,000 Book 2 Bonus, to be won by the first horse across the finish line in the 2026 $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO race. 

Book 2 has been a happy hunting ground for Karaka Millions contenders over the years, highlighted by this year’s TAB Karaka Millions 3YO runner up Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), who was a $110,000 purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables at Karaka 2022. 

All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2024 are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series, featuring the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO, $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and two new $200,000 bonuses. To nominate your yearling, contact finance@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055. Entries close Monday 4 March 2024.

To enquire about Passed Lots from Book 1 contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz, or Andrew Buick on +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz

View the full Book 1 results here.  
Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Book 1 online.
 

Karaka 2024: Book 1 Statistics (at end of selling)

  2024 BOOK 1 TOTAL 2023 BOOK 1 TOTAL 2022 BOOK 1 TOTAL 2021 BOOK 1 TOTAL
AGGREGATE $79,585,500 $70,063,000 $63,127,500 $50,778,000
AVERAGE $168,257 $151,980 $146,808 $123,248
MEDIAN $120,000 $130,000 $100,000 $95,000
CLEARANCE 78% 79% 77% 81%
CATALOGUED 682 644 636 579
SOLD 473 461 430 412
TOP LOT Lot 21 Proisir - Donna Marie (Ch.F) $1,600,000 Lot 586 Fastnet Rock - Test the World (B.F) $1,000,000 Lot 161 Savabeel - Chandelier (B.C) $1,000,000 Lot 94 Zoustar - Scintillula (B.F) $800,000

Karaka 2024: Book 1, Day Three Top Lots

LOT SIRE DAM SEX VENDOR PURCHASER PRICE
0513 Wootton Bassett Via Napoli Filly Curraghmore  Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) / Cheung Shun Ching (Hong Kong) $800,000
0562 Savabeel Alam Mo Na Colt Little Avondale Stud Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) (New South Wales) $525,000
0630 Deep Field Californiasurprise Colt Kaha Nui Farm Jamie Richards / Andrew Williams Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $500,000
0482 Proisir The Pearler Filly Phoenix Park China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd (Singaopore) $460,000
0661 Satono Aladdin Cold Shoulder Colt Landsdowne Park Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato) $460,000
0601 Almanzor Bavella Filly Cambridge Stud Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) $400,000
0489 Savabeel Tinnelly Filly Haunui Farm Michael Otto Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Auckland) $375,000
0540 Savabeel Za Za Gabor Colt Hallmark Stud Patella Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $375,000
0538 Cosmic Force Zadancer Filly Curraghmore DGR Thoroughbred Services Pty Ltd (FBAA) (New South Wales) $340,000
0554 Proisir Affrettando Colt Wainui Ltd Rob Hickmott Racing Pty Ltd (Victoria) $340,000
0610 Savabeel Bingo Colt Waikato Stud Ltd Flag Bloodstock (Auckland) $340,000
0662 Super Seth Collay Colt Elsdon Park R Yiu (Hong Kong) $340,000

Karaka 2024: Book 1 Overall Top Lots

LOT SIRE DAM SEX VENDOR PURCHASER PRICE
0021 Proisir Donna Marie Filly Hallmark Stud Moody Racing (Victoria) $1,600,000
0144 Satono Aladdin Inthespotlight Filly Rich Hill Stud Chris Waller / Mulcaster Bloodstock (New South Wales) $900,000
0360 Snitzel Rondinella Colt Haunui Farm Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) $825,000
0513 Wootton Bassett Via Napoli Filly Curraghmore Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) / Cheung Shun Ching (Hong Kong) $800,000
0055 Zoustar Evalina Colt Elsdon Park Jamie Richards / Andrew Williams Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $725,000
0146 Super Seth Irion Colt Pencarrow Stud Patella Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $700,000
0210 Kingman Marsden Cross Colt Pencarrow Stud The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) $650,000
0442 Savabeel Stolen Gem Filly Haunui Farm Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (Victoria) $650,000
0409 Savabeel Simply You Colt Waikato Stud  The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) $620,000
0479 Savabeel Thee Auld Floozie Filly Jamieson Park  Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Wellington) $620,000

Karaka 2024: Book 1 Leading Purchasers by Aggregate

PURCHASER AGGREGATE BOUGHT TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ)  $6,045,000 28 $825,000 360
Chris Waller / Mulcaster Bloodstock $4,300,000 13 $900,000 144
The Hong Kong Jockey Club $2,700,000 8 $650,000 210
Moody Racing $2,460,000 4 $1,600,000 21
Jamie Richards / Andrew Williams Bloodstock $2,370,000 6 $725,000 55
KPW Bloodstock $2,120,000 12 $360,000 308
Wexford Stables $1,890,000 10 $280,000 285
Go Racing Ltd / Blandford Bloodstock $1,585,000 10 $300,000 295
Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) $1,520,000 5 $620,000 479
Stephen Marsh Racing / Dylan Johnson Bloodstock $1,305,000 6 $425,000 218
Pike Racing $1,300,000 7 $400,000 138

Karaka 2024: Book 1 Leading Vendors by Aggregate

VENDOR OFFERED SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Waikato Stud  74 59 $8,730,000 $147,966 $620,000 409
Cambridge Stud 35 35 $5,580,000 $159,429 $425,000 438
Haunui Farm 27 24 $5,045,000 $210,208 $825,000 360
Pencarrow Stud 22 19 $4,300,000 $226,316 $700,000 146
Curraghmore 25 23 $4,150,000 $180,435 $800,000 513
Rich Hill Stud 24 19 $3,985,000 $209,737 $900,000 144
Elsdon Park 15 14 $3,800,000 $271,429 $725,000 55
Windsor Park Stud 40 27 $3,445,000 $127,593 $300,000 269
Hallmark Stud 13 11 $3,235,000 $294,091 $1,600,000 21
Wentwood Grange 30 26 $2,953,000 $113,577 $260,000 280

Karaka 2024: Book 1 Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)

VENDOR OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE TOP LOT TOP PRICE
Hallmark Stud 13 11 $294,091 21 $1,600,000
Elsdon Park 15 14 $271,429 55 $725,000
Highline Thoroughbreds 6 4 $252,500 224 $510,000
Jamieson Park 12 7 $252,143 479 $620,000
Kaha Nui Farm 7 6 $228,333 630 $500,000
Pencarrow Stud 22 19 $226,316 146 $700,000
Riversley Park  13 13 $221,923 397 $500,000
Kilgravin Lodge 12 10 $210,500 480 $600,000
Haunui Farm 27 24 $210,208 360 $825,000
Rich Hill Stud 24 19 $209,737 144 $900,000

Karaka 2024: Book 1 Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)

SIRE OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Snitzel 3 3 $475,000 $825,000 360
Justify 5 3 $373,333 $373,333 62
Wootton Bassett* 9 7 $328,571 $328,571 513
Proisir 32 27 $274,444 $274,444 21
Savabeel 49 41 $261,463 $261,463 442
Satono Aladdin 15 14 $234,643 $234,643 144
So You Think 7 6 $219,167 $219,167 94
Capitalist 3 3 $196,667 $196,667 309
Written Tycoon 3 3 $196,667 $196,667 553
Ardrossan 10 8 $182,500 $182,500 275

*First Season Sire
 

Karaka 2024: Book 1 Leading First Season Sires by Average (three or more sold)

SIRE OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Wootton Bassett* 9 7 $328,571 $800,000 513
Hello Youmzain 38 34 $171,324 $425,000 438
King's Legacy 8 8 $134,063 $260,000 74
Circus Maximus 32 20 $92,900 $200,000 399
Bivouac 9 7 $89,286 $130,000 307

*First Southern Hemisphere crop

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