Strong Finish to Close Outstanding Karaka 2024

Media Release - Friday February 2

The curtain came down on the final day of selling at NZB’s Karaka 2024 Book 2 Sale with the third and final day proving to be the strongest day of selling for the third consecutive year.

NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook praised the vendor's efforts.

“Just like last year’s Sale, the final day of Book 2 has been the strongest of the three days by far,” he commented.

“On Friday we cleared 78%, pulling the Book 2 clearance up to 70% from the previous days’ 63%.

“The number of horses sold for $100,000 or more in Book 2 has climbed from nineteen last year to twenty-seven this year.

"There were some very happy vendors on Friday, and it is wonderful to see them get those rewards.”

Top lot on Friday was this Ancient Spirit (Ger) filly pictured with Gus Wigley - image Trish Dunell

The top lot of the day came when leading buyers Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman stretched to $160,000 for Lot 1081, a filly by the first season sire Ancient Spirit.

“It’s a great result, she’s going to a great home,” commented an elated Gus Wigley who offered the filly under his Inglewood Stud banner and landed as leading vendors by average of the Book 2 Sale.

“Mike trains the half-brother Force of Law, so it’s a great result, she’ll get every chance.

“We are rapt for fellow South Islander’s White Robe Lodge and their first season sire Ancient Spirit.

Advertisement

“We had a very good Book 1 sale, and to back it up with a Book 2 sale like this, getting three amazing results for our only three horses in Book 2 was amazing.”

Leading Book 2 vendor Westbury Stud’s Principal Russell Warwick commented on Karaka 2024‘s Book 2 results.

“I think good horses sold well in Book 2 with some decent prices being achieved, you’d be happy with those results.”

At the conclusion of selling in Book 2, the leading sire by average was the emerging Waikato Stud sire Ardrossan with four lots being secured for an average of $103,907.

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.

Yearlings purchased at the Book 2 Sale who nominate for the Karaka Millions Series are also 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.

To enquire about Passed Lots 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.

Attention now turns to NZB's National Online Yearling Sale to be held in April on Gavelhouse Plus, with further details to follow.

View the full Book 2 results and online catalogue here.
Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Book 2 online.
 

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Statistics (at end of selling)

  2024 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2023 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2022 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2021 BOOK 2 TOTAL
AGGREGATE $11,444,000 $11,516,000 $10,036,000 $8,853,000
AVERAGE $43,185 $43,131 $40,632 $41,759
MEDIAN $32,500 $32,000 $30,000 $30,000
CLEARANCE 70% 71% 64% 76%
CATALOGUED 443 435 466 339
OFFERED 377 375 384 277
SOLD 265 267 247 212
TOP LOT Lot 790 Time Test - Kerre (Br.C) $220,000 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

Karaka 2024: Combined Statistics (at end of selling)

  2024 COMBINED TOTAL 2023 COMBINED TOTAL 2022 COMBINED TOTAL 2021 COMBINED TOTAL
Aggregate $91,842,000 $82,091,500 $74,382,500 $60,996,500
Average $122,783 $111,235 $106,109 $94,276
Median $90,000 $80,000 $70,000 $62,500
Clearance 76% 77% 75% 82%
Catalogued 1125 1079 1103 918
Withdrawn 141 121 156 127
Offered 984 958 947 791
Passed 236 220 246 144
Lots Sold 748 738 701 647
Top Price $1,600,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $800,000

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Day Three Top Lots

LOT SIRE DAM SEX VENDOR BUYER PRICE
1081 Ancient Spirit Back Date Filly Inglewood Stud Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato) $160,000
1029 Ardrossan Venetian Raider Colt Seaton Park Ltd Bell Racing (Waikato) $120,000
1122 Wrote Cracker Colt Highview HY Investments (Malaysia) $120,000
1049 Circus Maximus Word Savvy Filly Ralph Thoroughbreds Bloodstock Solutions (Queensland) $110,000
1088 Embellish Blue Shadow Colt Hiwiroa Lodge Richardson Racing Stables (Waikato) $110,000
1108 Satono Aladdin Chilli Filly Brighthill Farm Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Waikato) $105,000
1034 Almanzor Vin Rouge Filly Highline Thoroughbreds Kasa Bloodstock Ltd (Waikato) $100,000
1055 Maurice Zakalicious Filly Brighthill Farm Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Waikato) $100,000
1077 Satono Aladdin Ardere Filly Rich Hill Stud Ciaron Maher Bloodstock (Victoria) $100,000
1099 Almanzor Capblamo Colt Grangewilliam Stud Wallace Thoroughbreds Ltd (Auckland) $100,000

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Top Lots

LOT SIRE DAM SEX VENDOR BUYER PRICE
0790 Time Test Kerre Colt Leanach Lodge Ltd Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing (Queensland) $220,000
0896 Proisir Polson Filly Rich Hill Stud Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato) $170,000
0907 Ardrossan Pwerfect Colt Landsdowne Park Ltd Benner Racing Ltd (Manawatu-Whanganui) $165,000
1081 Ancient Spirit Back Date Filly Inglewood Stud Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato) $160,000
0795 Ardrossan La Donna Colt Landsdowne Park Ltd Lilywhites Lodge Ltd (Auckland) $155,000
0944 Proisir Sentito Filly Beckam Equine Mr RA James / Mr R Wellwood (Waikato) $150,000
0935 Ace High Savasong Colt Seaton Park Ltd Kasa Bloodstock Ltd (Waikato) $140,000
0731 Sun City Flippity Lass Filly Westbury Stud Benner Racing Ltd (Manawatu-Whanganui) $130,000
0892 El Roca Phoenix Colt Westbury Stud Ms R Carter (Auckland) $130,000
0723 Time Test Fascino Lass Colt HGT Bloodstock Ltd John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $120,000
0815 Grunt Little Rock Filly Brighthill Farm Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) $120,000
1029 Ardrossan Venetian Raider Colt Seaton Park Ltd Bell Racing (Waikato) $120,000
1122 Wrote Cracker Colt Highview HY Investments (Malaysia) $120,000

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Purchasers by Aggregate

PURCHASER BOUGHT AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman 10 $788,500 $170,000 896
Wallace Thoroughbreds Ltd 7 $388,500 $100,000 1099
Lisa Latta Racing Stables 7 $340,500 $90,000 980
Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing 3 $327,000 $220,000 790
Patrick Payne 5 $302,500 $75,000 976
Richardson Racing Stables 3 $300,000 $110,000 1088
Benner Racing Ltd 2 $295,000 $165,000 907
John Foote Bloodstock 4 $277,500 $120,000 723
Rogerson Bloodstock 4 $263,000 $75,000 1082
Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) 4 $260,000 $105,000 1108

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Vendors by Aggregate

VENDOR OFFERED SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Westbury Stud 17 16 $992,500 $62,031 $130,000 892
Rich Hill Stud 14 12 $779,500 $64,958 $170,000 896
Haunui Farm 26 23 $720,000 $31,304 $77,500 925
Landsdowne Park Ltd 11 11 $702,000 $63,818 $165,000 907
Seaton Park Ltd 19 19 $638,000 $33,579 $140,000 935
Ralph Thoroughbreds 9 9 $510,000 $56,667 $110,000 1049
Highview 9 7 $487,500 $69,643 $120,000 1122
Brighthill Farm 10 9 $427,500 $47,500 $120,000 815
Highline Thoroughbreds 9 9 $427,500 $47,500 $100,000 1034
Mapperley Stud Ltd 11 9 $416,000 $46,222 $100,000 773

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)

VENDOR OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE TOP LOT TOP PRICE
Inglewood Stud 3 3 $98,333 1081 $160,000
Highview 12 7 $69,643 1122 $120,000
Beckam Equine 4 3 $68,333 944 $150,000
Rich Hill Stud 19 12 $64,958 896 $170,000
Landsdowne Park Ltd 13 11 $63,818 907 $165,000
Westbury Stud 27 16 $62,031 892 $130,000
Beaufort Downs Ltd 6 4 $58,750 980 $90,000
Ralph Thoroughbreds 12 9 $56,667 1049 $110,000
HGT Bloodstock Ltd 10 6 $54,167 723 $120,000
Platinum Bloodstock 5 3 $53,833 690 $100,000

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)

SIRE OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Ardrossan 8 6 $103,917 $165,000 907
Satono Aladdin 6 5 $72,000 $105,000 1108
Wrote 10 7 $71,357 $120,000 1122
Cosmic Force 4 4 $61,250 $90,000 1123
U S Navy Flag 8 7 $57,714 $90,000 1046
Redwood 11 7 $54,929 $80,000 711
Hello Youmzain* 6 5 $53,200 $90,000 980
War Decree 7 5 $53,000 $100,000 846
Ace High 14 8 $52,875 $140,000 935
Almanzor 13 9 $49,556 $100,000 1099

*First season sire

Advertisment
More Reading...
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Consistency Key On Day One of 2025 Breeze Ups
After the rescheduling of dates for NZB’s anticipated 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups, Day One kicked off on Monday at Te Rapa Racecourse with consistent times, weather and track conditions.