Pedigree pages of blueblood fillies were to the fore at Day Three of Karaka 2018 pushing sales to $63.63 million and lifting the clearance rate to 79%.
David Ellis showed his strength yet again when he boldly opened with an $800,000 bid and quickly secured the highest-priced lot of Day Three,Lot 371by Not a Single Doubt, for $900,000.
The filly who descends from the great "Belle" family is a half-sister to Karaka Million winner and Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes winner 
Melody Belle(NZ) (Commands).
"I have been watching this family for the last 40 years," Ellis said. "It's an unbelievable filly family and I thought the cross with Not a Single Doubt was top-class."
Ellis leads the buying bench with 24 yearlings purchased for $7.24 million, including the $750,000 Exceed and Excel colt offered on account of Pencarrow Stud today atLot 455.
Local bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne added two royally-bred fillies to his purchases cementing his position as the second leading buyer.
The Savabeel filly consigned by Waikato Stud atLot 487was knocked down to his final bid of $875,000. She is out ofPosy(NZ) (No Excuse Needed) who is a sister to three-time Group 1 winnerDaffodil(NZ) (No Excuse Needed).
"We have bought into a family that has so much going for it," Hawthorne commented. "I wanted one good Savabeel filly and she's the one."
Hawthorne was also happy to secureLot 503, the first foal out of stakes-winning mare Pussy O'Reilly(NZ) (O'Reilly), for $700,000.
"We targeted four Tavistock fillies and we got two of the ones we wanted," he said. "Pussy O'Reilly was a good, tough race mare and she has produced a very good first foal here."
Hawthorne has secured six yearlings for $2.63 million, in addition to the Iffraaj colt (Lot 64) who he bought with Lindsay Park Racing.
Rounding out the top three buyers on the leader board was renowned Kiwi bloodstock agent Bruce Perry. At the end of Day Three he has purchased 10 yearlings for $2.09 million, including a Tavistock filly (Lot 10) on Day One that fetched $420,000.
Waikato Stud, who consigned the second highest lot today (Lot 487), have been well-represented by their Champion Sire Savabeel and are the current leading vendor by aggregate having sold 58 yearlings for $10.5 million.
Cambridge Stud have featured prominently throughout the three days of selling and provided the highest-priced yearling of the Sale yesterday for $1,025,000 (Lot 301). With 37 yearlings sold, their receipts have totalled $7.26 million.
Headlines were made today by Haunui Farm when they presented the younger sister to Melody Belle who finished as today's top priced yearling moving them up the ladder having now sold 19 yearlings for $4.56 million.
With a strong boutique draft Highden Park sit at the top of the vendor average table (three or more sold) having sold five yearlings at an average of $254,000. Curraghmore follow closely with the sale of 15 yearlings at average of $245,667, while Haunui Farm have settled today at an average of $240,263.
Australian sires have been highlighted with Snitzel leading the sires table by average (three or more sold) at $402,000. Tracking in behind is More Than Ready ($350,000) followed closely by I Am Invincible at $343,333.
Kiwi sires have remained a force to be reckoned with - Savabeel leads the sires table by aggregate with receipts totalling $12.98 million, while Tavistock sits on an aggregate of $7.81 million. Australian sire Fastnet Rock is third on the table with his yearlings selling for a total of $4.02 million.
Click here for today's highlight Lots:
The fourth and final day of Book 1 will continue tomorrow with Lot 541 to Lot 700 selling from 11am.
New Zealand Bloodstock will be making a special presentation to Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan in recognition of their significant achievements at Karaka. The public presentation will take place at Karaka in the auditorium from 10.30am tomorrow.
2018 Book 1 Yearling Sale Statistics – Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3
| BOOK 1 DAY 1, 2 & 3 | |
| AGGREGATE | $63,635,000 |
| AVERAGE | $159,486 |
| MEDIAN | $120,000 |
| CLEARANCE | 79% |
| CATALOGUED | 540 |
| SOLD | 399 |
| TOP LOT | $1,025,000 (B. C) Savabeel - Katie Lee, Lot 301 |
Top Lots
| LOT | TYPE | BREEDING | VENDOR | PURCHASER | PRICE |
| 301 | B.C | Savabeel / Katie Lee | Cambridge Stud | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $1,025,000 |
| 156 | BR.C | Fastnet Rock / Diademe | Curraghmore | Mark Pilkington Management / Lindsay Park Racing (Victoria) | $1,000,000 |
| 290 | B.F | Savabeel / Joy's Choice | Cambridge Stud | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $900,000 |
| 371 | B.F | Not a Single Doubt / Meleka Belle | Haunui Farm | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $900,000 |
| 487 | BB.F | Savabeel / Posy | Waikato Stud | Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (Victoria) | $875,000 |
| 159 | B.F | Tavistock / Diamond Like | Cambridge Stud | Moody Racing (Victoria) | $750,000 |
| 455 | B.C | Exceed and Excel / Our Ella Belle | Pencarrow Stud | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $750,000 |
| 172 | B.F | Fastnet Rock / Dragon's Tail | Hallmark Stud | BBA Ireland (Ireland) | $725,000 |
| 503 | BB.F | Tavistock / Pussy O'Reilly | Cambridge Stud | Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (Victoria) | $700,000 |
| 215 | B.C | Snitzel / Floria | Haunui Farm | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $625,000 |
Leading Purchaser by Aggregate
| PURCHASER | BOUGHT | AGGREGATE | AVERAGE | TOP PRICE | TOP LOT |
| Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | 24 | $7,242,500 | $301,771 | $1,025,000 | 301 |
| Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (Victoria) | 6 | $2,635,000 | $439,167 | $875,000 | 487 |
| Bruce Perry Bloodstock (Wellington) | 10 | $2,095,000 | $209,500 | $420,000 | 10 |
| Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) | 6 | $1,860,000 | $310,000 | $500,000 | 190 |
| Busuttin Racing (Victoria) | 11 | $1,795,000 | $163,182 | $320,000 | 255 |
| Paul Moroney Bloodstock (Victoria) | 12 | $1,745,000 | $145,417 | $280,000 | 473 |
| Kaha Syndicate / Mulcaster Bloodstock (New South Wales) | 5 | $1,365,000 | $273,000 | $425,000 | 108 |
| Mark Pilkington Management / Lindsay Park Racing (Victoria) | 2 | $1,360,000 | $680,000 | $1,000,000 | 156 |
| John Chalmers Bloodstock Services (Western Australia) | 6 | $995,000 | $165,833 | $250,000 | 202 |
| Moody Racing (Victoria) | 4 | $990,000 | $247,500 | $750,000 | 159 |
Leading Vendor by Aggregate
| VENDOR | SOLD | AGGREGATE | AVERAGE | TOP PRICE | TOP LOT |
| Waikato Stud | 58 | $10,500,000 | $181,034 | $875,000 | 487 |
| Cambridge Stud | 37 | $7,267,500 | $196,419 | $1,025,000 | 301 |
| Haunui Farm | 19 | $4,565,000 | $240,263 | $900,000 | 371 |
| Curraghmore | 15 | $3,685,000 | $245,667 | $1,000,000 | 156 |
| Windsor Park Stud | 26 | $3,495,000 | $134,423 | $410,000 | 355 |
| Westbury Stud | 26 | $3,275,000 | $125,962 | $370,000 | 472 |
| Bradbury Park | 14 | $2,030,000 | $145,000 | $400,000 | 387 |
| Trelawney Stud | 14 | $1,830,000 | $130,714 | $240,000 | 80 |
| Pencarrow Stud | 8 | $1,765,000 | $220,625 | $750,000 | 455 |
| Wentwood Grange | 14 | $1,750,000 | $125,000 | $320,000 | 261 |
Leading Vendor by Average (three or more sold)
| VENDOR | SOLD | AVERAGE | AGGREGATE | TOP PRICE | TOP LOT |
| Highden Park | 5 | $254,000 | $1,270,000 | $500,000 | 48 |
| Curraghmore | 15 | $245,667 | $3,685,000 | $1,000,000 | 156 |
| Haunui Farm | 19 | $240,263 | $4,565,000 | $900,000 | 371 |
| Pencarrow Stud | 8 | $220,625 | $1,765,000 | $750,000 | 455 |
| Henley Park | 6 | $202,500 | $1,215,000 | $400,000 | 26 |
| Cambridge Stud | 37 | $196,419 | $7,267,500 | $1,025,000 | 301 |
| Koru Thoroughbreds | 4 | $195,000 | $780,000 | $270,000 | 92 |
| Jamieson Park | 5 | $186,000 | $930,000 | $260,000 | 135 |
| Mana Park | 5 | $186,000 | $930,000 | $360,000 | 272 |
| Waikato Stud | 58 | $181,034 | $10,500,000 | $875,000 | 487 |
Leading Sire by Average (three or more sold)
| SIRE | SOLD | AVERAGE | AGGREGATE | TOP PRICE | TOP LOT |
| Fastnet Rock | 10 | $402,000 | $4,020,000 | $1,000,000 | 156 |
| More Than Ready | 3 | $350,000 | $1,050,000 | $500,000 | 84 |
| I Am Invincible | 3 | $343,333 | $1,030,000 | $410,000 | 355 |
| Savabeel | 49 | $265,000 | $12,985,000 | $1,025,000 | 301 |
| Deep Field* | 5 | $183,000 | $915,000 | $300,000 | 363 |
| Per Incanto | 10 | $170,500 | $1,705,000 | $370,000 | 212 |
| Tavistock | 46 | $169,891 | $7,815,000 | $750,000 | 159 |
| Showcasing | 7 | $158,571 | $1,110,000 | $250,000 | 202 |
| Dundeel | 4 | $150,000 | $600,000 | $270,000 | 92 |
*First season sire
