Extraordinary Results on Record Day One at NZB Ready to Run

Media Release - Wednesday November 20

Day One of NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale witnessed incredible results across the board, including an Australasian record for a two-year-old at auction.

The aggregate reached $18,547,000, an increase of 14% on the previous year at the same stage. Other key sale indicators also increased, with the average reaching $173,336 (+10%) and the median settling at $90,000.

The top two lots of the day were both progeny of Champion sire I Am Invincible, with Lot 174 (ex Shillelagh) setting a Southern Hemisphere record when selling for $1,650,000.  

Kiltannon Stables celebrate with their $1.65million I Am Invincible colt from Shillelagh - image Trish Dunell

Knocked down to Te Akau Racing, David Ellis was elated to secure the fast-breezing colt.

“The fact that we trained Shillelagh for Christopher and Susanna Grace makes this quite special for Te Akau, but the simple fact is that I thought he was easily the nicest colt I’ve ever seen at the Ready to Run Sale,” commented Ellis.

“I was on the toe the whole time he was in the ring, because I really wanted to take this horse home. At one stage my wife Karyn [Fenton-Ellis] said to me, ‘If you really, really like this colt, don’t be beaten.’

“That gave me the confidence to put in those last couple of bids.”

Prepared and offered by Kiltannon Stables, an emotional Lorraine Forbes reflected on the result.

“We knew he would go well but that result was amazing. It’s pretty exciting.”

“This is huge for us. We are only a small team, and for Christopher and Suzanna to trust us with a horse like this means a lot.

“He’s been such a pleasure to prepare, he’s got such a cool nature and it’s so good to see him go to Te Akau so we can watch him race which is even more exciting,” she added.

The $675,000 I Am Invincible colt from La Luna Rossa will be headed ot Australia - image Trish Dunell

Happy to be back in his homeland, Yulong’s Sam Fairgray was delighted to secure the second highest-priced lot of the day, Lot 32 (ex La Luna Rossa colt) for $675,000.

“It’s great to be back in New Zealand amongst the vendors.”  

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“Vinnie is a champion stallion, and this colt has a really nice pedigree page to match,” he added.

“He put his head down and paraded well, and I really liked his breeze up. He’ll head back to Australia and take it easy and will be trained by Chris Waller."

NZB’s Head Auctioneer Mike Kneebone commended today’s results.

“It’s a remarkable Sale. It keeps pushing the boundaries.”

“Yesterday at the welcome drinks, I looked around and thought the buying bench was as good and as strong as I’ve ever seen, and the results are starting to show for that.”

“There’s about 40 Malaysians and 17 of their trainers here. They’ve made Karaka their base they want to buy horses from.”

“I’ve also been amazed with the Australian spend. They don’t normally buy two-year-olds, so to see them hunting up behind Hong Kong, only behind by a few million is remarkable.

“But with results on the racetrack with the likes of Ceolwulf, Mr Brightside, Antino and Warmonger, it’s no surprise that they have come to play.”

To make enquiries 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.

Selling on Day Two commences at 11am (NZT) on Thursday 21 November, with the broadcast coverage beginning from 10:30am (NZT).

The Sale will continue to be streamed on Freeview channel 200 and SKY channel 64 in New Zealand, plus the usual feed to NZB’s website and Facebook page.

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

Ready to Run Sale Statistics – Day One (at end of selling)
  2024 Ready to Run Sale - Day One 2023 Ready to Run Sale - Day One 2022 Ready to Run Sale - Day One 2021 Ready to Run Sale - Day One (Virtual)
Aggregate $18,547,000 $16,206,500 $11,329,500 $10,344,000
Average $173,336 $157,345 $124,500 $129,300
Median $90,000 $90,000 $80,000 $100,000
Clearance 66% 68% 65% 65%
Catalogued 200 190 170 160
Offered 161 151 139 124
Sold 107 103 91 80
Top Lot Lot 174 $1,650,000 I Am Invincible - Shillelagh (Br.C) Lot 143 $800,000 Harry Angel - Monrecour (B.C) Lot 166 $575,000 Savabeel - Maxmara (Br.C) Lot 107 $640,000 Savabeel - Etiquette (Br.C)
2024 Ready to Run Sale – Day One Top Lots
Lot Sire Dam Sex Vendor Purchaser Price
174 I Am Invincible Shillelagh Colt Kiltannon Stables Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) $1,650,000
32 I Am Invincible La Luna Rossa Colt KB Bloodstock YLP (Victoria) $675,000
79 Proisir Miss Vegas Gelding Riversley Park Andrew Williams Bloodstock / Hong Kong Bloodstock (New South Wales) $650,000
122 Ole Kirk Press Box Gelding Lyndhurst Farm Magus Equine (Hong Kong) $550,000
190 Deep Field Sorpesee Colt Ohukia Lodge Douglas Whyte / Sam Wright / Bevan Smith Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $550,000
83 Xtravagant Moshki Colt KB Bloodstock Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Racing / Blandford Bloodstock (New South Wales) $450,000
88 Deep Field My Goodness Colt Riversley Park Mr KM Yeung (Hong Kong) $425,000
145 Ghaiyyath Romantic Whisper Colt Phoenix Park PR Thoroughbreds / Lindsay Park Racing (Victoria) $425,000
186 Star Turn Soiree Gelding Riversley Park Mr R Yiu (Hong Kong) $400,000
48 So You Think Lost Diamond Colt Ohukia Lodge Mr KM Yeung (Hong Kong) $380,000
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