Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble

Media Release - Thursday November 21

Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.

After Day One’s blockbuster day including the record-breaking sale of a $1,650,000 two-year-old, momentum continued into the final day of selling which saw the total aggregate land at $38,593,500, a 10% increase on the 2023 record edition of the Sale.

The clearance rate at the close of selling was a strong 78% with the average and median on par with last year’s remarkable results.

The $1.65million I Am Invincible colt from Shillelagh set a Southern Hemisphere record for a 2YO sold at public auction.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the buying bench we were able to assemble. We had hoped to match last year’s results but to exceed them has been a wonderful outcome,” commented NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.

“To achieve nearly 79% with the clearance rate, that’s really satisfying. We’ll be selling horses for the next few hours and into tomorrow so if we can get over 80% that would be fantastic.”

“The horses are incredibly well prepared by our vendors, who continue to step up every year. They do such a great job preparing these horses, there’s no one like them in the world and NZB is blessed to have such great consignors.”

A significant international presence was felt with Hong Kong-based buyers responsible for over $17.1 million in spend across 72 lots, while Australian buyers secured 67 lots for a total of $10.6 million in receipts. Emerging market Malaysia stamped their mark throughout the Sale, purchasing 40 horses for $3 million while the domestic market made a splash of $6.2 million for 57 lots. Other markets active included China who purchased 10 lots, and for the first time Mongolia signed up for five lots.  

Taking the honours of leading buyer for the second consecutive year was prominent Hong Kong owner and businessman Mr Yeung Kin Man, purchasing a whopping 24 lots for $4,995,000.

“I think the quality of the catalogue was even stronger this year, so that is why I have bought more horses,” he commented.

Leading vendor for the eighth consecutive year in a row was Sam Beatson’s Riversley Park, selling 35 lots for just shy of $7 million.

“It’s full on having such a large draft, but we’ve got great staff.”

“We like to get horses on the market early and let them find their value. We also bought at the lower end this year and it worked out.

“But to be able to breeze them on a consistent turf surface is the best advantage for everyone.

Advertisement

“Selling good genuine horses and keeping people happy is what I take pride in,” he added.

$775,000 Churchill (IRE) colt from Bagitol.

The highlight on Day Two came when the much-anticipated son of Churchill, Lot 288, was knocked down to Patella Bloodstock for $775,000 from Riverrock Farm’s draft.

“We are over the moon, he trialled really well before the breeze-ups,” commented Riverrock’s Chad Ormsby.

“We turned down good money after that, but we wanted to promote ourselves and our brand, and we thought the best way to do that was to turn down that offer and carry on into the sale.

“This Ready to Run Sale is our homeground too, it’s our local sale and we believe it’s the best sale of its kind, so we wanted to support the Sale as well.”

The phenomenal results across the last two days were highlighted by the record-breaking colt out of Group One winner Shillelagh (Lot 174), from Kiltannon Stables’ draft, which set a Southern Hemisphere record when selling for $1,650,000 to Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis.

The colt’s sire, I Am Invincible, was the leading sire by average after having four lots sell for an average of $675,000.

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.

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

Next up on the sales calendar is the much anticipated National Yearling Sales Series, with the catalogue for Karaka 2025 set to be released next week.

Kicking off with the TAB Karaka Millions Raceday at Ellerslie on Saturday 25 January, selling will follow with Book 1 set to take place from 26 to 28 January, while Book 2 will begin directly after on 29 & 30 January.

2024 Ready to Run Sale Statistics (at end of selling)

  2024 Ready to Run Sale 2023 Ready to Run Sale 2022 Ready to Run Sale 2021 Ready to Run Sale (Virtual)
Aggregate $38,593,500 $35,107,000 $25,186,000 $20,547,000
Average $151,943 $156,031 $129,159 $121,580
Median $90,000 $90,000 $80,000 $80,000
Clearance 78% 73% 76% 66%
Catalogued 404 383 329 322
Offered 324 308 257 256
Sold 254 225 195 169
Top Lot Lot 174 $1,650,000 I Am Invincible - Shillelagh (Br.C) Lot 376 $825,000 Star Turn - Commonwealth (B.C) Lot 258 $625,000 Capitalist - Sebrina (Ch.C) Lot 107 $640,000 Savabeel - Etiquette (Br.C)

 

 2024 Ready to Run Sale – Top Lots Day Two

Lot Sire Dam Sex Vendor Purchaser Price
288 Churchill Bagitol Colt Riverrock Farm Patella Bloodstock $775,000.
283 Toronado Attractive Colt BMD Bloodstock Ms B Yim $625,000.
372 Harry Angel Florabella Colt Ohukia Lodge Morgan Carter Bloodstock Ltd $520,000.
394 Snitzel Hard As Colt KB Bloodstock Blandford Bloodstock / Andrew Williams Bloodstock $480,000.
276 Encryption Ardoyne Road Gelding Riversley Park Ltd Mr KM Yeung $450,000.
226 Super Seth Tiff and Co Colt KB Bloodstock Sutton Racing / Byron Rogers $420,000.
402 Derryn Hot Spot Gelding Riversley Park Ltd Mr KM Yeung $420,000.
271 Russian Revolution Angelicus Colt Ohukia Lodge Magus Equine $400,000.
306 Harry Angel Cambric Colt Kilgravin Lodge Koolman $400,000.
369 Castelvecchio First Tier Gelding Kilgravin Lodge Waikato Bloodstock $400,000.
385 Hellbent Geneteau Colt Ohukia Lodge Upper Bloodstock $400,000.

 

2024 Ready to Run Sale – Top Lots Overall

Lot Sire Dam Sex Vendor Purchaser Price
174 I Am Invincible Shillelagh Colt Kiltannon Stables Ltd Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) $1,650,000.
288 Churchill Bagitol Colt Riverrock Farm Patella Bloodstock $775,000.
32 I Am Invincible La Luna Rossa Colt KB Bloodstock YLP $675,000.
79 Proisir Miss Vegas Gelding Riversley Park Andrew Williams Bloodstock / Hong Kong Bloodstock $650,000.
283 Toronado Attractive Colt BMD Bloodstock Ms B Yim $625,000.
122 Ole Kirk Press Box Gelding Lyndhurst Farm Magus Equine $550,000.
190 Deep Field Sorpesee Colt Ohukia Lodge Douglas Whyte / Sam Wright / Bevan Smith Bloodstock $550,000.
372 Harry Angel Florabella Colt Ohukia Lodge Morgan Carter Bloodstock $520,000.
394 Snitzel Hard As Colt KB Bloodstock Blandford Bloodstock / Andrew Williams Bloodstock $480,000.
83 Xtravagant Moshki Colt KB Bloodstock Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Racing / Blandford Bloodstock $450,000.
276 Encryption Ardoyne Road Gelding Riversley Park Mr KM Yeung $450,000.

2024 Ready to Run Sale – Leading Purchasers

Purchaser Aggregate Bought Top Price Top Lot
Mr KM Yeung (Hong Kong) $4,995,000. 24 $450,000. 276
Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) $2,695,000. 7 $1,650,000. 90
Magus Equine (Hong Kong) $1,865,000. 5 $550,000. 122
Lindsay Park Racing (Victoria) $945,000. 4 $280,000. 232
Patella Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $885,000. 2 $775,000. 288
YLP (Victoria) $885,000. 2 $675,000. 32
Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Racing / Blandford Bloodstock (New South Wales) $870,000. 3 $450,000. 83
Mr R Yiu (Hong Kong) $870,000. 3 $400,000. 186
Morgan Carter Bloodstock Ltd (Hong Kong) $795,000. 3 $520,000. 372
Mick Price Racing and Breeding (Victoria) $695,000. 3 $275,000. 53

2024 Ready to Run Sale – Leading Vendors by Aggregate

Vendor Lots Sold Aggregate Top Price Top Lot
Riversley Park 35 $6,945,000. $650,000. 79
Ohukia Lodge 21 $4,670,000. $550,000. 190
KB Bloodstock 17 $3,610,000. $675,000. 32
Kilgravin Lodge 23 $3,410,000. $400,000. 369
BMD Bloodstock 10 $2,120,000. $625,000. 283
Kiltannon Stables 7 $2,085,000. $1,650,000. 174
Riverrock Farm 8 $2,020,000. $775,000. 288
Woburn Farm 13 $1,800,000. $250,000. 80
Prima Park 13 $1,760,000. $370,000. 333
Westbury Stud 35 $1,725,000. $330,000. 13

2024 Ready to Run Sale – Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)

Vendor Sold Average Top Price Top Lot
Leanach Lodge 3 $303,333 $375,000 34
Kiltannon Stables 7 $297,857 $1,650,000 174
Riverrock Farm 8 $252,500 $775,000 288
Ohukia Lodge 21 $222,381 $550,000 190
KB Bloodstock 17 $212,353 $675,000 32
BMD Bloodstock 10 $212,000 $625,000 283
Lyndhurst Farm 5 $210,500 $550,000 122
Riversley Park 35 $198,429 $650,000 79
Kilgravin Lodge 23 $148,261 $400,000 369
Regal Farm 8 $146,250 $320,000 187

 2024 Ready to Run Sale – Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)

Sire Lots Sold Average Top Price Top Lot
I Am Invincible 4 $675,000 $1,650,000 174
Toronado 6 $287,500 $625,000 283
All Too Hard 4 $280,000 $350,000 375
Proisir 7 $236,429 $650,000 79
Hellbent 5 $236,000 $400,000 385
Russian Revolution 3 $226,667 $400,000 271
Written By 3 $213,333 $260,000 225
Shamexpress 3 $203,333 $280,000 232
Derryn 3 $191,667 $420,000 402
Advertisment
More Reading...
Dubawi Colt from $US8million Mare Wins G1 Coral Eclipse for Coolmore
Blueblood Dubawi colt Delacroix was a beaten favourite in the Group I Epsom Derby when unplaced behind his stablemate Lambourn, but he found his time to shine overnight when scoring a miraculous last to first win in the Group I Coral Eclipse Stakes (1m2f) at Sandown.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 5
Here is the full list of 112 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Istataba adds international flavour to National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Buyers can currently bid on 11 stakes-performed mares in the National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, including one that brings South American bloodlines and Singaporean racetrack performance.
Flemington Victory for Tarzino Mare
Quirky but talented mare Miss Tarzy has come from last win the Leilani Series Final (1400m) under a patient Jett Stanley ride.
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Pride’s Outsider Estadio Mestalla Wins Winter Stakes
The lone stakes race on Rosehill’s ten-race card on Saturday saw Joe Pride’s race outsider Estadio Mestalla (Galileo Gold) take out the $200,000 Listed ATC Winter Stakes (1400m) in a boilover.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
Invincible 3YO Wins G3 Winx Guineas
The $300,000 Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday featured a big field of 16 up and comers and following the late scratching of favourite Mister Bianco, Angela Jones took luck out of the equation on I Am Invincible gelding The Three Hundred.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Kiwi Bred Good Banter Finds Winning Form
Four-year-old mare Good Banter was back in the winner’s circle when narrowly prevailing in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.