$725,000 Wootton Bassett Colt Stars on Solid Day 1 NZB Book 1

Media Release - Sunday January 26

NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series started on the right note today, with a strong first day of trade for Book 1.

At the close of selling for the opening session, a total of 163 lots sold for $26,665,000 at an average of $163,589, while the clearance rate reached 73%.

The top lot was made early in the day with Lot 6, a colt by in-vogue stallion Wootton Bassett making $725,000.

$725,000 Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Il Affare.

Bred by Nearco Stud and offered out of Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore draft, the colt was secured by the combination of Michael Freedman, Michael Wallace and Tom Magnier.

“He’s a lovely athletic type, reminded me a bit of Pallaton,” commented Sydney-based trainer Michael Freedman.

“We liked him the first time we saw him, we were very keen to try to buy him and it’s great to partner up with Coolmore.

“There’s quite a bit of depth to the catalogue here, the Kiwi’s breed great racehorses.

“We’ll see if we can get a few more before we go, particularly by stallions we can’t really access back in Australia.”  

$675,000 Too Darn Hot (GB) filly from On the Ball.

The second biggest lot of Day One came when Lot 168, a filly by Too Darn Hot, sold for $675,000.

Also offered by Curraghmore and purchased by Michael Freedman, this time in combination with James Harron and Tony Fung as part of a fillies partnership.

“We were delighted to get her, she’s just a very classy filly, from a lovely family and a very exciting stallion. It all stacked up,” commented Australian-based agent James Harron.

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“She comes from a very good farm in Curraghmore, who just keep getting winner after winner.

“It’s great to be back at Karaka. The horses do the talking, some superstars that we all dream about trying to get our hands on.”

NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was encouraged by the steady results and particularly excited about the diverse buying bench on the complex.

“The range of buyers active today here at Karaka has been great to see. The complex has been busy over the past few days and to see that reflected in the sales ring is very satisfying.”

“Last year’s Day One was exceptionally strong, featuring the $1.6 million top lot, and while we haven’t quite reached those numbers today, a look at previous Day One, Book 1 results shows that we are tracking very well.”

Selling continues on Monday for Day Two of Book 1, where lots 251 – 480 will go through the ring from 10am (NZT) at Karaka.

The Sale is televised live in New Zealand on SKY Country TV channel 81 (Book 1), Freeview Channel 200, as well as on NZB’s website, online bidding platform and Facebook page. For those watching from Australia, Book 1 is streamed live on Racing.com.

Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Day One online here.

View the full Book 1, Day One results here.

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

Karaka 2025 Sale Statistics (as at end of selling)
  2025 BOOK 1, DAY ONE 2024 BOOK 1, DAY ONE 2023 BOOK 1, DAY ONE 2022 BOOK 1, DAY ONE 2021 BOOK 1, DAY ONE
AGGREGATE $26,665,000 $30,725,500 $22,420,000 $20,042,500 $17,047,500
AVERAGE $163,589 $195,704 $160,143 $159,067 $130,134
MEDIAN $120,000 $150,000 $147,500 $125,000 $100,000
CLEARANCE 73% 73% 73% 69% 73%
CATALOGUED 250 240 220 220 200
OFFERED 223 215 192 184 176
SOLD 163 157 140 126 131
TOP LOT Lot 6 Wootton Bassett - Il Affare (B.C) $725,000 Lot 21 Proisir - Donna Marie (Ch.F) $1,600,000 Lot 59 Savabeel - Bayrock (B.C) $625,000 Lot 161 Savabeel - Chandelier (B.C) $1,000,000 Lot 94 Zoustar - Scintillula (B.F) $800,000
Karaka 2025: Book 1, Day One Top Lots
Lot Sire Dam Sex Vendor Name Purchaser Price
6 Wootton Bassett Il Affare Colt Curraghmore Michael Freedman / Tom Magnier / Mick Wallace (NSW) $725,000.
168 Too Darn Hot On the Ball Filly Curraghmore James Harron Bloodstock Pty Ltd / Michael Freedman Racing / Tony Fung Filly Partnership (NSW) $675,000.
11 Savabeel Indecision Colt Trelawney Stud  The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) $625,000.
103 Wootton Bassett Matagouri Colt Windsor Park Stud Mick Price Racing & Breeding (VIC) $600,000.
149 Satono Aladdin No More Doubt Colt Rich Hill Stud The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) $525,000.
18 Proisir Irish Colleen Colt Haunui Farm Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $450,000.
169 Satono Aladdin On the Move Colt Landsdowne Park  Patella Bloodstock (Waikato) $400,000.
127 Proisir Moonlover Filly Kilgravin Lodge Group 1 Bloodstock Pty Ltd (VIC) $380,000.
154 Hello Youmzain Nucleonic Colt Phoenix Park Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $375,000.
188 Per Incanto Parmalove Filly Inglewood Stud Go Racing / Blandford Bloodstock (Auckland) $375,000.
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