Day 1 of the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale of 2YO's saw strong demand for proven New Zealand sires with Savabeel and Tavistock responsible for all five of today's top lots.
A broad range of buyers were active at the Sale with horses destined for Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Macau, China, Thailand and Malaysia.
Australia were the leading country by spend with 34 lots purchased for an aggregate of $3,653,500, marginally ahead of Hong Kong who spent $3,172,500 for 15 high-priced two-
year-olds.
Prominent throughout the day for Hong Kong was trainer Manfred Man purchasing two lots for a total spend of $680,000, including the equal sale topper atLot 127.
The son of Champion sire Savabeel made $500,000. An equal price he shared with another of Savabeel's progeny inLot 84,from the draft of today's leading vendor Ohukia Lodge, who was knocked down to the bid of Stuart Hale.
"He was one of the first horses I inspected and he caught my eye straight away," commented Hale.
"You hope that you're going to get the best horse in the Sale and to me he was the best horse in the catalogue.
"He ticked all the boxes, he's got a beautiful pedigree. He's a Zabeel out of a Group-winning High Chaparral mare."
The overall leading buyer was Te Akau Racing's David Ellis who secured six lots for a total spend of $1,052,500.
The highest priced Lot that Ellis secured wasLot 137, in partnership with Aquis, when he went to the bid of $440,000 for a son of Savabeel.
At the end of Day 1, the turnover closed at $11,980,500 for 115 horses sold with the average settling at $104,178, back slightly on 2017's record-breaking results. The clearance rate strengthened this afternoon and is expected to pick up on Day 2.
Day 2 of the Ready to Run Sale will commence tomorrow from 11am at Karaka, with all lots being streamed live online atwww.nzb.co.nz.
View the end of day highlights video on Karaka TV here.
2018 Ready to Run Sale Statistics - Day One
| 2018 DAY ONE | 2017 DAY ONE | 2016 DAY ONE | |
| AGGREGATE | $11,980,500 | $15,690,500 | $14,610,500 |
| AVERAGE | $104,178 | $108,210 | $101,462 |
| MEDIAN | $67,500 | $65,000 | $70,000 |
| CLEARANCE | 63% | 75% | 57% |
| CATALOGUED | 220 | 220 | 280 |
| SOLD | 115 | 145 | 144 |
| TOP LOT | Lot 84 $500,000 Savabeel - Lady Chaparral (Br.C) and Lot 127 $500,000 Savabeel - Maxmara (Br.C) | Lot 106 $460,000 Hinchinbrook - El Ashb (B.C) | Lot 280 $650,000 Sebring - Joleur (Ch.C) |
