Competitive Buying Bench Delivers Strong Karaka Book 1

Media Release - Tuesday January 28

After a solid finish to New Zealand Bloodstock’s 94th National Yearling Sales Series, the key critical indicators were up on last year’s Sale, which reflected a strong market.

The turnover reached $67,130,000, representing an average of $138,698 for 484 horses sold. The median closed at $107,500, with the clearance rate climbing to 79%.

David Ellis was the leading buyer at Karaka Book 1The increased Australian spend was up by a total of $4.8 million on last year’s Sale.

NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was pleased with the competition carried throughout Book 1. 

“It was very encouraging to see the number of international and domestic buyers present over the past few days.

“The aggregate spend is on par with last year’s Sale, with 21 less horses catalogued.

“We had a strong middle market generated by the Australian’s. We put a lot of effort into getting them here, so it’s great to see the vendors rewarded so well,” said Seabrook.

King of the ring David Ellis landed the leading buyer title for the 15th consecutive year, spending a total of $6,500,000 for 28 horses purchased.

His top purchases include Lot 454, an $875,000 Savabeel colt out of Bayrock bought from the draft of Windsor Park Stud and an $800,000 colt, Lot 79 (Savabeel x Magic Dancer) secured from Waikato Stud. He also bought an I Am Invincible colt out of Sancerre for $675,000 from the draft of Trelawney Stud.

The Te Akau Racing Principal reflected on the success he had throughout Book 1 of Karaka 2020. 

“There is a lot of quality here and we have had so much interest from our owners to buy them… that I just kept buying them.

“I think Book 1 has been very successful, there is no doubt about that. New Zealand Bloodstock can take a big bow.  

“It’s an honour to be a part of a great company and the New Zealand industry,” said Ellis.

The second-highest leading buyer was Aussie raider Peter Moody, who spent a total of $2,145,000 after securing seven horses.

Top lot this year was the $900,000 Pierro colt from Our SqueezerHis highlights include a $500,000 Exceed and Excel colt and Lot 243 (Ocean Park x Ruud Van Staats), a filly which he secured for $450,000, both from Trelawney Stud.

Prominent New Zealand buyers were syndicators Go Racing syndicators who purchased 14 horses for $1,785,000 and Hiwi Lodge’s Garry Carvill who managed to secure the top Lot of the Sale, a $900,000 Pierro colt out of our Squeezer.

Waikato Stud have claimed another leading vendor title with 58 yearlings sold for a total $9,902,500 averaging $167,839. This is the seventh consecutive year that the Waikato nursery has topped the vendor table.

Advertisement

Other high achievers on Day Three of Book 1 included Cambridge Stud, who were the second leading vendor by aggregate with 50 Lots sold for a purse of $7,005,000 in receipts. 

Leading vendor by average was Trelawney Stud for 11 Lots sold at $314,545, which included three Lots sold for over a margin of $500,000 or more.

American Pharoah was the leading sire by averageCoolmore Australia's first season sire American Pharoah was the leading sire by average with $265,833 for six yearlings sold. The international sire also led the first season sire’s table.  

Waikato Stud’s resident champion Savabeel provided two of the top three-priced lots offered and averaged $247,241 for 58 Lots sold with total aggregate of 14,340,000.

It was a successful Sale for New Zealand-based first season sires Vadamos and Tivaci, with Vadamos leading the New Zealand-based first season sire ranks. The Rich Hill-based stallion averaged $125,714 for 21 Lots sold, while Waikato Stud’s Tivaci averaged $124,821 for 28 Lots sold.

Book 1 fillies have been in demand with residual value found at Karaka, including Lot 379, (Savabeel x Valley Girl) and Lot 614 (Exceed and Excel x Gallwitz) who were both sold for $500,000. Overall there have been 25 fillies sell for $250,000 or more in Book 1.

The first day of Book 2 commences tomorrow with Lot 678 to 820 going under the hammer from 11am.

All horses purchased at Karaka this week are eligible for the lucrative Karaka Million Series with two $1 million races available for graduates as two and three-year-olds, plus the CollinsonForex Karaka Cup for the duration of their career. Nominations must be received by 5pm Tuesday 3 March 2020.

To make enquiries about any Passed Lots contact Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or Regan Donnison on +64 21 512 466.

Catch the highlights from Day Three and relive all the action online here.

2020 Book 1 Yearling Sale Statistics – Total

  2020 BOOK 1 TOTAL 2019 BOOK 1 TOTAL
AGGREGATE $67,130,000 $67,206,500
AVERAGE $138,698 $137,437
MEDIAN $107,500 $100,000
CLEARANCE 79% 77%
CATALOGUED 677 698
SOLD 484 489
TOP LOT Lot 155 Pierro - Our Squeezer (B. or Br.C) $900,000 Lot 192 Savabeel - Make a Wish (B.C) $1,400,000
 


2020 Book 1 Top Lots

LOT TYPE BREEDING VENDOR PURCHASER LOCATION PRICE
155 BB.C Pierro / Our Squeezer Westbury Stud Hiwi Lodge Waikato $900,000
454 B.C Savabeel / Bayrock Windsor Park Stud Mr DC Ellis Te Akau $875,000
79 BR.C Savabeel / Magic Dancer Waikato Stud Mr DC Ellis Te Akau $800,000
342 B.C Lonhro / Thames Court Cambridge Stud Coolmore Australia New South Wales $675,000
247 B.C I Am Invincible / Sancerre Trelawney Stud Mr DC Ellis Te Akau $625,000
189 B.C American Pharoah / Posavina Pencarrow Stud Mr CJ Waller / Mulcaster Bloodstock New South Wales $575,000
28 B.C Showcasing / Khales Haunui Farm Ciaron Maher Bloodstock / Astute Bloodstock Victoria $500,000
241 B.C Tivaci / Ruqqaya Trelawney Stud Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) Wellington $500,000
368 B.C Exceed and Excel / Tricia'o Cambridge Stud Mr GE Harding Waikato $500,000
379 BR.F Savabeel / Valley Girl Wentwood Grange Mr CJ Waller / Mulcaster Bloodstock New South Wales $500,000
614 B.F Exceed and Excel / Gallwitz Trelawney Stud Moody Racing Victoria $500,000
626 BB.C Savabeel / Gold Rocks Waikato Stud Mr DC Ellis Te Akau $500,000
 


2020 Book 1 Leading Purchaser by Aggregate

PURCHASER BOUGHT AGGREGATE AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) 25 $6,210,000 $248,400 $875,000 454
Moody Racing (Victoria) 7 $2,145,000 $306,429 $500,000 614
Go Racing (Auckland) 14 $1,785,000 $127,500 $270,000 557
John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong) 15 $1,775,000 $118,333 $220,000 152
Mr CJ Waller / Mulcaster Bloodstock (New South Wales) 6 $1,755,000 $292,500 $575,000 189
Pike Racing (Waikato) 10 $1,700,000 $170,000 $300,000 336
Rogerson Bloodstock (Waikato) 10 $1,465,000 $146,500 $360,000 69
Hiwi Lodge (Hong Kong) 4 $1,260,000 $315,000 $900,000 155
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) 4 $1,240,000 $310,000 $400,000 483
Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (Victoria) 8 $1,172,500 $146,563 $450,000 565
Bruce Perry Bloodstock (Wellington) 5 $1,160,000 $232,000 $500,000 241
Cambridge Stud (Waikato) 6 $1,065,000 $177,500 $400,000 337
 


2020 Book 1 Leading Vendor by Aggregate

VENDOR SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Waikato Stud 59 $9,902,500 $167,839 $800,000 79
Cambridge Stud 50 $7,005,000 $140,100 $675,000 342
Wentwood Grange 26 $4,200,000 $161,538 $500,000 379
Westbury Stud 24 $3,707,500 $154,479 $900,000 155
Haunui Farm 19 $3,620,000 $190,526 $500,000 28
Trelawney Stud 11 $3,460,000 $314,545 $625,000 247
Curraghmore 20 $2,920,000 $146,000 $360,000 297
Windsor Park Stud 23 $2,720,000 $118,261 $875,000 454
Pencarrow Stud 12 $2,170,000 $180,833 $575,000 189
Little Avondale Stud 13 $1,995,000 $153,462 $320,000 165
Woburn Farm 18 $1,992,500 $110,694 $275,000 252
Rich Hill Stud 16 $1,960,000 $122,500 $240,000 8
 


2020 Book 1 Leading Vendor by Average (three or more sold)

VENDOR SOLD AVERAGE AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
Trelawney Stud 11 $314,545 $3,460,000 $625,000 247
Jamieson Park 6 $204,167 $1,225,000 $420,000 456
Haunui Farm 19 $190,526 $3,620,000 $500,000 28
Pencarrow Stud 12 $180,833 $2,170,000 $575,000 189
Waikato Stud 59 $167,839 $9,902,500 $800,000 79
Wentwood Grange 26 $161,538 $4,200,000 $500,000 379
Monovale Farm 5 $158,000 $790,000 $340,000 136
Valachi Downs 12 $156,250 $1,875,000 $330,000 331
Westbury Stud 24 $154,479 $3,707,500 $900,000 155
Little Avondale Stud 13 $153,462 $1,995,000 $320,000 165
Curraghmore 20 $146,000 $2,920,000 $360,000 297
Inglewood Stud 5 $142,000 $710,000 $270,000 266
 

2020 Book 1 Leading Sire by Average (three or more sold)

SIRE SOLD AVERAGE AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
American Pharoah* 6 $265,833 $1,595,000 $575,000 189
Lonhro 6 $256,667 $1,540,000 $675,000 342
Savabeel 58 $247,241 $14,340,000 $875,000 454
Teofilo 5 $224,000 $1,120,000 $300,000 658
Pierro 9 $222,222 $2,000,000 $900,000 155
Hinchinbrook 4 $197,500 $790,000 $400,000 184
Pride of Dubai 4 $192,500 $770,000 $275,000 252
Reliable Man 11 $172,727 $1,900,000 $330,000 145
Toronado 3 $170,000 $510,000 $230,000 524
Divine Prophet* 4 $150,000 $600,000 $180,000 310
Iffraaj 30 $146,333 $4,390,000 $400,000 337
Shocking 4 $145,000 $580,000 $220,000 384
 

*First season sire


2020 Book 1 Leading First Season Sire by Average (three or more sold)

SIRE SOLD AVERAGE AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT
American Pharoah 6 $265,833 $1,595,000 $575,000 189
Divine Prophet 4 $150,000 $600,000 $180,000 310
Maurice 4 $128,750 $515,000 $180,000 172
Vadamos* 21 $125,714 $2,640,000 $330,000 331
Tivaci* 28 $124,821 $3,495,000 $500,000 241
Belardo* 5 $106,000 $530,000 $210,000 144
Astern 4 $91,250 $365,000 $150,000 123
Preferment* 7 $90,000 $630,000 $160,000 21
Tarzino* 16 $86,094 $1,377,500 $170,000 319
Turn Me Loose* 15 $73,500 $1,102,500 $160,000 182
 

*New Zealand based

Advertisment
More Reading...
Yulong Chasing Another Oaks with Movin Out
Kiwi-bred filly Movin Out made a successful switch from Sydney racing to a tilt at Victorian riches when she came from well back to race to a dominant victory in the $150,000 Mornington Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
The Instructor Delivers a Lesson in Listed Hareeba
Winner of the Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview at two, four year-old Russian Revolution gelding The Instructor has had some lengthy spells in his career to date, but has been at his best since returning to racing this year and gave everything he had to cling on and win the $200,000 Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m).
Geese That Lay Golden Eggs – What’s in the Future?
The 2025 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale was highlighted by 25 yearlings that sold for $1million or more which was seven more than last year when 18 were in the millionaires club following on from 26 in 2023.
Trelawney Trio Shine at Inglis Easter
Trelawney Stud were quietly confident they had taken the right trio of yearlings across to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney this week and that was reflected with some outstanding results. 
Doctor Askar Wins G3 Easter Handicap
Saturday’s Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie capped a rapid and popular rise to stardom for Waverley visitor Doctor Askar.
Sires With Winners - Saturday April 19
Here is the full list of 121 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
The Road Less Travelled - Inglis Easter
Is it possible for a budget conscious breeder to make their mark in a super selective and super elite sale such as Inglis Easter? With the clearance now hitting 87% following five additional sales since Monday night it turns out the answer is yes.
Consecutive Hall Mark Stakes Wins For Mazu
Taking his earnings past $9m for Triple Crown Syndications, the Joe Pride trained Mazu (Maurice) hasn’t won since this meeting last year but put the writing on the wall at his last two starts before going back-to-back in the Group 3 ATC Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Kiwi bred Jimmysstar Wins Crackerjack G1 All Aged
Former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar has stamped himself as one of the most exciting sprinters in Australia with a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Spirit Of Boom Brings Up 30th Stakes Winner
Off the back of a last start 1200m victory at Eagle Farm, Tony Gollan’s 3yo gelding Boomtown Boss stepped up to 1400m for the first time in his career, taking out the Listed BRC Daybreak Lover to become the 30th stakes winner for Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom.