Karaka Book 1 Concludes with Positive Results

Media Release - Tuesday January 26

A solid day of trading on Day Three has concluded Book 1 New Zealand Bloodstock’s 95th National Yearling Sales Series with encouraging results for the New Zealand industry. 

The turnover reached $50,998,000, representing an average of $123,184 for 414 horses sold. The median closed at $95,000, with the clearance rate climbing to an impressive 81%.

The $800,000 Zoustar filly sold on Sunday remained the highest priced yearling sold in Book 1 this year - image Trish Dunell.

The conclusion of Book 1 brought a feeling of optimism to the domestic thoroughbred industry moving forward.

NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was heartened by the strong clearance rate, buyer participation and vendors willingness to meet the market.

“Going into this we were certainly navigating unchartered territories and it was amazing how our buyers stepped up.”

“Online bidding was massive, as well as all the work that the New Zealand-based trainers and agents did on the ground, it was great to see their support and willingness to help us out.

“We were hoping coming into the Sale that the kiwis would step up, there was that air of confidence, not just in the local economy but the domestic racing scene in general.

“Last year the kiwis were responsible for 38% of the Book 1 turnover, this year their overall spend reached 56%, so they have really stepped up and it’s been incredible.”

“That support, coupled with the online bidding has made it a successful Sale.”

Seabrook was also thankful for the vendors, who actively made Karaka 2021 the most open sale ever held at Karaka.

“I think the big winner in this whole digital online space is New Zealand. We’re the most remote country in the bloodstock world and I think going forward we will benefit more than any other country and it’s exciting.

“I would like to thank the vendors for the information they provided which enabled overseas buyers to be active in the most transparent sale ever held in New Zealand.

“We have three hundred horses to go on Wednesday and Thursday and there are plenty of nice horses still to be sold in Book 2.

“I think we can all be very encouraged by the success over the last three days and I’m really looking forward to the future,” Seabrook said.

The leading buyer by aggregate was none other than Karaka king pin David Ellis (CNZM), who purchased 38 yearlings for a total turnover of $7,425,000 at an average of $195,395.

Te Akau's Principal was thrilled with the yearlings he secured this year. 

“We bought horses at all price brackets and we have found there is a lot of people wanting to invest in this great industry.” 

“When we first started looking at the yearlings a couple of months ago, we thought that the quality was as high as we have seen for many years.

“There is nothing I like more than seeing New Zealand trainers get involved in purchasing. If they want to train good horses, they have to come and buy them at Karaka because this is where most New Zealand breeders put their best horses.

“We are really confident that we have bought probably the best line up of horses that we have ever purchased out of this Sale.

“If we all stick together and put our best horses in this Sale going forward, the sky is the limit,” declared Ellis.

The top lot of final session in Book 1 was Lot 520, a Savabeel colt out of Lovetessa purchased by Bruce Harvey on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $720,000 from Cambridge Stud's draft.

$720,000 Savabeel colt from Lovetessa - image Trish Dunell.

There were a total of 596 unique online bids and 38% of yearlings offered were bid on by offshore buyers using NZB’s online bidding platform.

The likes of Guy Mulcaster, Danny O’Brien and Mike and Paul Moroney all targeted quality horses based on kiwi soil, using the new technology. 

New Zealand-based stallions didn’t go amiss accounting for 10 of the 12 highest priced lots at the conclusion of Book 1.

There was a change in guard in the leading vendor tables, with Brendan and Jo Lindsay's Cambridge Stud’s taking top honours. Their first season sire Almanzor also had a brilliant sale, averaging $193,571 for 42 lots sold. 

Almanzor was the lading first season sire.

View the full results of Book 1 here.

To enquire about Passed Lots contact Regan Donnison on +64 21 512 466 or email regan.donnison@nzb.co.nz or Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email kane.jones@nzb.co.nz.

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

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 (NZT) Monday 1 March 2021.

The first day of Book 2 commences Wednesday 27 January with Lot 580 to 750 going under the hammer from 1PM (NZT). View the catalogue online here.

2021 Book 1 Sale Statistics Visit Breednet Sales Centre for all the best stats for analysis.

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2021 BOOK 1 TOTAL

2020 BOOK 1 TOTAL

2019 BOOK 1 TOTAL

AGGREGATE

$50,998,000

$67,130,000

$67,206,500

AVERAGE

$123,184

$138,698

$137,437

MEDIAN

$95,000

$107,500

$100,000

CLEARANCE

81%

79%

77%

CATALOGUED

579

677

698

SOLD

414

484

489

TOP LOT

Lot 94 Zoustar - Scintillula (B.F) $800,000

Lot 155 Pierro - Our Squeezer (B. or Br.C) $900,000

Lot 192 Savabeel - Make a Wish (B.C) $1,400,000

 

2021 Book 1 Top Lots

Lot

Type

Breeding

Vendor

Buyer

Price

94

B.F

Zoustar / Scintillula

Pencarrow Stud

Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)

$800,000

520

B.C

Savabeel / Lovetessa

Cambridge Stud

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong)

$720,000

52

BR.C

Written Tycoon / Pussy O'Reilly

Woburn Farm

Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)

$625,000

578

B.C

Almanzor / Notice Received

Hallmark Stud

Yes Bloodstock / Chris Waller Racing / Bruce Perry Bloodstock (New South Wales)

$560,000

367

B.C

Tavistock / Echezeaux

Pencarrow Stud

Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)

$520,000

254

BR.F

Savabeel / Asama Blue

Pencarrow Stud

Nearco Stud (Auckland)

$450,000

487

B.C

Tavistock / La Belle Beel

Woburn Farm

Mrs Moss (United Kingdom)

$440,000

416

BR.C

Almanzor / Genius

Waikato Stud 

Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Wellington)

$420,000

474

B.F

Almanzor / Keepa Cheval

Waikato Stud 

The Oaks Stud / Pike Racing (Waikato)

$420,000

148

B.C

Belardo / Steel Rose

Seaton Park 

Mr D Kwan (Hong Kong)

$380,000

311

B.C

Ocean Park / Charmeuse

Valachi Downs

Mulcaster Bloodstock / Chris Waller Racing (Auckland)

$380,000

535

Ch.F

Almanzor / Miraculous Miss

Curraghmore

Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)

$380,000


2021 Book 1 Leading Purchasers by Aggregate

Buyer

Bought

Aggregate

Average

Top Price

Top Lot

Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)

38

$7,425,000

$195,395

$800,000

94

Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Wellington)

10

$1,905,000

$190,500

$420,000

416

Rogerson Bloodstock (Waikato)

11

$1,610,000

$146,364

$300,000

5

Danny O'Brien Racing / Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Victoria)

6

$1,430,000

$238,333

$320,000

74

Mulcaster Bloodstock / Chris Waller Racing (New South Wales)

7

$1,390,000

$239,000

$380,000

311

Pike Racing (Waikato)

9

$1,372,500

$152,500

$280,000

494

Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

7

$1,330,000

$190,000

$360,000

134

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong)

3

$1,260,000

$420,000

$720,000

520

Go Racing (Auckland)

11

$1,195,000

$108,636

$230,000

103

Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Ballymore Stables NZ (Waikato)

8

$875,000

$109,375

$360,000

451

 

2021 Book 1 Leading Vendors by Aggregate

Vendor

Sold

Aggregate

Average

Top Price

Top Lot

Cambridge Stud

45

$5,700,000

$126,667

$720,000

520

Waikato Stud

24

$4,330,000

$180,417

$420,000

416

Pencarrow Stud

22

$3,700,000

$168,182

$800,000

94

Westbury Stud

28

$3,320,000

$118,571

$340,000

200

Windsor Park Stud

31

$2,965,000

$95,645

$360,000

533

Hallmark Stud

15

$2,960,000

$197,333

$560,000

578

Woburn Farm

17

$2,770,000

$162,941

$625,000

52

Curraghmore

20

$2,470,000

$123,500

$380,000

535

Trelawney Stud

12

$2,340,000

$195,000

$370,000

273

Haunui Farm

19

$2,185,000

$115,000

$240,000

27

 

2021 Book 1 Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)

Vendor Name

Sold

Average

Aggregate

Top Price

Top Lot

Hallmark Stud

15

$197,333

$2,960,000

$560,000

578

Trelawney Stud

12

$195,000

$2,340,000

$370,000

273

Highden Park

3

$191,667

$575,000

$310,000

276

Waikato Stud

24

$180,417

$4,330,000

$420,000

416

Pencarrow Stud

22

$168,182

$3,700,000

$800,000

94

Woburn Farm

17

$162,941

$2,770,000

$625,000

52

Koru Thoroughbreds

6

$143,333

$860,000

$280,000

304

Blandford Lodge

5

$135,000

$675,000

$220,000

139

Valachi Downs

12

$127,917

$1,535,000

$380,000

311

Carlaw Park

13

$126,923

$1,650,000

$290,000

160

 

2021 Book 1 Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)

Sire

Sold

Average

Aggregate

Top Price

Top Lot

Savabeel

29

$216,724

$6,285,000

$720,000

520

Almanzor*

42

$193,571

$8,130,000

$560,000

578

Sebring

4

$192,500

$770,000

$295,000

126

Pierro

7

$167,857

$1,175,000

$320,000

74

Ocean Park

12

$145,833

$1,750,000

$380,000

311

American Pharoah

3

$145,000

$435,000

$180,000

482

Tavistock

30

$141,500

$4,245,000

$520,000

367

Contributer

5

$141,000

$705,000

$190,000

385

Lonhro

4

$127,500

$510,000

$200,000

214

Iffraaj

18

$126,944

$2,285,000

$370,000

273

 

*First Season Sire

2021 Book 1 Leading First Season Sires by Average (three or more sold)

Sire

Sold

Average

Aggregate

Top Price

Top Lot

Almanzor*

42

$193,571

$8,130,000

$560,000

578

Satono Aladdin*

6

$121,667

$730,000

$360,000

451

Churchill

4

$107,500

$430,000

$160,000

347

Time Test*

6

$86,667

$520,000

$220,000

272

Caravaggio

4

$77,500

$310,000

$115,000

441

War Decree*

7

$72,143

$505,000

$105,000

377

Merchant Navy

3

$65,000

$195,000

$80,000

70

 

*NZ-based Stallions

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