Records tumbled for a fifth consecutive year at New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale, which concluded today with the aggregate, average and median all up on last year's record results, setting new benchmarks for two-year-old sales in Australasia.
The $20 million mark was surpassed for the first time in the Sale's history last year with an aggregate of $23,368,500 reached for 254 horses sold. That figure was exceeded this year with an increase of 22% to $28,393,000, for 294 horses sold over the past two days.
The average climbed to $96,575, surpassing last year's record of $92,002 by 5%, while the median increased to $70,000, up 17% from the record of $60,000 set at the previous two editions of the Sale.
NZB's Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was pleased to see an increased spend from the Australian buying bench across the two days of selling.
"In a Sale that has traditionally been dominated by the Asian market, it was very encouraging to see a large contingent of Australian guests who ended up spending $2.8 million more than last year.
"The clearance rate was disappointing but that was always going to be a challenge with 150 more horses on offer than last year. Hopefully we can improve that over the next few days.
"The continued success of this Sale could not have happened without the great support of our vendors who consistently give us a quality product to sell."
Along with the record statistics, a new record price was set on Day 1 of the Sale with Lyndhurst Farm's Lot 280, the Sebring colt three-quarter brother to Criterion, sold for $650,000 to Toby Koenig on behalf of Ultra Thoroughbreds.
Lyndhurst Farm also provided the top price for Day 2 of the Sale with Lot 349, the Reward for Effort colt, knocked down to Anton Koolman Bloodstock on behalf of Unifaith Bloodstock for $360,000.
Out of the Street Cry mare Minnie Deal, the colt is destined for Koolman's New South Wales property before further decisions are made about his future.
"He's a runner and looks like his grandsire Exceed and Excel. We knew we weren't going to get him cheap as he is too much of an athlete, and at this Sale you don't buy pedigrees you buy athletes," commented Koolman.
The leading buyer for the first time at the Ready to Run Sale was Te Akau Racing's David Ellis who purchased 10 horses for $1,525,000, including Lot 41 the Savabeel colt from Prima Park for $280,000. Ellis credited his increased activity at the Sale to Te Akau Racing's success with Karaka graduates.
"We've built up a terrific clientele and they've had great success from NZB's yearling sales and the Ready to Run Sale, plus NZB put a superb catalogue together and I just wanted to be part of it all."
Another record to be set was the number of horses to be sold for $300,000 or more, with 13 horses reaching that mark, an increase from the 10 sold last year which was a record in itself. There were a record 42 horses that sold for $200,000 or more, surpassing the 32 lots that sold for that price or more last year.
Australia was the leading buying bench with 77 horses purchased for $10,050,500, which is over $2.8 million more than they spent at last year's Sale. The leading buyer from Australia was Toby Koenig's TK Racing who purchased three horses for a total of $930,000.
The second leading country by spend was Hong Kong, purchasing 51 horses for a total of $7,219,500. The leading buyer from Hong Kong was trainer Ricky Yiu, who was the second leading buyer across the two days, purchasing five horses for a total of $1,015,000.
Local buyers purchased the largest number of horses, securing 94 lots for a total spend of $6,584,000, spearheaded by David Ellis.
Mark and Shelley Treweek's Lyndhurst Farm regained the leading vendor by aggregate title that they held from 2007-2012 and again in 2014. Selling 17 horses for a total of $3,731,000 they provided the top lots on both days of the Sale including the recording breaking Lot 280.
Selling under the Waikato Stud banner for the first time at the Ready to Run Sale, and better known for topping the Premier Sale tables, Mark Chittick's renowned operation finished as the leading vendor by average (three or more sold). Selling three lots for an average of $242,000, their top price came on Day 1 at Lot 263 who fetched the then record-breaking $580,000 to the bid of Ciaron Maher in partnership with Bruce Perry Bloodstock and Waterford Bloodstock.
The leading sire by average (three or more sold) was Sebring who had four of his progeny sell for an average of $300,250.
Full results from this week's 2016 Ready to Run Sale can be viewed online. To make enquiries about any Passed Lots contact Regan Donnison +64 21 512 466.
2016 Ready to Run Sale Statistics
| TOTAL | 2016 Ready to Run Sale | 2015Ready to Run Sale |
| AGGREGATE | $28,393,000 | $23,368,500 |
| AVERAGE | $96,575 | $92,002 |
| MEDIAN | $70,000 | $60,000 |
| CLEARANCE | 60% | 81% |
| CATALOGUED | 552 | 397 |
| SOLD | 294 | 254 |
| TOP LOT | $650,000 (Ch.C Sebring x Joleur) Lot 280 | $525,000 (B.G O'Reilly x Miraculous Miss) Lot 362 |
Top Lots
| Lot | Type | Breeding | Vendor | Purchaser | Price |
| 280 | Ch.C | Sebring / Joleur | Lyndhurst Farm | TK Racing (VIC) | $650,000 |
| 263 | BR.C | O'Reilly / Honolulu | Waikato Stud | Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Bruce Perry Bloodstock/Waterford Bloodstock (VIC) | $580,000 |
| 148 | Ch.C | Sebring / Crafty Irna | Lyndhurst Farm | Gary Chan (Hong Kong) | $400,000 |
| 96 | B.C | I Am Invincible / Calemore | Lyndhurst Farm | Michael Stedman Bloodstock (NSW) | $380,000 |
| 20 | Ch.C | Starcraft / Vortex | Leanach Lodge | Mr R Yiu (Hong Kong) | $360,000 |
| 349 | B.C | Reward for Effort / Minnie Deal | Lyndhurst Farm | Anton Koolman Bloodstock (NSW) | $360,000 |
| 426 | B.C | Fastnet Rock / Pretty Proud | Riversley Park | Mr M Chang (Hong Kong) | $350,000 |
Leading Purchasers by Aggregate
| Purchaser | Bought | Aggregate | Average | Top Price | Top Lot |
| Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | 10 | $1,525,000 | $152,500 | $280,000 | 41 |
| NZB as agent | 21 | $1,237,000 | $58,905 | $220,000 | 100 |
| Mr R Yiu (Hong Kong) | 5 | $1,015,000 | $203,000 | $360,000 | 20 |
| TK Racing (VIC) | 3 | $930,000 | $310,000 | $650,000 | 280 |
| Mr M Chang (Hong Kong) | 3 | $710,000 | $236,667 | $350,000 | 426 |
| Anton Koolman Bloodstock (NSW) | 2 | $700,000 | $350,000 | $360,000 | 349 |
| Stanley Chin Stable (Macau) | 10 | $626,000 | $62,600 | $185,000 | 434 |
| Dan Meagher Racing (Singapore) | 5 | $595,000 | $119,000 | $300,000 | 461 |
| Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Bruce Perry Bloodstock/Waterford Bloodstock (VIC) | 1 | $580,000 | $580,000 | $580,000 | 263 |
| Lincoln Farms Bloodstock (Auckland) | 5 | $510,000 | $102,000 | $160,000 | 190 |
Leading Vendors by Aggregate
| Vendor | Sold | Aggregate | Average | Top Price | Top Lot |
| Lyndhurst Farm | 17 | $3,731,000 | $219,471 | $650,000 | 280 |
| Diamond Lodge | 18 | $2,741,500 | $152,306 | $325,000 | 309 |
| Riversley Park | 22 | $2,716,500 | $123,477 | $350,000 | 426 |
| Kilmore Farm | 12 | $2,312,500 | $192,708 | $340,000 | 67 |
| Kiltannon Stables | 16 | $1,409,000 | $88,063 | $200,000 | 241 |
| Kilgravin Lodge | 18 | $1,331,500 | $73,972 | $240,000 | 321 |
| Mana Park | 13 | $1,283,500 | $98,731 | $220,000 | 345 |
| Ohukia Lodge | 13 | $957,000 | $73,615 | $200,000 | 373 |
| Regal Farm | 8 | $765,000 | $95,625 | $230,000 | 275 |
| Leanach Lodge | 6 | $748,000 | $124,667 | $360,000 | 20 |
Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)
| Vendor | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price | Top Lot |
| Waikato Stud | 3 | $242,000 | $726,000 | $580,000 | 263 |
| Lyndhurst Farm | 17 | $219,471 | $3,731,000 | $650,000 | 280 |
| Kilmore Farm | 12 | $192,708 | $2,312,500 | $340,000 | 67 |
| Jamieson Park | 3 | $161,667 | $485,000 | $200,000 | 114 |
| Diamond Lodge | 18 | $152,306 | $2,741,500 | $325,000 | 309 |
| Wellfield Lodge | 4 | $128,750 | $515,000 | $200,000 | 387 |
| Leanach Lodge | 6 | $124,667 | $748,000 | $360,000 | 20 |
| Riversley Park | 22 | $123,477 | $2,716,500 | $350,000 | 426 |
| JK Farm | 3 | $118,333 | $355,000 | $185,000 | 434 |
| Landsdowne Park | 5 | $112,600 | $563,000 | $180,000 | 352 |
Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)
| Sire | Sold | Average | Aggregate | Top Price | Top Lot |
| Sebring | 4 | $300,250 | $1,201,000 | $650,000 | 280 |
| O'Reilly | 6 | $217,667 | $1,306,000 | $580,000 | 263 |
| Snitzel | 4 | $210,000 | $840,000 | $340,000 | 67 |
| Starcraft | 3 | $210,000 | $630,000 | $360,000 | 20 |
| All Too Hard* | 3 | $190,000 | $570,000 | $220,000 | 345 |
| Tavistock | 10 | $165,750 | $1,657,500 | $325,000 | 309 |
| High Chaparral | 3 | $155,000 | $465,000 | $200,000 | 110 |
| Savabeel | 8 | $151,250 | $1,210,000 | $280,000 | 41 |
| Power* | 3 | $147,500 | $442,500 | $310,000 | 295 |
| Pierro* | 3 | $146,667 | $440,000 | $200,000 | 432 |
* First season sire
