The international buying bench provided the bulk of the investment in today's
Premier offering, accounting for 69% of the day's spend ($20,817,500) and
highlighting the high esteem the New Zealand product is held in on the world
stage.In total $30.3 million was traded for 169 Lots, up 8% on last year's day one aggregate with the clearance rate currently sitting level with last year's at 76%.
The average currently sits at $179,083, ahead of last year's final figure of $176,226 with the median at $135,000.
New Zealand Bloodstock Managing Director Andrew Seabrook is pleased with the results heading into the second half of the catalogue tomorrow.
"It's been a good start to the Sale with the most thrilling aspect to me being the positive feedback from a highly regarded and astute buying bench."
The Rutherford family's Beltana Stud was rewarded handsomly having brought north from their North Canterbury base a full-brother to their home-bred success story Shamexpress. From the last crop of champion sire O'Reilly the colt provided the price highlight for the day early in proceedings.
Fetching $825,000 atLot 10, he will be raced by a consortium including the China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and Alan Bell Racing with China Horse Club racing and bloodstock manager Michael Wallace commenting on behalf of the group.
"He's a colt of exceptional quality with great core strength and balance."
"We felt he was a rare type of colt that we haven't seen on offer here for a while. Alan [Bell] shared the same views so a partnership was formed to take a shot at him."
Beltana's Richard Rutherford was bouyed by the result after a tough time as a result of the severe earthquakes to hit the region, causing significant damage to houses, stables and infrastructure on the farm.
"It was an all-round sensation and a huge relief after a difficult start to the year."
"He's been a lovely horse all the way through and we're thrilled that such a great group of people have bought him."
"It's a 40 hour journey for us to get up here but he handled the whole ordeal brilliantly and we're grateful to everyone who has contributed to us achieving such a result."
Shamexpress himself was purchased from Beltana at the 2011 Premier Sale for $130,000 by Danny O'Brien and now stands at Windsor Park Stud. The Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap winner's first crop of yearlings were well-received today leaving him the leading first crop sire. His top Lot was secured for $360,000, with Jamieson Park's filly from the Zabeel mare Fantasy World atLot 159knocked down to Queensland-based trainer David Vandyk.
Notably Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum secured the second highest-priced Lot of the day atLot 130. The High Chaparral filly from Diamond Like is from Cambridge Stud's iconic Eight Carat family and was knocked down to the Sheikh's racing manager Tim Stakemire for $800,000.
"We have been trying for 10 to 15 years to get into this family and they don't come on the market very often.
"It was well-documented that Sir Patrick was selling exclusively here and not holding anything back and we are happy to be supporting the Sale."
"She's got a fantastic pedigree, a lovely body and is a real athlete."
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin global powerhouse was also active today, signing for horses at Karaka for the first time.
Constantly looking to upgrade their broodmare band, Ferguson was immediately drawn to Pencarrow Stud's Savabeel filly from Group One winning juvenile Banchee atLot 58, bidding to $750,000 to secure her for their Australian racing operation "She has an impeccable pedigree, is by a hot young sire in Savabeel, and our whole inspection team felt she was a quality individual who was beautifully prepared so we are delighted to secure her."
The result contributed to Pencarrow Stud's current standing as leading vendor by average at $363,333 with three Lots sold, while Curraghmore holds second spot with 11 sold for an average of $281,364.
More than holding his own in the buyer ranks against the international super-powers was Te Akau Racing supremo David Ellis. Fresh off the back of Melody Belle's Karaka Million success for his team and Fortuna Racing at Ellerslie yesterday, today he secured 14 horses for $2.185 million with his top lot beingLot 111, a Tavistock colt knocked down for $220,000.
"I think it's been a very successful day's selling and I take my hat off to the whole New Zealand Bloodstock team and the vendors.
"I'm proud to be part of it all and am looking forward to more activity tomorrow" said Ellis.
Last year's leading vendors Waikato Stud topped the vendor by aggregate table with 21 Lots sold for $4.16 million followed closely by Cambridge Stud who have traded 15 individuals for $3.78 million.
Selling continues tomorrow from 10am with Lot 241 kicking off the day's proceedings and Lot 465 the concluding Lot in the Premier Sale. To view the passed in Lots from today click here.
Go to Breednet's Sale Centre for all of the day's stats.
