Saving the Best for Last - Crescendo on Final Session of NZB Book 1

Media Release - Tuesday January 31

An electric atmosphere was felt during the final session of Book 1 at Karaka 2023, with a late flurry of bidding setting the sale ring alight.  

At the conclusion of selling, the total turnover reached $70,063,000. The average and median rose to $151,980 and $130,000 respectively, while the clearance rate climbed to 79%.

“It was a great start to the week naming the sale auditorium after Sir Patrick Hogan, which set the scene for a strong three days,” commented NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.

$1million sale-topping Fastnet Rock filly from Test the World.

“All the big guns were here. It was fantastic to see the Australian spend up by $11.5 million and tremendous to have them back.

“There is still work to be done and the nice horses in Book 2 are going to be very hard to buy. There are plenty of kiwis who will be looking to buy and I believe Book 2 will provide some good opportunities for them,” he said.

The leading purchaser by aggregate at the end of Book 1, for the eighteenth consecutive year, was none other than king of the Karaka ring David Ellis. The Te Akau Racing principal purchased 27 yearlings for a total of $6,115,000 and an average spend of $226,481.

Ellis left his best until last, with enough fuel in his tank to spend $1,000,000 on what he considered to be the ‘filly of the Sale’.

Lot 586, by Fastnet Rock out of Test the World (NZ), was purchased from Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore draft.

David Ellis and Gordon Cunningham.

“She was the best filly I have seen since 1988. She had a beautiful pedigree out of a mare who had a lot of speed.”

“I was not going home having done all of this work without this beautiful filly. We are so happy that we finally won and we can take her home.”

“I’ve bought some pretty good fillies over the years, Avantage of course was by the same sire. I have had a lot of luck out of this Sale with fillies I have really liked.

“The quality this year was extremely high and the breeders have done an excellent job. They’ve had a great growing season this year and I think there will be some excellent horses that come out of this sale in a few years’ time.

Gordon Cunningham was thrilled by the result, which topped off a standout Book 1 session for the renowned horseman.

“It was a great price for a gorgeous filly. I’m thrilled for David Ellis and his owners and wish them the best of luck.”

“Curraghmore and our clients have had a brilliant week. I’m thankful to all our staff for their work and commitment to presenting our horses to the highest standard.

“I’m very proud of what they achieved and to cap it off with a million dollar filly has made it even more rewarding,” Cunningham said.

The second highlight of the day came when Laguna Partnership, Barry Lee Bloodstock and John Sargent Racing purchased Lot 616  for $625,000. The filly by first season sire Super Seth out of Valpolicella (NZ) descends from one of Haunui Farm’s foundation families.

$625,000 Super Seth filly from Valpolicella.

Sydney-based trainer John Sargent identified her as one of the fillies on the complex.

“Eion Moses, who has been in the game a long time, wanted to purchase the best-bred filly from the Sale. It’s clear she has the residual value to go to stud and we’re very happy to get her for that price.”

“Super Seth’s progeny look really good for a first season sire. That’s a gamble you take but the residual value found in that family is hard to get into,” Sargent said.

Waikato Stud claimed the leading vendor by aggregate table for the second consecutive year at the end of Book 1, selling 52 yearlings for a total turnover of $7,742,500.

Studmaster Mark Chittick was thrilled by the results, as well as the reception of Waikato Stud’s first season sire Super Seth.

“The highlight of the Sale for us was how successful Super Seth’s progeny sold. Obviously, you take on a big risk when you bring these colts to the farm. There is no doubt about it, he was a phenomenal racehorse with a massive pricetag.”

“These stallions are key to our business and the breeding industry. It’s a big hill to climb but I’m glad they were accepted by the buying bench.”

“I think all of the vendors left no stone unturned, there was a great vibe leading into the Sale when the sun was out. I think we can all be very proud by what we achieved,” Chittick said.

The leading vendor by average at the end of Book 1 was Brent and Cherry Taylor’s Trelawney Stud, who sold 100 percent of their offerring in Book 1. The nursery sold 12 yearlings for an average spend of $248,333. This was highlighted by Lot 294, a Too Darn Hot colt (ex Lady Sayyida) who was purchased for $750,000 by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock on Day Two.

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.

Book 2 commences tomorrow, Wednesday 1 February, with the first of three sessions beginning at 11AM each day of selling.

Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Book 1 online.

View the full results of Book 1 Results here.

Book 1 Statistics (at end of selling)

Advertisement

 

2023 BOOK 1 TOTAL

2022 BOOK 1 TOTAL

2021 BOOK 1 TOTAL

2020 BOOK 1 TOTAL

AGGREGATE

$70,063,000

$63,127,500

$50,778,000

$67,130,000

AVERAGE

$151,980

$146,808

$123,248

$138,698

MEDIAN

$130,000

$100,000

$95,000

$107,500

CLEARANCE

79%

77%

80.47%

79%

CATALOGUED

644

636

579

677

SOLD

461

430

412

484

TOP LOT

Lot 586 Fastnet Rock - Test the World (B.F) $1,000,000

Lot 161 Savabeel - Chandelier (B.C) $1,000,000

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

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

 

Book 1 Top Lots Day Three

Lot

Breeding

Vendor

Purchaser

Price

586

Fastnet Rock / Test the World B.F

Curraghmore

Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau)

$1,000,000

616

Super Seth / Valpolicella B.F

Haunui Farm

Laguna Partnership / Barry Lee Bloodstock / John Sargent Racing (New South Wales)

$625,000

488

Written Tycoon / Save the Date Ch.F

Cambridge Stud

Forsman Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock / Bevan Smith Bloodstock (New South Wales)

$460,000

505

Per Incanto / Sharvasti Br.C

Little Avondale Stud

KPW Bloodstock (Queensland)

$450,000

621

Deep Field / Via Veneto B.C

Beaufort Downs

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong)

$450,000

507

Zoustar / Shenandoah B.C

Wentwood Grange

Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau)

$400,000

632

Deep Field / Waruna BB.C

Carlaw Park

Jamie Richards Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

$400,000

546

Tivaci / Splitsecond B.F

Waikato Stud

KPW Bloodstock (Queensland)

$350,000

560

Savabeel / Style by Design BB.F

Waikato Stud

Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau)

$350,000

518

Spirit of Boom / Sienna Rose B.C

Cambridge Stud

Proven Thoroughbreds / Mr S O'Dea / Hoysted Racing (New South Wales)

$330,000

545

Proisir / Spirit of Sandford B.C

Landsdowne Park

Mr WK Choy / Mr P Wong (Hong Kong)

$330,000

 

Book 1 Top Lots Overall

Lot

Breeding

Vendor

Purchaser

Price

586

Fastnet Rock / Test the World B.F

Curraghmore

Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau)

$1,000,000

294

Too Darn Hot / Lady Sayyida B.C

Trelawney Stud

Cameron Cooke Bloodstock (Victoria)

$750,000

59

Savabeel / Bayrock B.C

Windsor Park Stud

Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau)

$625,000

616

Super Seth / Valpolicella B.F

Haunui Farm

Laguna Partnership / Barry Lee Bloodstock / John Sargent Racing (New South Wales)

$625,000

97

Savabeel / Chiaretta B.F

Elsdon Park

Forsman Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock / Bevan Smith Bloodstock (Waikato)

$600,000

344

Pierro / Meleka Belle B.F

Haunui Farm

Mr T Stakemire (New South Wales)

$500,000

488

Written Tycoon / Save the Date Ch.F

Cambridge Stud

Forsman Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock / Bevan Smith Bloodstock (New South Wales)

$460,000

189

Vadamos / Floramour B.F

Curraghmore

Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock (New South Wales)

$450,000

196

Pierro / Forever Loved B.F

Curraghmore

Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock (New South Wales)

$450,000

505

Per Incanto / Sharvasti Br.C

Little Avondale Stud

KPW Bloodstock (Queensland)

$450,000

621

Deep Field / Via Veneto B.C

Beaufort Downs

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

$450,000

 

Book 1 Leading Purchasers by Aggregate

Purchaser

Bought

Aggregate

Average

Top Price

Top Lot

Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau)

27

$6,115,000

$226,481

$1,000,000

586

KPW Bloodstock (Queensland)

11

$3,115,000

$283,182

$450,000

505

Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock (New South Wales)

11

$2,880,000

$261,818

$450,000

189

Go Racing (Auckland)

11

$1,935,000

$175,909

$325,000

363

Ciaron Maher Racing (Victoria)

12

$1,905,000

$158,750

$300,000

608

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong)

5

$1,470,000

$294,000

$450,000

621

John O'Shea Racing / Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) (Hong Kong)

8

$1,360,000

$170,000

$330,000

41

Mr RA James / Mr R Wellwood (Waikato)

7

$1,320,000

$188,571

$260,000

391

Wexford Stables (Waikato)

9

$1,260,000

$140,000

$220,000

385

Jamie Richards Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock (Hong Kong)

5

$1,225,000

$245,000

$400,000

632

 

Book 1 Leading Vendor by Aggregate

Vendor

Entries

Sold

Aggregate

Average

Top Price

Top Lot

Waikato Stud

62

52

$7,742,500

$148,894

$400,000

210

Cambridge Stud

46

37

$5,925,000

$160,135

$460,000

488

Curraghmore

27

23

$5,625,000

$244,565

$1,000,000

586

Wentwood Grange

35

25

$3,635,000

$145,400

$400,000

507

Carlaw Park

29

24

$3,510,000

$146,250

$400,000

632

Little Avondale Stud

29

20

$3,360,000

$168,000

$450,000

505

Haunui Farm

33

19

$3,280,000

$172,632

$625,000

616

Westbury Stud

46

26

$3,255,000

$125,192

$240,000

104

Windsor Park Stud

30

18

$3,150,000

$175,000

$625,000

59

Trelawney Stud

15

12

$2,980,000

$248,333

$750,000

294

 

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

Vendor

Entries

Sold

Average

Aggregate

Top Price

Top Lot

Trelawney Stud

15

12

$248,333

$2,980,000

$750,000

294

Curraghmore

27

23

$244,565

$5,625,000

$1,000,000

586

The Oaks Stud

10

7

$182,857

$1,280,000

$375,000

49

Lyndhurst Farm

4

4

$181,250

$725,000

$260,000

113

Elsdon Park

16

13

$176,923

$2,300,000

$600,000

97

Windsor Park Stud

30

18

$175,000

$3,150,000

$625,000

59

Haunui Farm

33

19

$172,632

$3,280,000

$625,000

616

Hallmark Stud

16

11

$169,318

$1,862,500

$340,000

107

Little Avondale Stud

29

20

$168,000

$3,360,000

$450,000

505

Ardsley Stud

7

4

$167,500

$670,000

$275,000

84

 

 

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

Sire

Entries

Sold

Average

Aggregate

Top Price

Top Lot

Pierro

6

5

$352,000

$1,760,000

$500,000

344

Too Darn Hot*

6

4

$315,000

$1,260,000

$750,000

294

Written Tycoon

6

6

$260,833

$1,565,000

$460,000

488

Zoustar

4

3

$253,333

$760,000

$400,000

507

Deep Field

6

5

$252,000

$1,260,000

$450,000

621

Savabeel

39

31

$233,710

$7,245,000

$625,000

59

Justify

7

4

$223,750

$895,000

$300,000

418

Per Incanto

28

17

$210,000

$3,570,000

$450,000

505

Proisir

19

19

$188,947

$3,590,000

$330,000

545

Pride of Dubai

3

3

$171,667

$515,000

$250,000

213

 

*First season sire

 

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

Sire

Entries

Sold

Average

Aggregate

Top Price

Top Lot

Too Darn Hot

6

4

$315,000

$1,260,000

$750,000

294

Super Seth

43

33

$160,758

$5,305,000

$625,000

616

Microphone

5

5

$156,000

$780,000

$200,000

399

Alabama Express

3

3

$148,333

$445,000

$220,000

536

Magna Grecia

5

3

$116,667

$350,000

$170,000

533

Ten Sovereigns

5

3

$115,000

$345,000

$160,000

78

Advertisment
More Reading...
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Extraordinary Results on Record Day One at NZB Ready to Run
Day One of NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale witnessed incredible results across the board, including an Australasian record for a two-year-old at auction.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Yulong Strike for $675,000 I Am Invincible Colt
Champion Australian stallion I Am Invincible sired the two highest-priced lots on the opening day of NZB’s Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Wednesday, including a colt that was snapped up by the high-flying Yulong operation for $675,000.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
€1million Sea the Stars Colt Tops Goffs Foal Sale Day 3
Godolphin swung into sales action overnight at the Goffs November Foal Sale purchasing a colt by Sea the Stars for €1million to top the third session of the sale.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.