$725,000 Wootton Bassett Colt Stars on Solid Day 1 NZB Book 1

Media Release - Sunday January 26

NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series started on the right note today, with a strong first day of trade for Book 1.

At the close of selling for the opening session, a total of 163 lots sold for $26,665,000 at an average of $163,589, while the clearance rate reached 73%.

The top lot was made early in the day with Lot 6, a colt by in-vogue stallion Wootton Bassett making $725,000.

$725,000 Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Il Affare.

$725,000 Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Il Affare.

Bred by Nearco Stud and offered out of Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore draft, the colt was secured by the combination of Michael Freedman, Michael Wallace and Tom Magnier.

“He’s a lovely athletic type, reminded me a bit of Pallaton,” commented Sydney-based trainer Michael Freedman.

“We liked him the first time we saw him, we were very keen to try to buy him and it’s great to partner up with Coolmore.

“There’s quite a bit of depth to the catalogue here, the Kiwi’s breed great racehorses.

“We’ll see if we can get a few more before we go, particularly by stallions we can’t really access back in Australia.”  

$675,000 Too Darn Hot (GB) filly from On the Ball.

$675,000 Too Darn Hot (GB) filly from On the Ball.

The second biggest lot of Day One came when Lot 168, a filly by Too Darn Hot, sold for $675,000.

Also offered by Curraghmore and purchased by Michael Freedman, this time in combination with James Harron and Tony Fung as part of a fillies partnership.

“We were delighted to get her, she’s just a very classy filly, from a lovely family and a very exciting stallion. It all stacked up,” commented Australian-based agent James Harron.

“She comes from a very good farm in Curraghmore, who just keep getting winner after winner.

“It’s great to be back at Karaka. The horses do the talking, some superstars that we all dream about trying to get our hands on.”

NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was encouraged by the steady results and particularly excited about the diverse buying bench on the complex.

“The range of buyers active today here at Karaka has been great to see. The complex has been busy over the past few days and to see that reflected in the sales ring is very satisfying.”

“Last year’s Day One was exceptionally strong, featuring the $1.6 million top lot, and while we haven’t quite reached those numbers today, a look at previous Day One, Book 1 results shows that we are tracking very well.”

Selling continues on Monday for Day Two of Book 1, where lots 251 – 480 will go through the ring from 10am (NZT) at Karaka.

The Sale is televised live in New Zealand on SKY Country TV channel 81 (Book 1), Freeview Channel 200, as well as on NZB’s website, online bidding platform and Facebook page. For those watching from Australia, Book 1 is streamed live on Racing.com.

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

View the full Book 1, Day One results here.

To enquire about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham at +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz or Andrew Buick at +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz.

Karaka 2025 Sale Statistics (as at end of selling)
Advertisement
  2025 BOOK 1, DAY ONE 2024 BOOK 1, DAY ONE 2023 BOOK 1, DAY ONE 2022 BOOK 1, DAY ONE 2021 BOOK 1, DAY ONE
AGGREGATE $26,665,000 $30,725,500 $22,420,000 $20,042,500 $17,047,500
AVERAGE $163,589 $195,704 $160,143 $159,067 $130,134
MEDIAN $120,000 $150,000 $147,500 $125,000 $100,000
CLEARANCE 73% 73% 73% 69% 73%
CATALOGUED 250 240 220 220 200
OFFERED 223 215 192 184 176
SOLD 163 157 140 126 131
TOP LOT Lot 6 Wootton Bassett - Il Affare (B.C) $725,000 Lot 21 Proisir - Donna Marie (Ch.F) $1,600,000 Lot 59 Savabeel - Bayrock (B.C) $625,000 Lot 161 Savabeel - Chandelier (B.C) $1,000,000 Lot 94 Zoustar - Scintillula (B.F) $800,000

 

Karaka 2025: Book 1, Day One Top Lots
Lot Sire Dam Sex Vendor Name Purchaser Price
6 Wootton Bassett Il Affare Colt Curraghmore Michael Freedman / Tom Magnier / Mick Wallace (NSW) $725,000.
168 Too Darn Hot On the Ball Filly Curraghmore James Harron Bloodstock Pty Ltd / Michael Freedman Racing / Tony Fung Filly Partnership (NSW) $675,000.
11 Savabeel Indecision Colt Trelawney Stud  The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) $625,000.
103 Wootton Bassett Matagouri Colt Windsor Park Stud Mick Price Racing & Breeding (VIC) $600,000.
149 Satono Aladdin No More Doubt Colt Rich Hill Stud The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) $525,000.
18 Proisir Irish Colleen Colt Haunui Farm Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $450,000.
169 Satono Aladdin On the Move Colt Landsdowne Park  Patella Bloodstock (Waikato) $400,000.
127 Proisir Moonlover Filly Kilgravin Lodge Group 1 Bloodstock Pty Ltd (VIC) $380,000.
154 Hello Youmzain Nucleonic Colt Phoenix Park Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $375,000.
188 Per Incanto Parmalove Filly Inglewood Stud Go Racing / Blandford Bloodstock (Auckland) $375,000.
Advertisment
More Reading...
Back to Business for Te Akau
Following a busy week in Auckland, it’s back to business as usual for Mark Walker, with the Te Akau trainer heading back across the Tasman to oversee his Cranbourne base.
The Canonbury Stakes - Often a Guide to Stardom
Saturday’s Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill has been used in recent years as the starting point for two of Chris Waller’s superstars (neither of them winning by the way) and the race is often one of the autumn’s strongest leads so let’s have a closer look.
No Secret - Middlebrook Valley Lodge Classic Quality
Middlebrook Valley Lodge had the honour of offering the very first horse into the sale ring at Inglis Classic last year when they sold a King’s Legacy filly from Vain Elaine for $150,000 and she is now exciting filly Open Secret, who is set to take her place in the $2million ATC Inglis Millennium next Saturday.
It's a G1 catalogue for the Feb (Early) Online Sale
G1 performers, siblings to G1 winners, dams of G1 winners and shares in several G1 winners and Stakes horses highlight another strong catalogue for the Inglis Digital February (Early) Online Sale.
Star Debut 2YO Winner for Spirit of Boom
Queensland favourite Spirit of Boom is having a hot run with this juveniles this season and posted his eighth winner from 15 starters when the Chris Waller trained filly Karinska saluted at Canterbury on Friday night.
Stakes Goals for Shamexpress Filly
Stakes assignments await promising filly Miss Madridista following her impressive 5-1/4 length victory in the Norwegian Park 1200 at Te Rapa on Friday.
Flying Artie's My Wish Leads An Aus Trifecta in HK Classic Mile
Mark Newnham continued his excellent season and My Wish continued his remarkable rise when the pint-sized Flying Artie four year-old won the Hong Kong Classic Mile on Friday in and Australian bred trifecta.
Sires With Winners - Friday January 31
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Auckland Cup Plan for Cambridge Stud Mare
In-form mare About Time is giving every indication she can master the ultimate distance of her autumn target.
Karaka Book 1 - Pinhook Winners
The NZB National Yearling Sale Book 1 was held earlier this week and as always there are a good selection of Australian bred yearlings offered that are pinhooked from various sales here and we’re taking a look at the most profitable and you can also check out the full list of all that were offered.