I’ll forever look back on the 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Premier Sale as being two very different days of selling.
Day One was a tough slog; it was a very hard market to read and there were many vendors struggling to meet their reserves or having to adjust them downwards from earlier predictions.
Day Two, in contrast, saw an abundance of big prices; keen and competitive bidding and smiles returning to the faces of the industry’s many stakeholders.
Why the difference from day one to day two?
There is often a shake-down period at the start of a Karaka Premier Sale; a time when buyers hold back for the first 10 or 20 lots trying to read the market. The problem with Day One this year was that the shake-down period lasted most of the day!
The other factor, clearly, was that there were many more horses which appealed to the buying bench on Day Two. This was clearly reflected in the sales figures provided by New Zealand Bloodstock and I’m sure the auctioneers would have been very satisfied with the final outcome – sales totalling NZ$65m, an average price of NZ$174,864 (375 horses sold) and a median of $140,000.
Cambridge Stud makes it 30 years-straight
New Zealand’s top thoroughbred nursery, Cambridge Stud, achieved a special milestone this year, clocking up their 30th consecutive year as the leading vendor by aggregate at the New Zealand National Sale.
It was a result which went right to the wire with Cambridge Stud edging out fellow Cambridge-based nursery Windsor Park Stud. Both operations sold 43 yearlings during the two days. Cambridge Stud banked NZ$10,285,000 and Windsor Park Stud NZ$8,970,000.
Zabeel fillies in red-hot demand
A really noticeable trend at this year’s Premier Sale was the stunning demand for top-end Zabeel fillies. Buyers have clearly noted that Zabeel leads the Australian Broodmare Sire Premiership ? something he’s never done before – and recognise the fact that it’s a position he’s likely to dominate in the post-Danehill era going forward.
The Premier Session’s third and fourth-leading sellers were Zabeel fillies and, in fact, three of the top ten sellers were fillies by Cambridge Stud’s champion sire. Leading the way was Lot 372, the Zabeel filly from Jesmond’s Gift which sold to BBA-Ireland (Adrian Nicoll) for NZ$800,000. Melbourne trainer Mark Kavanagh ? who saddled by Shocking to win the 2009 Melbourne Cup – paid NZ$700,000 for Lot 258, the Zabeel filly from Dane Dancer. Rick Connolly – and Australian agent – paid NZ$550,000 for Lot 225, the Zabeel filly from Cat Shmea.
Five more days of selling to come
The New Zealand Yearling Sales Series has three levels of selling. The two day Premier Session is followed by three days of the Select Sale – the second tier yearling offering. That happens 02 to 04 February. Racing is staged as usual on Saturday 05 February before two more days of selling at the Festival Sale, the third tier yearling offering.
A sale of two halves
I’ll forever look back on the 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Premier Sale as being two very different days of selling.
Day One was a tough slog; it was a very hard market to read and there were many vendors struggling to meet their reserves or having to adjust them downwards from earlier predictions.
Day Two, in contrast, saw an abundance of big prices; keen and competitive bidding and smiles returning to the faces of the industry’s many stakeholders.
Why the difference from day one to day two?
There is often a shake-down period at the start of a Karaka Premier Sale; a time when buyers hold back for the first 10 or 20 lots trying to read the market. The problem with Day One this year was that the shake-down period lasted most of the day!
The other factor, clearly, was that there were many more horses which appealed to the buying bench on Day Two. This was clearly reflected in the sales figures provided by New Zealand Bloodstock and I’m sure the auctioneers would have been very satisfied with the final outcome – sales totalling NZ$65m, an average price of NZ$174,864 (375 horses sold) and a median of $140,000.
Cambridge Stud makes it 30 years-straight
New Zealand’s top thoroughbred nursery, Cambridge Stud, achieved a special milestone this year, clocking up their 30th consecutive year as the leading vendor by aggregate at the New Zealand National Sale.
It was a result which went right to the wire with Cambridge Stud edging out fellow Cambridge-based nursery Windsor Park Stud. Both operations sold 43 yearlings during the two days. Cambridge Stud banked NZ$10,285,000 and Windsor Park Stud NZ$8,970,000.
Zabeel fillies in red-hot demand
A really noticeable trend at this year’s Premier Sale was the stunning demand for top-end Zabeel fillies. Buyers have clearly noted that Zabeel leads the Australian Broodmare Sire Premiership ? something he’s never done before – and recognise the fact that it’s a position he’s likely to dominate in the post-Danehill era going forward.
The Premier Session’s third and fourth-leading sellers were Zabeel fillies and, in fact, three of the top ten sellers were fillies by Cambridge Stud’s champion sire. Leading the way was Lot 372, the Zabeel filly from Jesmond’s Gift which sold to BBA-Ireland (Adrian Nicoll) for NZ$800,000. Melbourne trainer Mark Kavanagh ? who saddled by Shocking to win the 2009 Melbourne Cup – paid NZ$700,000 for Lot 258, the Zabeel filly from Dane Dancer. Rick Connolly – and Australian agent – paid NZ$550,000 for Lot 225, the Zabeel filly from Cat Shmea.
Five more days of selling to come
The New Zealand Yearling Sales Series has three levels of selling. The two day Premier Session is followed by three days of the Select Sale – the second tier yearling offering. That happens 02 to 04 February. Racing is staged as usual on Saturday 05 February before two more days of selling at the Festival Sale, the third tier yearling offering.