Back to Blog

NZTBA president acknowledges outstanding success of 2007 sales

Peter Francis, president of the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA) today congratulated vendors, buyers, New Zealand Bloodstock and New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing on the outstanding success of the 2007 National Yearling Sales at Karaka last week. NZTBA president Peter Francis Mr Francis says, “The strong lift in market demand for attractive, correct and well-presented horses was exactly what we hoped for when we, along with other industry groups, sought t...

Premier Sale highlights reviewed

Auckland real estate broker Don Ha, left, with his $2 million Zabeel-Sunline colt, Trevor McKee and Cambridge Stud handler Luke Simpson. Now that you've got through a hectic - whew! - week at Karaka, sit back and enjoy The Ford Report's review of some of the highlights, beginning with the record-breaking Premier Sale. Programme content for the upcoming edition... Buyer of top lot - DON HA Auction Company reaction - PETER VELA Giant pinho...

Premier Sale profitability shows sharp improvement

Yearling sale analyses have traditionally been confined to the figures that matter most to the sale company. They are paid by commission, so gross sales, the average and median prices, and the clearance rate are often considered sufficient measures of an auction's success or failure. New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka Sales Centre, Auckland PHOTO: Susan Archer This year's Sales Series has been particularly lucrative for New Zealand Bloodstock which raised its gross commi...

Strong Select Sale makes vendors smile

The smiles on the faces of vendors at the end of the three-day 2007 New Zealand Select Sale at Karaka were more expressive than any statistical analysis of the relief that strong demand and profitable sales have brought to the industry. Hallmark Stud sold seven 2007 Select Sale yearlings for an average of $48,285 - up 15% on their 2006 Select Sale average. PHOTO: Susan Archer The frustration of some trainers and agents was merely a different view of the same stor...

NZTBA Waikato Summer Seminar, 19 February

The Waikato branch of the NZTBA, in conjunction with Fertco, Agricom and Matamata Veterinary Services, is pleased to invite members and and others to a Summer Seminar on Monday 19 February at the Prince Albert Tavern, Cambridge, beginning at 7.00 pm. A light supper will be served at the end of the evening. The two-hour session will cover three areas of knowledge that are essential for successful farming and care of horses: Pasture renovation options - Mark Brown, Agricom Appropriate fer...

Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme winners, 22-29 January

Placings were the order of the week for Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme-qualified runners at Trentham and Avondale last week. And they still collected bonus prizemoney: a pair of two-year-olds and three-year-old filly Sila Jasak earned $3375 in extra stakemoney for their owners, nominators and trainers. The new owners of yearlings from the 2007 NZ National Yearling Sales are invited to contact TBS about entering their purchases in the Scheme so they can start competing for extra prizemoney nex...

New records set at Premier Sale

Selling on the second day of the 2007 New Zealand Premier Sale was even better, and certainly more consistent, than on the first day and by the conclusion of the sale new records were set for the aggregate, media and average. This was to be expected after the sale was reduced from three to two days, with 57 fewer lots catalogued, and 32 fewer lots sold this year. The improved statistics reflect a higher quality catalogue so comparisons with previous Premier Sales cannot be exactly made. (Thanks ...

Photos & vendor comments at Karaka, Sunday

As so often happens in Auckland, the weather has finally settled at the end of January, and delivered a clear sky, sunshine and moderate humidity for the day before the beginning of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series. For visitors strolling around the beautiful Karaka Sales Centre the atmosphere was relaxed and the scene endlessly interesting, but for buyers and vendors it was all business: heavily marked catalogues, smart uniforms and professional marketing, busy hospit...

Premier Sale first day posts record median

The first day of the re-formatted two-day 2007 New Zealand Premier Sale ended with a record median of $120,000 and an average of more than $146,000, significantly exceeding New Zealand Bloodstock's pre-sale expectations. The sale's momentum built steadily through the day after a subdued start. The first Visitors at Karaka today and selling Lot 463 on Wednesday were Veloce Bella's owner-breeders Margaret & Murray Hardy. PHOTO: Susan Archer ...

Willy Smith's Cup win recalls Wotan's 1936 triumph

In 1936 New Zealand stayer Wotan (Siegfried-Left by Martian), bred and owned by the Smith brothers from Wanganui, won the Melbourne Cup at 100/1. It's still one of the most famous episodes in the long and honourable tradition of Kiwis taking Australians by surprise at Flemington. The Smiths returned to New Zealand and cherished both their Melbourne Cup and the female family that produced Wotan. Today, just over 70 years after that memorable victory, Willy Smith (Volksraad-Sound Lear by Sound Re...

NZTBA welcomes visitors to Karaka 2007

New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association president Peter Francis says, "We warmly welcome all local and international visitors to the 2007 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series and look forward to hosting buyers, vendors, NZTBA members and media at Karaka." NZTBA president Peter Francis (left) & chief executive Michael Martin The NZTBA hospitality marquee, located between the indoor parade ring and Stable Block C, will be open from Sun...

Rich history of yearling sale lot numbers

After eight decades of national thoroughbred yearling sales, New Zealand can roll out a breath-taking list of outstanding graduates in almost every major racing nation. That means there's a New Zealand yearling sale lot number attached to many of our most celebrated horses, among them Phar Lap, Rising Fast, Tulloch, Galilee, Dulcify, Octagonal, Happyanunoit and Starcraft. New Zealand National Yearling Sale graduates: STARCRAFT (top), PHAR LAP, JEZABE...

Urgent invitation for NZ stud staff at Karaka

New Zealand stud staff keen to develop management-level careers within the industry are warmly invited to the Cafe on the first level of the main building at the Karaka Sales Centre this evening, Thursday 25 January at 6.30 pm (refreshments will be provided). Representatives of the NZTBA will explain the fantastic opportunity offered by the Sunline Trust Scholarship to Ireland, England & the United States. - NZTBA...

Brianna's bonuses boost returns for the Baillies

A week out from the 81st New Zealand National Yearling Sales Series, talented three-year-old filly Brianna (Sudurka-Lightning Tree) has reminded buyers how worthwhile it can be to enter their purchases in the Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme. Brianna, bred by John O'Flaherty and sold on his behalf by Bloomsbury Stud, earned her third 'B' bonus at Avondale on Saturday. All three of her wins have been at Avondale and all have been TBS races. They have added $16,...

Pins approaches new earnings record

Not quite halfway through the 2006-07 season, and with many major races still to be run, Waikato Stud's sire Pins is little more than $100,000 away from setting a fresh New Zealand stallion premiership earnings record. PINS, current leader on the 2006-07 New Zealand general sires' table. PHOTO: Waikato Stud There's no doubt that substantially increased prizemoney resulting almost entirely from last year's tax legislation is the main reason a n...

TBS owners enjoy holiday bonuses

Owners, nominators and trainers of horses qualified for the Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme have enjoyed rich holiday pickings, collecting $64,125 since 23 December. That's on top of the increased base prizemoney which has kicked in this season, following the introduction of reduced taxation on betting. Three A bonuses, worth $10,950 to each winner, have been struck, by two-year-olds Jacob at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and Emily Jane, who led home a TBS trifecta at Woodville on 6 January...

Good Magic Millions results for NZ studs & sires

Only six New Zealand-based sires and four studs (as catalogued vendors) were represented at the record-breaking first session of the 2007 Magic Millions Sale in Queensland yesterday, but it was pleasing to see them achieve several high prices. Top price for the New Zealand studs acting as vendors was $A450,000 paid by Wan Keung Lee, Hong Kong for Cambridge Stud's Lonhro-Mrs Squillionaire colt. Cambridge also sold the only Zabeel yearling offered yesterday, a colt from Lady Dehere, bought by So...

Karaka yearling videos now online

New Zealand Bloodstock, in conjunction with Sirecam and Equivision, has announced that the first set of videos of selected yearlings in the 2007 National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka, are now online.The second batch will be available for viewing tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, 12 January. Click on the links to each sale to access the relevant online catalogues at New Zealand Bloodstock; then click the camera icon next to each Lot Number: LOT VENDOR COLOUR SEX SIR...

Yearling drafts feature on The Ford Report, 13-19 January

Adrian Clark & The Ford Report team has been back in the field this week and brings you extended coverage on Trackside of yearlings from three prominent consignments at Karaka 2007. Programme content for this edition... * Karaka yearlings: WAIKATO STUD, Matamata * Karaka yearlings: RICH HILL STUD, Matamata * Karaka yearlings: WINDSOR PARK STUD, Cambridge * Pedigree subject: MIKKI STREET, by Cape Cross FIRST PLAY - Saturday, 13 January @ 7.30am (Digital) SECOND PLAY - Sunday, 14 January @...

NZTBA Central Districts yearling parade this Sunday

NZTBA members, owners, trainers, agents and guests are warmly invited to attend the NZTBA Central Districts Yearling Parade, this Sunday afternoon, 14 January (after the Marton Cup meeting at Awapuni on Saturday), beginning at Kim Rennie's new property, Manley Lodge, at 522 Napier Road, Whakaronga, on SH 3, Palmerston North. The Central Districts region of New Zealand, encompassing the Manawatu and PHOTO: Trish Dunell/NZTM Wairarapa regions, has long been a source of to...

Holiday Group Winners Review: Donna Rosita & Dezigna

The conspicuous Group success of owner-breeders this season continued at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, when Donna Rosita won the $200,000 ARC Railway Handicap 1200m G1, and Dezigna took out the $120,000 George Adams Handicap 1600m G2. A relaxed DONNA ROSITA enjoys the attention of the winner's circle at Ellerslie after winning the Railway Handicap G1 on 1 January. PHOTO: Susan Archer Owner-breeders have won 18 of the 41 Group races held in New Zeala...

Holiday Group Winners Review: Mikki Street

Five-year-old Mikki Street gave his owner John Street, and breeders Alastair and Carolyn Ring their biggest successes in 30 years when he won the $200,000 ARC Galaxy S. 2000m G1 at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Group One winner MIKKI STREET, bred by Alastair & Carolyn Ring, Auckland. PHOTO: NZTM/Trish Dunell Mikki Street ( Cape Cross-Ocean Pearl by Crested Wave) was purchased as a yearling at the 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale for $61,000 from the draft of ...

Fast & beautiful Veloce Bella thrills her owner-breeder

Almost a week after Veloce Bella's win in the AvJC Avondale Guineas 1600m G2 last Saturday, the excitement is still evident in the voice of her Hamilton breeder and co-owner Margaret Hardy. "It's almost surreal, Veloce Bella's results have exceeded our expectations. It's indescribable really, a huge thrill!" 2006 Avondale Guineas G2 winner, and Volksraad's 40th SW, VELOCE BELLA PHOTO: NZ Thoroughbred Marketing The three-year-old filly by Volksraad from Wave To Lot...

Jungle Pocket opens account for Class of 2003

The honour of being the first New Zealand-based freshman sire from the “Class of 2003” to leave a southern hemisphere winner has gone to Rich Hill Stud’s Jungle Pocket (Tony Bin-Dance Charmer by Nureyev).     His daughter Lady Sakura (ex Lady Bay by Kingdom Bay; bred by Alan Galbraith) started favourite and won on debut over 1100 metres at the Opunake RC meeting in New Plymouth on Wednesday.  She is trained by Mark Walker for the Te Akau Syndicate No. 9, ...

Tom Burn ends 20 years as NZTBA Wellington President

The word "stalwart" is a 14th century Scottish variant of an Old English compound of two words meaning "foundation, support" and "good, excellent, worthy". That etymology perfectly describes the contribution of Tom Burn to the NZTBA at branch and national level over the past two decades. Tom Burn, NZTBA Wellington president, 1986-2006, & national councillor, 1997-2003 PHOTO: Susan Archer Tom stepped down as NZTBA Wellington president at the branch AGM la...