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Unique Virtual Karaka Experience for Moroney

Paul Moroney has had a unique experience purchasing horses at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale this year. For the first time in nearly four decades the international bloodstock agent wasn’t able to be at Karaka as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions, but he did not let that stop him from being active at the annual sale. While he wasn’t able to be physically present, he utilised technology to remotely inspect the entire Book 1 and Book 2 catalogue. “It’s a completely...

Marsh Keen On Stakes Success for Honest Mare

Trainer Stephen Marsh believes Belle Fascino is deserving of success at black type level and will look to achieve that with the seven-year-old mare at Riccarton this weekend. The daughter of Per Incanto heads into Saturday’s Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes (1400m) off the back of a last start victory at her favourite Riccarton venue, a track where she has won three times since relocating from Marsh’s Cambridge base at the start of the 2019 racing season. A change of tactics and the applicat...

Solid Trade Continues into First Session of Book 2

The opening day of Book 2 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 95th National Yearling Sales Series, saw a positive outcome for vendors off the back of a competitive Book 1 Sale.  The momentum from the last three days of selling has continued through into the first session of Book 2, with the average and median up on last year’s results, rising to $43,240 and $30,000 respectively. NZB’s Bloodstock Sales Manager Danny Rolston was encouraged by the strong day of trading. “Given the reducti...

Highline Celebrate Red Letter Day

Cam and Eva Heron of Highline Thoroughbreds were celebrating at Karaka on Wednesday after recording their best ever day at New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual sale. The Waikato couple sold lot 664, the Per Incanto colt out of stakes performer Special Draw, for $155,000 to Robin Tai on behalf of a Singapore client. While that was the farm’s biggest sale to date, that was blown out of the water later in the day when Cambridge trainer Alex Oliveira purchased lot 713, the Proisir colt, out of their ...

James comes Out On Top

Cambridge trainer Roger James has experienced a frustrating last few days at Karaka, so he was delighted to get the filly he wanted in the Book 2 session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale on Wednesday. He was underbidder on a number of the top lots in Book 1 and admitted it was a challenging experience. “I added it up this morning and we were underbidder on lots that brought $1.85 million, so I wasn’t a happy chappy last night,” he said. While despondent about missing ou...

Rutten Returns to Wairarapa Well

Chris Rutten purchased Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) runner Avonallo out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft at Karaka last year, and he is hoping he has bought another candidate for the rich juvenile feature from the Wairarapa nursery. The Horowhenua bloodstock agent secured lot 626, the Time Test colt out of Rorippa, a half-sister to Group One performer Gorky Park, with a final bid of $115,000 and Rutten said he was a standout yearling amongst his sire’s yearlings at the sale. “He is one of the...

Harding Follows Tested Path with Per Incanto Filly

Prominent owner Gary Harding is hoping that lightning can strike twice after he outlaid $170,000 for a Per Incanto filly on day one of the Book 2 session at the National Yearling sale. Harding took a fancy to the filly out of unraced Fusaichi Pegasus mare Bellerama that was consigned through the Little Avondale Stud draft and was keen to secure her. Harding was trading on past experience having purchased a Per Incanto filly in 2019 from Little Avondale for $160,000 that now races under the name ...

Positive Book 1 Sale Sets New Benchmark

A solid day of trading on Day Three of Book 1 has concluded New Zealand Bloodstock’s 95th National Yearling Sales Series with encouraging results for the New Zealand industry.  The turnover reached $50,998,000, representing an average of $123,184 for 414 horses sold. The median closed at $95,000, with the clearance rate climbing to an impressive 81%. The conclusion of Book 1 brought a feeling of optimism to the domestic thoroughbred industry moving forward. NZB’s Managing Director ...

Perry Saves His Best Until Last

Masterton Bloodstock agent Bruce Perry has been a constant presence on the buyer’s sheets throughout the three days of the Book 1 sale at Karaka this year, but he left his biggest hit until the 11th hour. Lot 578, the Almanzor colt, who is a half-brother to Australian Group Two winner Subpoenaed, was the last horse through the auction ring on Tuesday and despite his position in the catalogue, had plenty of heavy hitters’ keen on him. The auction ring action boiled down to a slugfest bet...

Tavistock Colt Bound for English Home

A determination to buy a special son of the Group One racehorse and successful sire that she bred, came to fruition for Henrietta, the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, at Karaka on Tuesday. Montjeu colt Tavistock was bred at Bloomsbury Stud NZ back in 2005 and after being purchased out of the 2007 Select sale at Karaka by trainer Andrew Campbell, went on to win twice at Group One level in New Zealand before being sold to stand at Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud. Success followed as Tavistock pro...

Blast From the Past for Harvey

There was a bit of nostalgia at Karaka on Tuesday for Bruce Harvey. The Hong Kong Jockey Club representative topped day three of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale when he purchased lot 520, the Savabeel colt out of Group Three performer Lovetessa, from Cambridge Stud’s draft for $720,000. His third dam is dual Group One winner and broodmare gem Tristalove, one of Harvey’s all-time favourite horses. “We broke in Tristalove way back when she was a yearling and she was one of ...

First Season Sire Provides Highlight for Rich Hill Stud

Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson had a smile a mile wide, mid-way through day three at Karaka on Tuesday. He had just seen a tremendous bidding duel settled in favour of Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore stables, who purchased Lot 451, the Satono Aladdin colt out of O’Reilly mare Inthespotlight for $360,000. Satono Aladdin, a son of Japanese sire sensation Deep Impact, has his first crop of yearlings on offer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling sale this year, a nerve-wra...

Pike Secures Well-Related Filly

The Bostonian has given Tony Pike plenty to smile about over the last few years and he is hoping his half-sibling will be able to bring him and her new connections half the pleasure. The Cambridge horseman secured lot 474, the Almanzor filly out of Keepa Cheval, the dam of The Bostonian and a half-sister to nine-time Group One winner Mufhasa, from the draft of Waikato Stud. Pike was commissioned by The Oaks Stud principal Dick Karreman to purchase his pick of the fillies at New Zealand Bloodstoc...

Almanzor Proving Popular at Karaka

The progeny of Almanzor, who shuttles to Cambridge Stud, have proven popular at Karaka this week and bloodstock agent Bruce Perry has been one of his biggest supporters. Perry has purchased a handful of yearlings by the multiple Group One winner and he believes his latest purchase by the sire is one of the picks of the sale. He went to $420,000 on day three of the sale to secure lot 416, the colt out of Savabeel mare Genius, from Waikato Stud’s draft. Perry first saw the colt at Waikato Stud l...

Clearance Rate Soars on Day Two of Karaka 2021

The clearance rate on Day Two of Book 1 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales rose to a healthy 80 percent at the end of selling. Bloodstock Sales Manager Danny Rolston was buoyed with the outcome at the end of Monday’s session. “Climbing from a 73% clearance rate (Day 1) to 80% is no mean feat in one day’s selling.” “This strong result is a testament to our vendors who were willing to meet the market, as well as buyers involvement both locally and internationally, who are keen ...

Nearco Stud Add Quality Filly

Prominent businessman Greg Tomlinson went to $450,000 under his Nearco Stud banner to secure a quality filly by Savabeel out of the stakes performed daughter of Fastnet Rock, Asama Blue, from the Pencarrow Stud draft on day two of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, continuing a good sale for Sir Peter Vela’s famed breeding operation. From a family that that traces to blue-hen mare Blush With Pride, Tomlinson said it was a combination of pedigree and type that caught his attent...

Bargain Buy Comes Up Trumps for Meyer

The loudest cheer on day two of the National Yearling Sale at Karaka erupted as the gavel came down on the very last lot that went through the auction ring on Monday evening. A small group of supporters huddled around former Waikato Stud employee Sharon Meyer, who co-owns the Ocean Park filly consigned by Woburn Farm as Lot 390, were beside themselves as a bidding war between Ballymore stable’s Pam Gerard and the online presence of Japan’s Big Red Farm proprietor Mr Okada was settled in favo...

Perry To The Fore In Early Karaka Action

One of the prominent names in the thick of the action over the first two days at the National Yearling Sale at Karaka has been local bloodstock agent Bruce Perry. Perry, who traditionally acts on behalf of Wellington businessman Lib Petagna and a limited number of other domestic and international clients, has also taken on the task of representing Australian trainer Danny O’Brien for the duration of the sale. Perry purchased four yearlings for his domestic clients on the first day of the sale ...

Training Legend Marks 60 Years at National Yearling Sale

Legendary conditioner Dave O’Sullivan vividly remembers the first time he went to the National Yearling Sale as a raw 27-year-old with a newly minted trainers’ license in his back pocket. O’Sullivan marked his attendance at his 60th consecutive sale at Karaka on Monday with the assembled audience in the auction auditorium providing him with a warm reception on being informed of the feat. O’Sullivan was humbled by the acknowledgement as he recalled some of his experiences over the ye...

BGP Purchase First Yearling

Boys Get Paid have been a growing entity on Karaka Million-night, New Zealand’s richest race meeting, but next year could be a whole new level for the racing group led by Luke Kemeys. The group have teamed up with Te Akau to purchase a yearling at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, their first venture into the yearling market, and they are hoping they will be cheering it on in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) next year. Kemeys entrusted the yearling selection process to Te Akau p...

Persistence Pays Off For James

Trainer Roger James admitted he had pretty much given up the ghost towards the end of a bidding stoush for Lot 126, the Sebring filly from the Trelawney Stud draft at Karaka on Sunday. James and the Go Racing Syndications team went head-to-head for several minutes for the filly out of stakes placed mare Smashing, with James finally securing the granddaughter of multiple Group Two winner Ruud Van Slaats for $295,000. “I am indebted to my owner who was with me all the way on this filly,” James...

Filly Attracts International Thoroughbred Powerhouse

While international buyers weren’t able to be present at Karaka for New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale this week, Te Akau principal David Ellis ensured an international flavour wasn’t missing. The leading buyer was given instructions to purchase the best filly on the complex by Coolmore Principal John Magnier, and he believes he did just that when securing lot 94, the Zoustar filly out of Group One performer Scintillula, from Pencarrow Stud’s Book 1 draft for $800,000. While...

Ellis Strikes Early at Karaka

Te Akau Principal David Ellis has purchased the last five Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winners and he believes he may have bought his sixth at Karaka on Sunday. Ellis went to $625,000 to secure lot 52, the Written Tycoon colt out of Group One performer Pussy O’Reilly, from Woburn Farm’s draft. Ellis said he was immediately taken by the colt when he first inspected him at Woburn Farm prior to Christmas, and he just had to have the yearling bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan.  “He...

Online Bidding Proves Popular On Day One At Karaka

In an ever-changing world, technology has helped break-down barriers on a positive day of selling on the opening day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales, where the average price was $130,134 across 131 lots sold, with a clearance rate of 73 percent.  New Zealand Bloodstock’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was resigned to the fact that border closures, which meant no international buyers could be on-site at Karaka, would have an effect on the sale, but he was pleased w...

Innes Full of Admiration for Karaka Million 3YO Classic Winner

Rider Leith Innes admitted his confidence soared when he was legged aboard top three-year-old Aegon in the Ellerslie parade ring on Saturday evening. The regular pilot of the Sacred Falls gelding knew he had a battle on his hands ahead of the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) with his charge not having run since November and up against the powerful Te Akau Racing representative, exciting filly Amarelinha. Innes had nothing but faith in the skills of trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman ...