New Zealand Bloodstock’s 94th National Yearling Sale Series ended with the final day of Book 2 Lots going under the hammer followed immediately by Book 3 yearlings at the iconic Karaka Sales Complex.
At the conclusion of Book 2, 282 Lots sold for a turnover of $9,873,500. The average and median reached $35,012 and $25,000 respectively with the clearance rate closing at 69%.
Bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster topped the last session of Book 2 when he went to $120,000 to secure Lot 1097, the Preferment colt out of Excellent Art mare Essayez, from Hallmark Stud’s draft.
“We bought Preferment here at Karaka and we have supported him. I brought Chris Waller to have a look at a few of them the other day and we ended up buying two,” Mulcaster said.
“He then said we should probably get one more and we have a loyal group of owners who are going to race him together. We bought two beautiful colts and a filly, so we are going to have a bit of fun with them.”
The leading buyers of Book 2 was the Paul Moroney and Ballymore Stables partnership, purchasing seven horses for a total spend of $396,500.
Moroney purchased the session topper of Book 2, securing Lot 859 (Vadamos x Silke Top) colt for $185,000 from the draft of Valachi Downs.
Highview Stud claimed the leading vendor by aggregate title, with a turnover of $906,000 for 23 horses sold. Stud Master Brent Gillovic was pleased with the reception their resident first season sire Wrote received.
“They have sold fantastically through Book 2 and we just sold a filly in Book 3 for $24,000, so it’s great,” Gillovic said.
Leading vendor by average was Highden Park, after selling six horses for an average of $78,833.
In a new sales format, the Book 3 Sale started immediately after the conclusion of Book 2 on Friday afternoon.
At the closing of Book 3 the total turnover was $698,500 for 66 horses sold. The average reached $10,583 while the median closed at $7,500. The overall clearance at the end of Book 3 was 67%.
The highlight of NZB’s Book 3 Sale was purchased by Hong Kong bloodstock agent Paul Chow under his Tartan Meadow banner. He secured Lot 1167, the Keeper colt out of Lucky Unicorn mare Lucky J’Abeel for $65,000 from the draft of Platinum Bloodstock.
“Out of all the ones I have seen in Book 3 he stands out by a long way. I would have gone a fair bit more (than $65,000) to make sure I got him,” said Chow.
At the close of selling, the leading vendor by aggregate for Book 3 was Westbury Stud selling 14 horses for a total of $143,500 in the Friday afternoon session. -NZB
