Final Session Finishes Karaka 2023 on a High

The final session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 Sale concluded on a high note, wrapping up a successful week of selling at Karaka 2023.

Key sale indicators have headed in an upwards trajectory over the six days of selling, with the final combined statistics easily surpassing pre-COVID results.

At the close of selling, the combined turnover reached $82,091,500. The average and median climbed to $111,235 and $80,000 respectively, while the clearance rate reached 77% (up from 75%).

The final Book 2 statistics also increased, with the total aggregate climbing to $11,516,000. The average reached $43,131 and median rose to $32,00, while the clearance rate closed at 71% for Book 2.

“We are very pleased by the results achieved over the six days,” commented NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.

“It was great to have our international friends back on the grounds at Karaka and we saw both the combined Australian and Asian spend substantially increase on last year’s results.

“Australian spend increased by $13 million on 2022, although it was disappointing to see the domestic spend down by $10 million. If the kiwis has spent what they did in 2022, the Sale could have been huge.

“The most heartening statistic is the solid increase in both our combined average and median results pre-COVID [2020].

“The combined average spend is up by 22 percent, and median increased by 45 percent, indicating the strength of the middle market.

“We must thank our vendors for preparing their horses to an outstanding level yet again, which was reflected by the results in the Sale ring,” Seabrook said.

The leading purchaser by aggregate in Book 2 was Australian-based agent John Foote, securing eight lots for a total spend of $890,000.

Foote went to $160,000 to purchase the top two priced lots on the final day of Book 2.

He secured Lot 978, a Proisir colt out of Savabeel mare Savvy Walk (NZ) from Seaton Park, as well as Lot 1048 a Ribchester colt out of The Grey Lady (NZ) (Reliable Man) from Woburn Farm’s draft.

The agent was pleased with the value found at Karaka, commenting on his purchases.

“I think Ribchester is a sire that is on the way up, he produces nice horses.”

“He’s made a great start in Australia and Europe, but I’m not here just to buy Ribchester, I’m here to buy nice horses.

“We like to purchase horses in this price range. It is hard to justify paying those high prices in Australia all the time. At Karaka you can buy a nice horse for a pretty sensible price,” he said.

Cambridge-based trainer John Bell secured the second highlight on Day Three, Lot 1066 a colt by Ardrossan out of Venetian Raider (NZ) (Rusty Spur) from Highline Thoroughbreds.

The second leading purchaser by aggregate in Book 2 was Hong Kong-based agent Paul Chow, who was purchasing under his Tartan Meadow Bloodstock banner. Chow secured four lots for a total spend of $422,500, including a highlight price of $160,000 for a Per Incanto colt (Lot 800).

The Book 2 leading vendor by aggregate was Haunui Farm, selling 22 horses for a total aggregate of $1,123,000 and average of $51,045.

“It was a good, solid Sale. We had a number of horses sell above $50,000 which is a good testament, both colts and fillies,” said Haunui’s Studmaster, Mark Chitty.

“We’re delighted with the way Ribchester’s first New Zealand conceived crop sold, not only in our draft, but in other drafts too.

“They’ve gone to good homes and the popular horses were well found. I hope they go on and perform for their respective buyers,” he said.

Rich Hill Stud was the second Book 2 leading vendor by aggregate, selling 17 yearlings for a total turnover of $841,000, while averaging $49,471.

Studmaster John Thompson largely attributing the stud’s success to their resident stallion Proisir, who has sired four individual Group One winners in the 2022-23 season alone.

“He has really put his hand up as one of the country’s premier stallions.

“His commercial viability has gone to another level. His stock was consistently sought after by all our major markets.

“For me personally it was great to see them entering so many leading Australian stables.

“His future looks assured with the numbers and quality of the mares coming through over the next few years,” Thompson said.

The leading vendor by average was Kilgravin Lodge, who sold four lots for an average price of $90,625 and an aggregate of $362,500 in Book 2.

Final results for Karaka 2023 will be accumulated and published next week.

To enquire about Passed Lots contact Regan Donnison on +64 21 512 466 or email regan.donnison@nzb.co.nz or Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email kane.jones@nzb.co.nz.

Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Book 2 online.

View the full results of Book 2 here.

Book 2 Statistics (at end of selling)

  2023 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2022 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2021 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2020 BOOK 2 TOTAL
AGGREGATE $11,516,000 $10,036,000 $8,853,000 $9,873,500
AVERAGE $43,131 $40,632 $41,759 $35,012
MEDIAN $32,000 $30,000 $30,000 $25,000
CLEARANCE 71% 64% 76% 69%
CATALOGUED 435 466 339 473
SOLD 267 247 212 282
TOP LOT Lot 789 Proisir – Harriet Wilson (G.C) $180,000 Lot 1063 Tivaci – Short Tale (B.F) $250,000 Lot 725 Churchill – Astrid (Ch.F) $200,000 Lot 859 Vadamos – Silke Top (B.C) $185,000

Combined Statistics (at end of selling)

  2023 COMBINED TOTAL 2022 COMBINED TOTAL 2021 COMBINED TOTAL 2020 COMBINED TOTAL 2019 COMBINED TOTAL
Aggregate $82,091,500 $74,382,500 $60,996,500 $78,458,188 $79,396,750
Average $111,235 $106,109 $94,276 $91,443 $89,714
Median $80,000 $70,000 $62,500 $55,000 $55,000
Clearance 77% 75% 82% 76% 77%
Catalogued 1079 1103 918 1265 1284
Withdrawn 121 156 127 143 129
Offered 958 947 791 1122 1155
Passed 220 246 144 264 270
Lots Sold 738 701 647 858 885
Top Price $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $800,000 $900,000 $1,400,000

Book 2 Day Three Top Lots

Lot Breeding Vendor Purchaser Price
978 Proisir / Savvy Walk (Br.C) Seaton Park John Foote Bloodstock
(Hong Kong)
$160,000
1048 Ribchester / The Grey Lady (Br.C) Woburn Farm John Foote Bloodstock
(Hong Kong)
$160,000
1066 Ardrossan / Venetian Raider (B.C) Highline Thoroughbreds Bell Racing (Waikato) $150,000
990 Ocean Park / Sha Tin Sunday (B.C) Weowna Park Brewers Bloodstock (Auckland) $135,000
961 Vadamos / Rockabye Lady (B.C) Hallmark Stud Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato) $120,000
974 Ribchester / Sapphire Lass (Br.C) Haunui Farm Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $115,000
985 Vanbrugh / Severa (B.C) Windsor Park Stud Archer Equine Investments (Auckland) $100,000
1050 Embellish / The Lady (B.C) Woburn Farm Magus Equine (Hong Kong) $95,000
980 Ace High / Scrutiny (B.C) Hallmark Stud Mr RA James / Mr R Wellwood (Waikato) $90,000
1065 Ardrossan / Underthemoonlight (B.C) Kilgravin Lodge PJ & DM Williams (Auckland) $90,000

Book 2 Overall Top Lots

Lot Breeding Vendor Purchaser Price
789 Proisir / Harriet Wilson (G.C) Rich Hill Stud Brad Widdup Racing (New South Wales) $180,000
800 Per Incanto / High Lady (Ch.C) Milan Park Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $160,000
978 Proisir / Savvy Walk (Br.C) Seaton Park Ltd John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $160,000
1048 Ribchester / The Grey Lady (Br.C) Woburn Farm John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $160,000
1066 Ardrossan / Venetian Raider (B.C) Highline Thoroughbreds Bell Racing (Waikato) $150,000
922 Sweynesse / Oscar’s Shadow (Br.C) Kilgravin Lodge John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $140,000
823 Redwood / Katespur (B.C) Westbury Stud Ascot Farm (Waikato) $135,000
849 Ardrossan / La Sartiglia (B.C) Little Avondale Stud Mr LL Lee (Hong Kong) $135,000
990 Ocean Park / Sha Tin Sunday (B.C) Weowna Park Brewers Bloodstock (Auckland) $135,000
802 Vanbrugh / High Tail It (Ch.C) Windsor Park Stud John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $130,000

Book 2 Leading Purchasers by Aggregate

Purchaser Bought Aggregate Average Top Price Top Lot
John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong) 8 $890,000 $111,250 $160,000 978
Tartan Meadow Bloodstock (Hong Kong) 4 $422,500 $105,625 $160,000 800
Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato) 6 $407,000 $67,833 $120,000 961
Patella Bloodstock (Waikato) 9 $358,500 $39,833 $72,500 896
Lisa Latta Racing Stables (Manawatu-Whanganui) 8 $340,500 $42,563 $80,000 914
Mr PB Payne (Victoria) 3 $290,000 $96,667 $100,000 700
Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Wellington) 4 $255,000 $63,750 $90,000 671
Wexford Stables (Waikato) 5 $247,500 $49,500 $60,000 811
Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing (Queensland) 3 $185,000 $61,667 $90,000 672
Brad Widdup Racing (New South Wales) 1 $180,000 $180,000 $180,000 789

Book 2 Leading Vendor by Aggregate

Vendor Entries Sold Aggregate Average Top Price Top Lot
Haunui Farm 27 22 $1,123,000 $51,045 $115,000 974
Rich Hill Stud 27 17 $841,000 $49,471 $180,000 789
Westbury Stud 31 14 $830,000 $59,286 $135,000 823
Highline Thoroughbreds 13 9 $644,000 $71,556 $150,000 1066
Woburn Farm 19 11 $606,500 $55,136 $160,000 1048
Little Avondale Stud 17 14 $573,500 $40,964 $135,000 849
Windsor Park Stud 17 10 $507,500 $50,750 $130,000 802
Highview 17 12 $490,000 $40,833 $75,000 901
Seaton Park 15 11 $460,000 $41,818 $160,000 978
Hallmark Stud 5 5 $380,000 $76,000 $120,000 961

Book 2 Leading Vendor by Average (three or more sold)

Vendor Entries Sold Average Aggregate Top Price Top Lot
Kilgravin Lodge 6 4 $90,625 $362,500 $140,000 922
Hallmark Stud 5 5 $76,000 $380,000 $120,000 961
Milan Park 11 5 $74,000 $370,000 $160,000 800
Highline Thoroughbreds 13 9 $71,556 $644,000 $150,000 1066
Landsdowne Park 6 3 $60,667 $182,000 $100,000 744
Westbury Stud 31 14 $59,286 $830,000 $135,000 823
Highden Park 3 3 $58,333 $175,000 $100,000 700
Woburn Farm 19 11 $55,136 $606,500 $160,000 1048
Inglewood Stud 4 3 $51,333 $154,000 $80,000 844
Haunui Farm 27 22 $51,045 $1,123,000 $115,000 974

Book 2 Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)

Sire Entries Sold Average Aggregate Top Price Top Lot
Redwood 5 4 $83,750 $335,000 $135,000 823
Ardrossan 12 10 $70,250 $702,500 $150,000 1066
Ribchester 17 12 $64,500 $774,000 $160,000 1048
Grunt 4 4 $63,750 $255,000 $110,000 801
Vanbrugh 8 7 $60,643 $424,500 $130,000 802
Proisir 30 26 $57,635 $1,498,500 $180,000 789
Sweynesse 11 5 $57,200 $286,000 $140,000 922
Shocking 8 5 $52,000 $260,000 $100,000 700
Reliable Man 18 8 $51,250 $410,000 $100,000 695
Wrote 22 13 $46,538 $605,000 $75,000 901

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