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 with the level of trade on day one.

“It was a pleasing start to the week ahead given the current circumstances, and being the first time since Phar Lap was sold that international buyers have not been on the grounds here in New Zealand,” Seabrook said.

“It was great to see confidence from the domestic market with a number of trainers, syndicators and buyers coming out strong on the first day.

“Earlier in the week, I had accepted that a 10 percent decrease on last year’s average would be a pleasing result, so we are tracking well.

“It was also great to see the amount of participation on our online bidding platform, with 41 percent of the yearlings offered today receiving online bids.”

At the conclusion of day one, leading buyer David Ellis (CNZM) was in high spirits after purchasing 12 lots for a total spend of $2,540,00 including the two top lots for his Te Akau Racing Stable.

Ellis was strong on the back of Te Akau’s dominant Karaka Million night at Ellerslie, where trainer Jamie Richards sent out the winners of three of the six races, including the first four runners home in the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m).

The King of Karaka went to $800,000 to secure Lot 94, a well-bred Zoustar filly out of top class Galileo mare Scintillula, from Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Stud draft.

Earlier Ellis purchased Lot 52, the Written Tycoon colt out of Pussy O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly) for $625,000. The colt was consigned by Woburn Farm on behalf of legendary breeder Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan.

Other prominent buyers included Bruce Perry Bloodstock and Rogerson Bloodstock, while there was a good spread of local and international buyers.

Young New Zealand domiciled stallions Belardo, Tivaci and Reliable Man accounted for the third, fourth and fifth top lots respectively, in a healthy sign for the New Zealand breeding industry, with all purchased by Hong Kong buyers.

View the full results and Passed In lots here.

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.

Selling continues on Day Two of Book 1 tomorrow where a further 190 lots will go through the ring from 1PM (NZ time) at Karaka.

Karaka 2021 Book 1 Day One Statistics