By Cris Caldwell
As the plane banked approaching New Zealand, I looked out the window at large swaths of Blue and Green. Blue the color of bays, coves, inlets and the ocean. Green, of all shades, representing the valleys, pastures, crops and hills of a quite agrarian society. Upon landing, we were picked up by the New Zealand Bloodstock Transport Team and driven straight away to our hotel, the Rendezvous. After a bit of unpacking and a quick nap, I was met by Joe Walls, New Zealand Bloodstock's Head Auctioneer, his wife Wendy and their son Tim. Down to the Harbor for a lovely dinner and talk of the upcoming sales. A Frankel yearling would be presented for the first time in Australasia, while new sires and old were selling in the Premier sessions coming up…
The day before the auction was full of pre-sale inspections, banter with vendors and buyers alike, along with lovely tents, full of food, presented by the consignors. The yearlings raised in New Zealand are known as stayers and can stand side by side conformationally with any Thoroughbred I have ever seen at any sale. Big, confident and calm, it's obvious why buyers the world over were amassed, ready to bid and buy young racehorses from this assembled group. Yearlings by Animal Kingdom, Bernardini, Lonhro and Medaglia d'Oro were all present on the Karaka sales grounds.
Sunday evening, in advance of Monday's session, there was a race meet designed to show off prior sales graduates. Two-year-olds from last year's venue compete in a $1-million race at nearby Ellerslie Racecourse. This creates excitement in advance and purses are often spent the very next day on fresh stock for top racing stables and owners.
A total of 230 yearlings are sold in the first session. On an interesting note, during the sale, an ongoing live broadcast is spread over the sales barns and throughout New Zealand that resembles a TVG style, ad-libbed presentation that follows the auction and each horse sold. When new sires are selling their first offspring, their stud fees, recently concluded racing careers, number of mares bred and lots represented by them throughout the sale is highlighted. Older established sires and their recent successes are explained while the normal sale yearling pedigree is being read from the auction stand. Auctioneers sell on their feet and create great theater swinging their gavel around and directly addressing the crowd and bidders alike. The announcement of each buyer's name is immediately called out by the auctioneer, along with a quip or a thank you, after each animal is sold. Lots not sold are also explained to the crowd, in an effort to assist in an agreed to sale over the course of the day. Quite different than in America!
Similarities abound as well. When building the facility the ownership group visited major auction houses around the world. The pavilion is very similar to Keeneland's, while the barns are modeled after Fasig-Tipton's open aisle style to accommodate the summer heat when the sales are conducted. Showing areas are broader than anywhere else I have seen, while trees are present everywhere to afford shade while viewing the sales horses. Consignments are full of signage and statistics relative to each farm selling.
The first day's results are very positive. Gross sales are up by almost $6 million. Average was up by $30,000 and the clearance rose to 76%. Lot 200, a Savabeel colt out of Bling brought the highest price at $775,000. Interestingly, Hip 113 was a High Chaparral filly, solid white in color, well conformed, and offered by Windsor Park and she commanded a final bid of $440,000.
The second and final Premier sales session is Tuesday.
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