New Zealand Bloodstock's two-day Premier Sale came to a close on Tuesday, with figures holding steady from last year's record-breaking sale. Last year's Premier Sale saw 17% increases in average and median, and this year the average dipped 2% to NZ$172,803, while the median remained the same at NZ$140,000. The clearance rate also remained steady at 78%, while the aggregate rose 5% to NZ$58,407,500. A total of 338 yearlings were sold over the two days, compared to 316 last year, from 18 more catalogued. As was the case on day one, China Horse Club's Michael Wallace signed for Tuesday's top-priced lot, a NZ$640,000 daughter of Savabeel (Aus).
“While we couldn't match last year's record average, the more important median has stuck firm at $140,000 and turnover is up,” said NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook. “We've offered more Premier Sale horses this year and had a buying bench with enough extra depth to compete for them.”
China Horse Club representative Michael Wallace signed for the opening session's priciest yearling, the full-brother to Group 1 winner and first-season sire Shamexpress (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) on Monday on behalf of the partnership of China Horse Club, Alan Bell and Newgate Farm, and the agent was in a familiar position on Tuesday when going to NZ$640,000 for lot 260, a Savabeel filly from Cambridge Stud. The bay is out of the 2-year-old winning Love Diamonds (Aus) (Danehill), herself a daughter of G1 Sires' Produce S. and G1 Australasian Oaks winner Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and a half-sister to four stakes winners, including G1 Spring Champion S. winner Viking Ruler (Aus) (Danehill). Two of Love Diamonds's full-sisters have produced stakes winners: Diamond Like (Aus) is responsible for the group winners Forever Loved (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Zephyron (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), while Chimeara (Aus) has produced the G1 Rosehill Guineas winner De Beers (NZ) (Quest For Fame {GB}).
Love Diamonds is already a stakes-producer herself, with the Group 3-placed Lovetessa (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) to her credit. Love Diamonds has produced four winners from five to race.
“We rated this filly amongst the best physical types in the sale and that, combined with her pedigree and knowing her sister had plenty of ability, made her an attractive proposition for us,” said Wallace, who signed solo for the filly.
Wallace later partnered with Australian trainer Ciaron Maher on lot 449, a rare white colt by Shamexpress. The hammer came down on the Windsor Park Stud offering at NZ$510,000. The November foal is the third produce of The Opera House (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), whose second dam is a half-sister to the multiple champion and Cox Plate/Melbourne Cup winner Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). Also appearing under the third dam are French Classic winner Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Hong Kong champion Lucky Owners (NZ) (Danehill) and Australian champion filly Mosheen (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).
“The Shamexpress colt was an interesting one even when you look past his colour,” Wallace said. “He has great muscle, strength and an amazing temperament. Having been under immense scrutiny all week he handled the spotlight and extra pressure like a true professional.”
The colt was one of seven by first-season sire Shamexpress to sell for six figures, making him the sale's leading first-season sire with 13 sold at an average of NZ$192,500.
“There are some nice young sires starting to emerge here in New Zealand and we've got a lot of faith in Shamexpress, so it's fantastic to see our confidence backed up by some good judges,” said Windsor Park Stud's Rodney Schick. “He's been well-received by the Australian buyers who got to see first-hand what an explosive sprinter he was, and to average NZ$192,500 off the back of a NZ$15,000 service fee is a nice reward for those that have supported him.”
Wallace managed to outbid syndicator David Ellis of Te Akau Racing for the white colt, but Ellis enjoyed a productive sale nonetheless, emerging as leading buyer with 26 secured for NZ$4,197,500. His priciest purchase was an Exceed and Excel (Aus) colt (lot 312) bought for NZ$625,000 on Tuesday, and that Cambridge Stud offering will join the Te Akau Stallion Syndicate that has produced the likes of Darci Brahma (NZ), Rock 'n' Pop (Aus), Xtravagant (NZ) and Burgundy (NZ).
Lot 312 is the first foal out of the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas second Oasis Rose (Aus) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
“That list of horses is the reason we keep coming to Karaka and our owners demand that we do,” said Ellis. “I think it's been an enormously successful sale and I take my hat off to the team at New Zealand Bloodstock for bringing together such a strong buying bench. To have three Sheikhs investing in New Zealand horses is a credit to the company and the vendors, and I must say the sale's been a lot of fun.”
Perennial leading sire Savabeel proved plenty popular throughout the sale, with a whopping 52 sold for NZ$11,460,000 and an average of NZ$220,385, and Peter Moody got in on the action on Tuesday, securing a colt by the sire from Waikato Stud for NZ$600,000. Lot 420 is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Spending (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), herself a full-sister to the multiple group winner Shopaholic (NZ). Waikato Stud was the sale's leading vendor with 45 sold for NZ$8,415,000, and Waikato's Mark Chittick said, “The main thing for us is to sell as many as we can because we own the majority of them outright. An incredible amount of hard work is put into getting to the past two days and it's nice to now be able to sit down with our team and friends to celebrate another successful sale.”
Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud finished a narrow second among vendors, and Hogan said, “It's been an absolutely fantastic sale with new international buyers from far and wide giving our industry a huge profile boost. I think most people should be very pleased with the results from the top to bottom.”
He added, “Of particular note from what I've seen is that there has been a kick up from the domestic market, which is great with the likes of David Ellis, Albert Bosma and other syndicators bringing new people into racing and giving the industry a boost.”
Indeed, the leading buyers' table included purchasers from New Zealand, Australia, China and Hong Kong, including a NZ$1.22-million spend from Godolphin's John Ferguson, who was visiting the sale for the first time.
“The sale clashing with Chinese New Year wasn't ideal, however, increased participation from Dubai countered its effect,” Seabrook noted. “Again, we are grateful to our domestic buyers and overall leading buyer David Ellis and his Te Akau Racing team, who continue to really bolster the sale.”
The NZB Sales Series continues on Wednesday with the start of the three-day Select Sale.
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