Elusive City Tops Festival Sale First Session

New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Festival Sale got underway at Karaka today with a strong clearance rate the highlight on Day One of the two-day sale.

With 186 of the 526 yearlings catalogued for the Festival Sale sold through the ring today, the clearance rate is currently 80%. This compares well with the 84% clearance rate seen at this session last year, which was a new record for this Sale.

Turnover for the day was $2,036,350 with an average of $10,948 and median of $9,000, compared with last year's new record average and median of $16,857 and $12,000 respectively.

The top price of the day came at Lot 1361, with the Elusive City colt from Haunui Farm knocked down for $75,000. Out of the Centaine mare, Outstripping, the colt was purchased by Queensland bloodstock agent John Foote.

Foote has purchased two yearlings at this session to make him the second leading buyer at the Festival Sale, in addition to purchasing the Pins colt from Sound Lover for $160,000 at the Karaka Premier Sale (Lot 256) and six yearling colts at the Select Sale.

The leading buyer of today's session was local bloodstock agent Dean Wiles, purchasing 14 yearlings on behalf of Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore based clients for an aggregate of $133,000.

Wiles commented, "We'll get them started here and then depending on their ability they'll either race here in New Zealand first or we'll send them straight up to Asia."

The leading vendor of this session is currently Totara Park Stud, selling 15 for $165,750. Their top lot, a colt by their resident sire Rusty Spur, fetched $41,000 to the bid of Matamata-trainer Andrew Scott.

The Festival Sale - and final day of the 2009 National Yearling Sales Series - continues at Karaka tomorrow, with the final 260 horses (Lots 1451 to 1710) catalogued for sale from 11am.