Stravinsky Filly Stars on Day One at Karaka

A mixed day's trade at the opening session of New Zealand Bloodstock's 86th National Yearling Sales Series today [30 January] was highlighted by the fourth to last lot of the day - the $740,000 Stravinsky filly bought by leading New Zealand buyer David Ellis of Te Akau Stud at Lot 256 http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/sale.cfm?ped_search=lot&search=256&sale_id=159.

The filly from Cambridge Stud was out of Magic of Sydney mare Jesmond's Gift, an unraced half-sister to Canny Lad and Canny Lass.

"She is a beautiful filly with a lovely outlook and a lot of class and we are thrilled to be training her," commented Ellis on his purchase. "You have got to be prepared to pay for the best fillies and we were prepared to do that today.

"Stravinsky is a very good international sire of fillies and we are going to aim her for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, which Te Akau has a great record with having won four of the last six titles."

David Ellis was the leading buyer of the day with 14 purchased for $2,402,500 at an average of $171,607. His second top price was $200,000 paid for Lot 46 http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/sale.cfm?ped_search=lot&search=46&sale_id=159, the Danehill Dancer colt from Thunder Gulch mare Anatomy - a half-sister to Saturday's Group 2 Wellington Cup winner Six O'Clock News (Zabeel) - offered by Pencarrow Stud.

Cambridge Stud sire Stravinsky - the sire of 8 Group 1 winners worldwide, 5 in Australasia - sits in second place on the leading sires table for the day, with six yearlings sold for an average of $252,500. Heading him off for the top spot was Coolmore Stud sire Encosta de Lago, with three sold at an average of $280,000, with a top price of $350,000 paid for Lot 66 http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/sale.cfm?ped_search=lot&search=66&sale_id=159.

For much of the day it was a pair of yearlings by High Chaparral that were sharing the limelight, with the colt and filly fetching $650,000 apiece.

The first came at Lot 130 http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/pedigree.cfm?sale_id=159&lot=30, when the Lyndhurst Park colt from Creil (Frenchpark) was knocked down to the bid of Hong Kong agent Willie Leung for Hong Kong owner Mr WK Lee.

"We thought he was the best High Chaparral in the Sale and we were very keen to get him. Mr Lee wants a tough stayer and has been looking for a long time for a horse like this," commented Leung.

"We paid a premium to get him but in order to get such a quality horse that is sometimes necessary.

"The horse will remain in New Zealand for at least 18 months for training and we will race him here in New Zealand before deciding whether he is good enough to send to Hong Kong."

Less than an hour later the filly from the five-time winning Danehill mare Diamond Like was snapped up by Gai Waterhouse & James Harron Bloodstock shortly after the filly was passed through the ring.

A half-sister to the $2 million 2010 Karaka sale-topper, the filly was offered by Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud.

High Chaparral is the most represented of any sire at the 2012 Premier Sale, with 35 yearlings entered from his last New Zealand conceived crop. So far today 25 have sold for an average of $200,800.

With a huge international buying bench turned out at Karaka, competition was tough on selected lots, but in a similar trend to many sales of late, buyers were being selective. By the close of play, 170 lots had sold for $24,817,500, at an average of $145,985 and clearance of 70%.

New Zealand Bloodstock Co-Managing Director Andrew Seabrook says while the market has taken its time to heat up today, NZB anticipates a stronger day tomorrow.

"There is no lack of firepower to the buying bench with good horses attracting plenty of competition, but the market is taking a bit of time to settle into a steady pace. Many buyers are taking a wait and see approach,
and from what I'm told, several leading buyers have their favourite horses in tomorrow. Like Magic Millions, which picked up significantly on the second day, we would expect to see improvement here tomorrow."

With two of the day's top prices, the leading vendor by aggregate was Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud with 19 yearlings sold for $4,517,500 at an average of $237,763. The leading vendor by average so far is Mark & Shelley Treweek's Lyndhurst Farm with four yearlings sold for an average of $377,500.

The Premier Sale continues tomorrow at Karaka with Lots 217 to 516 from 10am. This will be followed by the three-day Select Sale from Wednesday at 11am. All days will be streamed live online at http://www.nzb.co.nz/

For a list of today's Passed Lots click here
http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/sale.cfm?sale_id=159

2012 Premier Sale Day Statistics Day 1
2012 Day 12011 Day 1
Average $145,985$165,894
Aggregate $24,817,500$29,861,00
Median $120,000$130,000
Lots Catalogued 260253
Lots Sold 170180
Clearance Rate 70%75%
2012 Top price - Stravinsky x Jesmonds Gift (Lot 256) - $740,000
2011 Top price - Danehill Dancer x Ballycairn Colt (Lot 179) - $800,000
2012 Premier Sale Day 1 Top Lots LotTypeBreedingVendorPurchaserPrice
256Ch FStravinsky / Jesmonds GiftCambridge StudMr DC Ellis$740,000
130BR. CHigh Chaparral / CreilLyndhurst FarmMr WK Lee$650,000
159B. FHigh Chaparral / Diamond LikeCambridge StudGai Waterhouse/James
Harron Bloodstock$650,000

152B. CZabeel / DawninskyCambridge StudHawkes Racing$420,000
69B. CHigh Chaparral / Barrachdail LassWindsor Park StudJohn Chalmers
Bloodstock Services PtyLtd$400,000

79B. FZabeel / Better AlternativeCambridge StudBahen Bloodstock/Malua
Racing$400,000

120B. CStravinsky / ClarissaCurraghmore StudWaikato Bloodstock Ltd$380,000
240B. FZabeel / HowmuchyachargingFairdale StudPhill Cataldo
Bloodstock$380,000

245Ch FMore Than Ready / ImananabaaLyndhurst FarmMr BJ & Mrs J
Lindsay$370,000

119B. CHigh Chaparral / ClarensWindsor Park StudMr JB Cummings$360,000
Leading Purchasers by Aggregate
PurchaserLocationBoughtAggregateAverageTop Price
Mr DC EllisTe Akau14$2,402,500$171,607$740,000 (Lot 256)
Mr JB CummingsNew South Wales6$1,265,000$210,833$360,000 (Lot 119)
The Hong Kong Jockey ClubHong Kong6$1,220,000$203,333$350,000 (Lot 66)
John Chalmers Bloodstock Services PtyLtdWestern
Australia6$1,182,500$197,083$400,000 (Lot 69)

Gai Waterhouse/James Harron BloodstockNew South
Wales3$1,070,000$356,667$650,000 (Lot 159)

DGR Thoroughbred ServicesNew South Wales6$852,500$142,083$270,000 (Lot 143)

Hawkes RacingNew South Wales3$810,000$270,000$420,000 (Lot 152)
Mr WK LeeHong Kong1$650,000$650,000$650,000 (Lot 130)
New Zealand Bloodstock LtdHong Kong4$555,000$138,750$215,000 (Lot 7)
Mulcaster BloodstockNew South Wales2$470,000$235,000$300,000 (Lot 61)
Leading Vendors by Aggregate
Vendor NameSoldAggregateAverageTop Price
Cambridge Stud19$4,517,500$237,763$740,000 (Lot 256)
Windsor Park Stud18$2,502,500$139,028$400,000 (Lot 69)
Curraghmore Stud11$2,105,000$191,364$380,000 (Lot 120)
Lyndhurst Farm4$1,510,000$377,500$650,000 (Lot 130)
Haunui Farm10$1,335,000$133,500$220,000 (Lot 208)
Waikato Stud Ltd10$1,075,000$107,500$170,000 (Lot 224)
Little Avondale Stud6$975,000$162,500$270,000 (Lot 135)
Pencarrow Stud7$955,000$136,429$215,000 (Lot 7)
Trelawney Stud Ltd7$905,000$129,286$230,000 (Lot 177)
Rich Hill Stud7$792,500$113,214$230,000 (Lot 205)
Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)
Vendor NameSoldAverageAggregateTop Price
Lyndhurst Farm4$377,500$1,510,000$650,000 (Lot 130)
Cambridge Stud19$237,763$4,517,500$740,000 (Lot 256)
Curraghmore Stud11$191,364$2,105,000$380,000 (Lot 120)
Phoenix Park3$170,000$510,000$280,000 (Lot 182)
Little Avondale Stud6$162,500$975,000$270,000 (Lot 135)
Windsor Park Stud18$139,028$2,502,500$400,000 (Lot 69)
Pencarrow Stud7$136,429$955,000$215,000 (Lot 7)
Haunui Farm10$133,500$1,335,000$220,000 (Lot 208)
Trelawney Stud Ltd7$129,286$905,000$230,000 (Lot 177)
Hallmark Stud5$122,500$612,500$210,000 (Lot 148)
Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)
SireSoldAverageAggregateTop Price
Encosta de Lago3$280,000$840,000$350,000 (Lot 66)
Stravinsky6$252,500$1,515,000$740,000 (Lot 256)
Zabeel12$224,167$2,690,000$420,000 (Lot 152)
High Chaparral25$200,800$5,020,000$650,000 (Lot 130, 159)
Exceed and Excel3$198,333$595,000$300,000 (Lot 68)
Savabeel7$154,286$1,080,000$280,000 (Lot 182)
Danehill Dancer3$150,000$450,000$200,000 (Lot 46)
Pentire8$145,938$1,167,500$270,000 (Lot 135)
Pins6$137,500$825,000$215,000 (Lot 7)
O'Reilly15$112,000$1,680,000$270,000 (Lot 13)

Visit New Zealand Bloodstock:
http://www.nzb.co.nz/index.cfm?from=email