A well deserved result for the NZ Bloodstock team whose 3-day Premier Sale this week achieved a record aggregate, average & median with 84 of the 389 lots sold reaching NZ$200,000 or more (almost double the 2004 figure of 45).

The median of NZ$90,000 was up 24% on 2004 (NZ$72,500), indicating major growth in the middle market.

The aggregate of NZ$53,446,500 was up 20% (NZ$44,685,000 last year) & the new record average of NZ$137,395 was up 23% (last year NZ$111,955).

NZ Bloodstock marketing manager Petrea Vela summed up: "While market indicators pointed to promising results leading in to the sale, this has well & truly exceeded all our expectations. There was high demand for top quality yearlings plus the record median of NZ$90,000 (meaning more than half the yearlings in the sale fetched that amount) shows growth right throughout the middle of the market. Most importantly, with the huge increase in aggregate it means there is more money going back to the vendors."

Leading sires by average (3 or more sold) were:

Danehill: 16 sold for average NZ$528,438
Giant's Causeway: 6 sold for average NZ$407,500
Fusaichi Pegasus: 4 sold for average NZ$293,750
Zabeel: 29 sold for average NZ$248,966
Catbird: 4 sold for average NZ$186,667

Leading 1st-Crop Sires by average (3 or more sold) were:

Giant's Causeway: 6 sold for average NZ$407,500
Galileo: 3 sold for average NZ$169,167
Viscount: 7 sold for average NZ$140,357
Keeper: 16 sold for average NZ$120,469
Fantastic Light: 10 sold for average NZ$101,000

Top price was the $NZ1.3 million paid by BBA Ireland for a Danehill filly from Encens. The yearling was the first filly to top the Karaka sale since 2001 (when Shower Of Roses (by Zabeel) collared a final bid of $NZ1.45 million).

Danehill sired five of the top seven lots including both lots that sold for in excess of a million dollars.