The Premier Sale of the 80th National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka has finished in strong style at Karaka.

The final Sale average was NZ$127,072, a 7.5% decrease from 2005 but up 14% from 2004. Notably, the sale average in 2005 without the 20 yearlings from the final southern hemisphere crop of Danehill, was NZ$120,620. This year's average reflects a 5% increase on that figure.

The clearance rate was 81% (down from 82% in 2005) and the Sale median was NZ$80,000, down from $90,000 in 2005 and up 10% from $72,500 in 2004. Total takings were NZ$49,558,000 for 390 lots sold, down from NZ$53,446,500 for 389 lots sold last year.

New Zealand Bloodstock Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Petrea Vela, summed up the Premier Sale results, "Leading into the Sale we knew that the absence of Danehill, and the reduced number of yearlings by Zabeel that we had to sell, would likely prevent the final statistics from reaching the record-breaking heights of last year which saw the sale average up 23% on the previous year. The catalogue wasn't as strong this year overall, so what we hoped for was to see an increase from 2004. We are therefore very pleased to achieve the results we have over the past three days.

"Importantly the buyers were here in force and had plenty to spend on good quality individuals. A good barometer of the strength of a Sale is always the buyers reaction to how easy or difficult it is to buy the horses they like, and by all accounts it was extremely competitive ringside.

"We were particularly pleased to see such strength from the Australian and New Zealand buyers. To have David Ellis and Graeme Rogerson the leading two buyers this year is an enormous boost to our domestic industry. We were also very pleased to see Japanese buyers so active this year, securing a total of 11 yearlings.

"Many buyers have impressed upon us the importance of the New Zealand industry providing the strongest catalogue possible and this is something that New Zealand Bloodstock will endeavour to address over the coming months."

The highlight of the final day was at Lot 461, the Zabeel colt from Cambridge Stud out of Miss Power Bird which fetched NZ$1.6m to the bid of Graeme Rogerson. From the family of champion racehorse Might and Power (by Zabeel), and Hong Kong champion performer, Lucky Owners (by Danehill), all eyes were on him to see whether he would be the second horse in the Sale to reach the magical million dollar mark.

The colt didn't disappoint the packed auditorium, although Rogerson had to go higher than he expected to beat underbidder, Australian trainer, John O'Shea. Rogerson commented "I believe he was one of the nicest colts in the Sale. While I didn't expect to have to spend that much money on him, I back my judgement and I guess we'll see in two years time whether I was right."

Buying Bench

There was considerable depth to this year's buying bench, with the results sheets reflecting buyers from New Zealand, Australia, England, Ireland, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Following David Ellis' purchase on Day 2 of the top lot of the Sale, the Stravinsky x Grand Echezeaux colt for NZ$2.2m, he finished up leading buyer overall with 29 yearlings bought for a total of NZ$7,090,000. His purchases included four of the top seven lots, including today's acquisitions of Lot 440, a colt by Zabeel from the regally bred mare, Marquise, for NZ$800,000 from Cambridge Stud; Lot 505, Zabeel x Pretty Buttons also from Cambridge Stud, for NZ$560,000; plus yesterday's purchase of a Dehere filly at Lot 318 out of Fleur de Chine, for NZ$700,000.

Japanese buyers were prominent this year, purchasing a total of 11 yearlings, with Mr Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm buying six yearlings including a filly at Lot 150 by Rock of Gibraltar, out of Whatcanisay, purchased on the first day for NZ$500,000. Mr Okada of Big Red Farm bought four yearlings this year.

Australia was represented on the buyers tables by prominent agents and trainers including David Hayes, Lee Freedman, John Hawkes, Robert Roulston, Kieran Moore, John Foote, John O'Shea, Peter Moody, Danny O'Brien, Bruce Elkington, Wadham Park, Pat Hyland, Steve Brem and John Morrisey.

Robert Roulston was the third leading buyer with 12 yearlings for a total of NZ$1,692,500, including his top priced lot of NZ$450,000 by Zabeel out of 2001 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, Singalong, at Lot 62.

Hong Kong buyers accounted for more than 50 yearlings, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club the fifth leading buyer of the Sale having secured another 10 yearlings for the HKJC International Sale in Hong Kong in December. These included a colt by Cape Cross out of Showzeel at Lot 57, purchased for NZ$250,000. The HKJC also bought colts by Danasinga, Montjeu, More Than Ready, O'Reilly, Stravinsky, Tale of the Cat, Traditionally and Volksraad.

Vendors

The leading vendor by aggregate for the 25th year in a row was Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud, with 39 yearlings sold for an aggregate of NZ$8,363,500. His top priced lot was the Zabeel colt at Lot 461 which was sold for NZ$1.6m.

The leading Stud by average was Peter and Philip Vela's Pencarrow Stud, with 18 yearlings sold for an average of $311,806. This was highlighted by the top priced lot of the Sale for NZ$2.2m (Lot 341), plus two NZ$500,000 yearlings at Lots 211 and 495. Lot 211 was a colt by freshman sire, No Excuse Needed out of Beyond the Sunset (by Gone West), purchased by Gary Hennessey for Hong Kong, and Lot 495 was a colt by Zabeel out of Paint Me A Dream (by Deputy Minister) bought by David Ellis.

Sires

Top of the sires tables was Arrowfield Stud's sire sensation, Redoute's Choice, who had 5 entries in the Sale, with three sold for an average of NZ$481,667. His top priced lot came at the end of Day 2, with Lot 343 out of Great Bouquet (Zabeel) selling for NZ$725,000. This was purchased by Australian bloodstock agent, Kieran Moore.

Second leading sire was Zabeel with 24 entries in the Sale, with 21 sold for an average of NZ$374,286.

Leading first season sire was Rock of Gibraltar with 12 sold for an average of NZ$227,917 with a top priced lot of NZ$520,000. That came on the final day at Lot 445, a colt out of Mazarine (by Zabeel) bought by New Zealand bloodstock agent, Bruce Perry.

Leading New Zealand first season sire was No Excuse Needed, standing at Garry and Mark Chittick's Waikato Stud. Twelve yearlings by No Excuse Needed sold for an average of NZ$141,458 including a top price of NZ$500,000 for Lot 211, out of Beyond the Sunset, from the Pencarrow Stud draft.

The New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series continue with the Select Sale starting at 11am tomorrow at Karaka. For results and online webcast, visit www.nzb.co.nz.

OVERALL PREMIER SALE AVERAGE

$127,072 (2005 Final Premier Sale Average $137,395)

AGGREGATE

$49,558,000 (2005 Aggregate $53,446,500)

LOTS CATALOGUED

516 (2005 Lots Catalogued 522)

LOTS SOLD

390 (2005 Lots Sold 389)

CLEARANCE RATE

81% (2005 Final Premier Sale Clearance Rate 82%)

MEDIAN

$80,000 (2005 Median $90,000)

TOP PRICE

Stravinsky x Grand Echezeaux (Lot 341) $2,200,000 (2005 Top Price - Danehill x Encens (Lot 385) $1,300,000)


TOP 10 LOTS

Lot Type Breeding Vendor Purchaser Location Price
341 b.c Stravinsky / Grand Echezeaux PENCARROW STUD MR DC ELLIS TE AKAU $2,200,000
461 b.c Zabeel / Miss Power Bird CAMBRIDGE STUD ROGERSON BLOODSTOCK HAMILTON $1,600,000
59 b.f Zabeel / Silk Slipper CAMBRIDGE STUD MR DAVID HAYES VICTORIA $850,000
440 b.c Zabeel / Marquise CAMBRIDGE STUD MR DC ELLIS TE AKAU $800,000
343 bb.f Redoute's Choice / Great Bouquet ASCOT FARM KIERAN MOORE BLOODSTOCK NSW $725,000
318 b.f Dehere / Fleur de Chine WINDSOR PARK STUD MR DC ELLIS TE AKAU $700,000
505 b.c Zabeel / Pretty Buttons CAMBRIDGE STUD MR DC ELLIS TE AKAU $560,000
445 b.c Rock of Gibraltar / Mazarine ASCOT FARM BRUCE PERRY BLOODSTOCK MASTERTON $520,000
150 c.f Rock of Gibraltar / What Can I Say RICH HILL THOROUGHBREDS MR K YOSHIDA JAPAN $500,000
211 br.c No Excuse Needed / Beyond the Sunset PENCARROW STUD MR GARY HENNESSY HONG KONG $500,000

LEADING BUYERS BY AGGREGATE

Purchaser Number Aggregate
Mr DC Ellis 29 $7,090,000
Rogerson Bloodstock 30 $4,745,000
Robert Roulston Bloodstock 12 $1,692,500
New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd 11 $1,415,000
Hong Kong Jockey Club 10 $1,375,000

LEADING SIRES BY AVERAGE (3 or more sold)

Sire Sold Average
Redoute's Choice 3 $481,667
Zabeel 21 $374,286
Dehere 3 $323,333
Encosta de Lago 4 $272,500
Rock Of Gibraltar 12 $227,917

LEADING FIRST CROP SIRES BY AVERAGE (3 or more sold)

Sire Sold Average
Rock Of Gibraltar 12 $227,917
Johannesburg 6 $168,667
No Excuse Needed 12 $141,458
Hussonet 3 $108,333
Jungle Pocket 8 $103,438

LEADING VENDOR BY AVERAGE (3 or more sold)
Stud Sold Average
Pencarrow Stud 18 $311,806
Ascot Farm 10 $218,000
Cambridge Stud 39 $214,449
Curraghmore Stud 22 $150,727
Lyndhurst Farm 11 $147,500

LEADING VENDOR BY AGGREGATE

Stud Sold Aggregate
Cambridge Stud 39 $8,363,500
Pencarrow Stud 18 $5,612,500
Windsor Park Stud 46 $3,825,500
Curraghmore Stud 22 $3,316,000
Trelawney Stud 26 $3,043,500

Source: New Zealand Bloodstock