Not a Single Doubt Filly Tops Karaka

The third session of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale Book 1 did not possess a seven-figure yearling, but demand was still fierce at the top end, especially for fillies. Te Akau Racing's David Ellis signed his name for the top lot for the second day in a row, landing a filly (lot 371) by Arrowfield Stud's Not a Single Doubt (Aus) for NZ$900,000.

Overall, from 540 catalogued, 399 head have sold, grossing NZ$63,635,000. The clearance rate ticked up a couple points to 79% (it was 77% on Monday), while the median held steady at NZ$120,000. The average landed at NZ$159,486.

Haunui Farm has been enjoying a solid Book 1 so far, sitting third by aggregate, with 19 sold for NZ$4,565,000 and the Oct. 1-foaled bay represented the highest price of the sale to date for the Karaka operation. The attraction of lot 371 was clear to Ellis, as she is a half-sister to Te Akau's own G1SW Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands {Aus}), a NZ$57,500 graduate of this sale in 2016 offered by Haunui who went on to win the 2017 Karaka Million and was back in action on Jan. 27 with a victory in the G3 Mongolian Khan Trophy.

“I have been watching this family for the last 40 years,” said Ellis, who has purchased 24 yearlings for NZ$7,242,500 and leads all buyers by aggregate through Tuesday. “It's an unbelievable filly family and I thought the cross with Not a Single Doubt was top-class.”

Produced by the winning Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), the filly was the third foal of her dam, who is also a half-sister to G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas runner-up Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky), MGSP Desert Rain (NZ) (Honor Grades) and two other stakes-placed runners.

“I normally wait until they are on the market before I bid, but I thought I would try and blow them out of the water with one bid,” explained Ellis of his tactics to acquire lot 371, when he opened bidding at NZ$800,000. “I will be getting her ready for the Karaka Million–I promise you.”

Ellis Adds Exceed And Excel Colt to Syndicate…

Striking for lot 455 from the same elite 'Belle' family later on Tuesday, Ellis secured the Pencarrow Stud-consigned bay for NZ$750,000, the day's dearest colt and third highest-priced lot of the session. By Darley Australia's champion shuttler Exceed And Excel (Aus), the Sept. 3 foal is out of Group 3 heroine Our Ella Belle (NZ) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}). She in turn is a half-sister to MGSW and MG1SP Winning Belle (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), G1SP Aspen (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), and SP Lady Maroof (NZ) (Maroof). Plucky Belle (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}), victorious in the G1 Coolmore Classic, is out of Winning Belle and counts G1SPs Rawnaq (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and Light Brigade (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) as half-brothers.

“When I visited Pencarrow to inspect him, I thought he was a stunning colt,” said Ellis. “He's just perfect for the Karaka Million next year and a lovely colt to train on to the 2000 Guineas. We have had so much luck with this great nursery. It's a farm where we have bought [GSW & G1SP] Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and [multiple champion] Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill) and I believe he is up there with the quality of those colts. He has filled my stallion syndication. I have now got a Snitzel (Aus) colt (lot 215) for $625,000, a Savabeel (Aus) colt (lot 301) for $1.025 million and this Exceed And Excel colt for $750,000.”

The third priciest lot among the seven yearlings Ellis acquired to bear the tangerine and blue on Tuesday was a NZ$410,000 daughter of I Am Invincible (Aus)–Mabsam (Aus) from the draft of Windsor Park Stud. Lot 355 is the third foal produced by Mabsam (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}), a MSP half-sister to four-time Group 3 winner Viking Hero (Aus) (Elvstroem {Aus}). Mabsam was acquired by the Mongolian Khan at Windsor Park Syndicate carrying this filly for A$150,000 out of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2016. MG1SW Innocent King (Aus) (Tolomeo {Ire}) is under the third dam.

Savabeel Filly Catches Hawthorne's Eye…

Bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne had been an active participant earlier at Karaka and he signed for four lots on Tuesday, with lot 487 the most expensive at NZ$875,000. Waikato Stud consigned the Savabeel (Aus)–Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) filly. A two-time winner, Posy is a full-sister to the high-class three-time G1SW Daffodil (NZ), a champion 3-year-old in New Zealand and successful at the highest level on both sides of the Tasman Sea, and herself the dam of MSP Snowdrop (NZ) (Pins {Aus}). The G1 Sires' Produce S. bridesmaid Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike) is under the placed third dam.

“We have bought into a family that has so much going for it,” said Hawthorne, who has signed for six yearlings for NZ$2,635,000, good for second leading buyer by gross. “I wanted one good Savabeel filly and she's the one.”

The agent's buying spree continued shortly thereafter, as he shelled out NZ$700,000, the fourth highest price on Tuesday, for a filly (lot 503) offered by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan's Cambridge Stud consignment. By Tavistock (NZ), who holds court at Cambridge, the brown filly is the first foal out of the listed winner Pussy O'Reilly (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), who ran second in the G1 Makfi Challenge S. and was fourth in the G1 Easter H. She is a full-sister to Group 2 winner Pussy Willow (NZ) and a half to listed winner Inside Agent (NZ) (Stravinsky).

Pins Colt for Yiu…

Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu was also listed among the buyers' sheets on Tuesday. A bay colt (lot 383) by two-time Hong Kong champion sire Pins (Aus) out of GSP and G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas fourth Miracle Miss (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) changed hands for NZ$420,000. From the Waikato Stud draft, the Aug. 29-foaled colt is a full-brother to New Zealand listed winner Maritimo (NZ), who was also placed twice at Group 3 level. His sire is a proven commodity in Hong Kong, as he has accounted for a pair of MG1SWs there in Aerovelocity (NZ) and Ambitious Dragon (NZ).

The final day of Book 1 action continues at the Karaka sales complex at 11 a.m. local time, where lots 541 to 700 will go under the hammer. For the complete results, go to www.nzb.co.nz.