NZB Ready to Run Concludes on a High

The second and final day of selling at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale of 2-Year-Olds concluded at Karaka Thursday, with gross, average and median ahead of the figures from the 2015 record-breaking sale, although it must be noted, with a greatly expanded 2016 catalogue. A total of 294 horses sold for a gross of NZ$28,393,000–only the second year the aggregate has surpassed NZ$20,000,000–with a clearance rate of 59.88%. The average was trending 4.97% higher at NZ$96,575 (2015 NZ$92,002), while the median was 16.67% above last year's mark of NZ$60,000, at NZ$70,000.

An international collection of buyers lined up for the 552 horses catalogued, with Australians purchasing 77 head for NZ$10,050,500, over NZ$2.8 million above last year's spending. Toby Koenig of TK Racing led that category, with three head bound for Australian totaling NZ$930,000.

Young racing stock from Australia and New Zealand have been in demand in Hong Kong as well, and buyers from that country came in second by aggregate, purchasing 51 horses for NZ$7,219,500, with trainer Ricky Yiu spending NZ$1,015,000 for five horses.

“In a sale that has traditionally been dominated by the Asian market, it was a very encouraging to see a large contingent of Australian guests who ended up spending NZ$2.8 million more than last year,” said New Zealand Bloodstock's Managing Director Andrew Seabrook. “The clearance rate was disappointing, but that was always going to be a challenge with 150 more horses on offer than last year. Hopefully we can improve that over the next few days. The continued success of this sale could not have happened without the great support of our vendors who consistently give us a quality product to sell.”

Leading the way during the second session Thursday, was a bay colt (Lot 349) by G1 Blue Diamond S. hero Reward for Effort (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, who also sold the overall topper, Lot 280, a colt by Sebring (Aus) (More Than Ready) for NZ$650,000 Wednesday. Purchased for NZ$360,000 by Anton Koolman Bloodstock for Unifaith Bloodstock and out of the unraced Minnie Deal (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), the colt is from the same family as listed winner and MGSW Ulfah (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), while his third dam is G2 Magic Night S. victress and G1 Sires' Produce S. third Draw Card (Aus) (Arch Sculptor {GB}).

“He's a runner and looks like his grandsire Exceed And Excel (Aus),” said Anton Koolman. “We knew we weren't going to get him cheap as he is too much of an athlete, and at this sale you don't buy pedigrees, you buy athletes.”

Lot 426, a colt by the veteran sire Fastnet Rock (Aus), is bound for Hong Kong after bringing the second highest price Thursday, when knocked down for NZ$350,000 on the bid of Mr. M. Chang. Consigned by Riversley Park, the bay is out of a full-sister to precocious American juvenile and GI Belmont Futurity S. hero Whywhywhy (Mr. Greeley), as well as Spellbinder (Tale of the Cat), a multiple graded winner in the U.S., including a win in the GII San Antonio H. Farther back, this is also the family of GI Santa Anita Oaks heroine Crisp (El Corredor).

The leading buyer over the two days of selling was David Ellis of Te Akau Racing, who spent NZ$1,525,000 for 10 lots. A colt (Lot 436) by Star Witness (Aus) out of Queen for Ninedays (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) proved the most dear for Te Akau Racing Thursday, when acquired for NZ$170,000 from the Landsdowne Park consignment. The bay, out of a winning daughter of MGSW De Montfort (NZ) (Random Chance {NZ}), herself a half-sister to G3 Manawatu Classic hero and G1 New Zealand Derby third King Johny (NZ) (Seasoned Star {Aus}), counts MG1SW Princess Mellay (NZ) (Mellay {GB}) as his fourth dam.

“We've built up a terrific clientele and they've had great success from NZB's yearling sales and the Ready to Run Sale, plus NZB put a superb catalogue together and I just wanted to be part of it all,” commented Ellis.

The aforementioned Lyndhurst Farm regained the top vendor title–which they held from 2007-2012 and in 2014–with 17 lots finding new homes for NZ$3,731,000.

For complete results, visit www.nzb.co.nz.