The momentum continued throughout the third and final session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Sale at Karaka on Wednesday with top price of the day paid for a 2YO Encosta de Lago colt (Lot 844). He was knocked down for $240,000 to Tim Carter’s Karapiro Bloodstock. The colt won a trial in February and is from the Bluebird mare Lake Alexandrina.
“He’s an outstandingly built, muscular colt with a lovely temperament and is an exciting sprinting prospect,” Carter said. “I’ve bought him for Michael Chang in Hong Kong.”
With the bulk of the day dedicated to the broodmares on offer the session was highlighted by a 129% increase in average and 25% increase to the median. The top priced broodmare came early in the day with the Sadler’s Wells mare Starrystarrynight (Lot 613) fetching $180,000 to the bid of Gillovic Bloodstock Ltd. The mare from Trelawney Stud was bought in foal to Darci Brahma.
The bumper broodmare offering saw 236 of the 342 catalogued lots sell for $2.90 million which was up 112% from last year’s turnover. The final average for the broodmares was up 126% to $12,318, the highest since 2006. The clearance rate was 82%.
In the final analysis, a total of 653 of the 908 catalogued lots changed hands over the three days for $7.45 million – up a huge 85% from 2009. The overall average of $11,416 was up 66%.
“After a bit of a slow start on Monday morning, trade picked up steadily to provide some pleasing results,” NZ Bloodstock Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela said. “After the tough market we faced here last year, it’s satisfying to see the results return to 2008 levels.”
The leading vendor of the broodmare session was Philip and Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Stud which sold its 30 entries for $843,500. The top price of their offering was $95,000 paid for the unraced Stravinsky mare Forpierre (Lot 760) by Trent Busuttin. She was bought carrying a positive test to Darci Brahma.
Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud retained top spot as leading overall vendor with two broodmares adding to the success of his large weanling draft. Amongst them was the $100,000 Marauding mare Sweet Pearla (Lot 625) sold in foal to gun sire High Chaparral.