Trade gathered momentum throughout the day during the opening session of the NZ Bloodstock 2YO Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Tuesday.
The average of $62,036 is currently 15% ahead of last year. Turnover is also up over $1.50 million to $6.72 million.
The Sale median has risen 19% to $38,000 and the day’s clearance rate of 72% is 13 points ahead of last year’s final figure.
The Darci Brahma – Golden Dawn gelding (Lot 146) topped the leader-board at $320,000. He fell to the to the bid of Singapore-based trainer Michael Freedman who was acting for the Joy N Happiness Stable.
The Joy N Happiness partnership is currently enjoying enormous success with its Darci Brahma colt Super Easy. He has won six in a row after being was purchased by Freedman as a yearling at Karaka.
“This horse genuinely reminded me of Super Easy 12 months ago,” commented Freedman. “In my opinion he was the pick of the Sale. I liked the way he breezed up, and the guys that own Super Easy also loved the look of him, so we’re very happy.
“He will stay in New Zealand at Henley Park for the next six to eight weeks before we take him up to Singapore.”
The gelding was pin-hooked from the Karaka Premier Sale as a yearling for $60,000 by Curraghmore Stud principal Gordon Cunningham.
“He breezed very well and was exceptionally popular on the sale grounds, and he’s been bought by people who’ve had great success with Darci Brahma,” remarked Cunningham.
“The level of inspection been very good at Karaka. There are lots of people here from overseas and it seems that if you have the right horses there are plenty of people here to buy them.”
The Oaks Stud stallions Darci Brahma and Bachelor Duke are currently heading the sires table by average.
Four Darci Brahma 2YOs have sold for an average of $147,250, with four by Bachelor Duke going for an average of $71,875. His top price of $130,000 for Lot 114.
There are a further five Darci Brahma entries and one Bachelor Duke catalogued for sale on Wednesday.
Willie Leung’s Magus Equine was the leading buyer on Day 1 with 7 acquisitions for $785,000. That includes a top price of $220,000 paid for a colt by Street Sense (Lot 113).
The second top price of the day was $310,000 paid by Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu for the General Nediym colt at Lot 57. Offered by Lyndhurst Farm, the colt is closely related to the G3 winner Permaiscuous.
Mark and Shelley Treweek’s Lyndhurst Farm is currently topping the vendor tables with 8 of their 22 entries sold for $1.29 million at an average of $161,250. Lyndhurst Farm has another 12 two-year-olds catalogued for sale on Day 2.
“The sale started off a bit quietly this morning, but demand steadily got stronger and stronger throughout the day,” NZB Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela said. “We’re extremely happy with the turnout. There are lots of familiar faces but also lots of buyers who are here for the first time from all over the world which is very encouraging.
“There’s substantial depth to the demand for the more appealing lots, but still buyers are being selective. There’s over 170 lots set for sale on Wednesday so hopefully the momentum will continue.”