Waikato Stud secured the leading vendor by aggregate title for the first time when NZ Bloodstock’s Premier Sale concluded on Tuesday.
The commitment by Waikato Stud’s Chittick family to pledge its entire draft to Karaka this year has been handsomely rewarded, selling 46 yearlings for a total of $7.65 million.
“It was an awesome draft and we’ve gone to every effort not to leave any stone unturned,” remarked Mark Chittick. “We just worked so hard and it all fell into place amazingly well.”
Waikato Stud sold its highest-ever priced yearling when the Savabeel colt out of stakes winning mare Splashing Out was bought by David Ellis of Te Akau Racing for $500,000.
The top-priced Waikato filly was the O’Reilly – Zamfir yearling purchased by Sydney-based Bryce Heys for $475,000.
Waikato Stud’s results highlighted a strong two days of selling at the Karaka sale complex, where a total of 326 yearlings sold for $47.13 million at an average of $144,578. The clearance rate was 78%.
Ellis paid top Premier price of $800,000 for the Fastnet Rock – Katie Lee colt on Monday and he weighed in with another $700,000 for the Fastnet Rock – Beyond the Sunset colt on Tuesday.
“There has been plenty of competition on the good horses,” Ellis said. “It doesn’t matter what the market is doing, buyers come out of the woodwork when there’s a good horse. I’ve purchased 35 horses in total and I keep coming back to Karaka because the horses I have bought here have got me the results.”
Fastnet Rock finishing with the four highest priced yearlings of the Premier Sale, and a sale average of $352,188 across 16 lots sold. The leading local sire was Zabeel with 19 lots sold at an average of $190,789.
There was hot competition for the line-up of freshman sires on offer, particularly Rip Van Winkle and Makfi. Windsor Park shuttler Rip Van Winkle topped the table with an average price of $132,500 across 28 lots sold, just ahead of Makfi with an average of $115,909 for 11 sold.
Curraghmore Stud led the vendor averages selling 21 yearlings at $240,114.
Selling continues at Karaka on Wednesday with the first session of the three-day Select Sale.