NZ Bloodstock’s Ready to Run 2YO Sale provided a string of highlights including a new record average, median, turnover and, after six years, a new leading vendor.

With 437 lots catalogued over two days – 30 more than last year – 232 head were sold for a record turnover of $18.46 million which was up 3% on the 2012 record when 13 more horses changed hands.

The Sale average was up 9% to $79,580 and the median rose 4% to $50,000.  The clearance rate improved through Day 2 to 62%.

“There has been some very good competition, particularly at the top end of the market,” NZB Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela said.  “We would have liked to see the clearance rate strengthen even further, but the returns are still ahead of last year with some very pleasing results.

“We are grateful for the support of all who have participated this week, and wish buyers the very best of luck with their Karaka purchases.”

The Day 1 top price of $320,000 was surpassed twice on Wednesday.  The first time was with the O’Reilly colt (Lot 319) bought by Sydney-based Round Table Racing & James Harron Bloodstock for $340,000.

The half-brother to last weekend’s Group 3 winner Floria (Savabeel) was knocked down to the bid of Bruce Slade.   “He was our No.1 pick,” Slade explained.  “He has a great gallop and has the best pedigree in the Sale.  He picked himself really and, thankfully, we had enough to secure him.

“Gai Waterhouse will be training him.  We will target him for three-year-old middle distance races in Australia.  We selected this Sale because it has been getting results and you’re one step closer to getting to the races for the owners.”

The Sale topper came later in the day with the High Chaparral colt (Lot 401) bought by David Ellis for $430,000.  The colt offered by Regal Farm is from the unraced Zabeel mare Deduction, a three-quarter sister to Might and Power and a half-sister to Miss Power Bird and Lucky Owners.

“I genuinely think this is the nicest colt I’ve bought here at Karaka since Darci Brahma,” commented Ellis.  “He’s an absolutely stunning colt and is bred on the same cross as It’s a Dundeel.

“At the Karaka Sales in January, I bought four colts for a syndicate but we had the misfortune of losing the Fastnet Rock colt a couple of weeks ago.  I bought this colt to replace him.”

“He’s a colt that we could send to Christchurch for the 2000 Guineas and then train on for the New Zealand Derby and the big staying races in Australia.”

“We’ve had a lot of success at this Sale and that keeps us coming back.  There have been a lot of very nice horses presented here and I’m sure there will be a lot of good horses that will come from the Sale.”

David Ellis was the leading purchaser of the Ready to Run Sale with 7 buys for $910,000 at an average of $130,000.  Spending from $40,000 to $430,000 per horse, Ellis also bought colts by Iffraaj, Keeper, Murtajil, Nicconi, Guillotine and a gelding by Shinko King.

Notwithstanding Ellis’s presence, the day’s results reflected the broad international buying bench that has been in action throughout the Sale, with buyers from Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, China, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The second leading buyer was Singapore trainer Shane Baertschiger, with 7 purchases including a top price of $170,000 paid for the Align colt (Lot 398) from Westbury Stud.

Among the notable new faces was the China Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group, the third leading individual buyer at the Sale with 6 purchases for $655,000 at an average of $109,167.  Top price of $220,000 paid for the Holy Roman Emperor colt  offered as Lot 371.

Australian buyers have been the most dominant force at the Sale for the third year in a row, with a spend of nearly $5.50 million on 49 horses.  After Australia was Hong Kong with 41 horses bought for $4.80 million.  New Zealand buyers have secured more than 60 horses for $3.20 million.

After an exceptional six-year reign at the top of the vendor tables, Lyndhurst Farm enjoyed another strong day’s trade but was edged out of the top vendor spot by Jeremy Whale’s Diamond Lodge.

With 21 of its 29 entries sold for $2.42 million, Diamond Lodge’s Wednesday tally included colts that sold for $340,000 (Lot 319 by O’Reilly), $280,000 (Lot 327 by New Approach) and $220,000 (Lot 328 by Postponed).

Bruce and Maureen Harvey’s Ascot Farm took top honours on average with 3 sold at $190,000.  Lyndhurst Farm was second with 15 sold at $150,067.

Savabeel finished top of the sires’ list with 8 lots sold at an average of $153,750.  Savabeel’s top priced graduate (Lot 373) was a $260,000 gelding bought by Queensland agent John Foote for Hong Kong-based trainer David Hall.