DGR Thoroughbreds principal Duncan Ramage returned to Karaka and the Windsor Park consignment to buy a Tavistock colt for $230,000 during Book 1 of the NZB Premier Sale this week.

Catalogued as Lot 146, the colt is from NZ Group 2 winner Lady Kipling (Savabeel) and was the top-priced yearling among 16 lots bought by members of Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia (FBAA).

The colt was purchased for $230,000 in association with Aquis Farm and trainer John Sargent. Ramage reached a career-high in 2008 when he sourced world-champion So You Think for $110,000 from Windsor Park’s draft at Karaka.

Lot 506 was the other Tavistock colt knocked down to Ramage and trainer Mick Price. Offered by Jamieson Park, he cost $150,000 and is from a half-sister to Mission Critical (G1 Waikato International) and Brilliant Light (G2 Ajax Stakes).

John Chalmers was also on familiar ground buying 7 fillies and a colt for a total spend of $735,000 at Karaka.

His two top-priced fillies by Iffraaj ($210,000) and Showcasing ($170,000) were on account of Haunui Farm. The Iffraaj (Lot 614) is from Group 1 winning Canny Lad mare Calveen and the Showcasing (Lot 227) is out of Stratum’s Ellerslie stakes winner Misstrum.

Chalmers paid $260,000 to Haunui Farm at the 2014 Karaka Yearling Sale for his latest black-type graduate Celebrity Dream. She won the G3 La Trice Classic (1800m) at Ascot on January 5 for owners Bob and Sandra Peters.

Celebrity Dream hails from one of the most successful families in the NZ Stud Book. It has blessed Haunui with numerous stakes winners and the Perth mare holds a very special place in the family legacy.

Her dam Valpolicella (Red Ransom) won the G3 Manawatu Classic and crossed the Tasman with some lofty targets and was, at one point, the pre-post favourite for the 2008 Queensland Oaks. Alas, injury curtailed her career and since retiring has joined the elite in terms of broodmares, producing three Group winners from her first three foals – Vilanova (Commands), Vavasour (Redoute’s Choice) and Celebrity Dream (Thorn Park).

Pinhook Bloodstock bought a Dundeel colt for Flying Start Syndications, Star Witness filly for Mitch Beer and Shamexpress colt for Kym Hann paying a combined $145,000.

Returning home with one-off buys were Randwick Bloodstock Agency ($100k Kermadec colt), Laurel Oak Bloodstock ($80k Proisir filly) and Bluegrass Bloodstock ($60k So You Think filly).

Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia (FBAA) was formed in 1988 to maintain, improve and develop the standards, status and services of bloodstock agents throughout Australia. Its members operate with the utmost integrity and professionalism and are bound by the strict Industry Code of Conduct.

The list of FBAA members can be viewed at: www.bloodstockagents.com.au