Local sire Don Eduardo provided the highlight on Day 2 of NZ Bloodstock’s Festival yearling sale with a $60,000 colt from On the Breeze (True Style).  That equalled the amount paid for a Gallant Guru colt on Day 1.

The two sessions of the Festival Sale grossed $3.05 million at an average of $12,072 (down from $14,943).  The clearance rate finished at 62%.

Lance O’Sullivan’s Wexford Stables was the leading buyer at the Festival Sale with nine yearlings for $218,000.  Among them was a top price of $52,000 paid for the Don Eduardo colt from Angel of Harlem (Sudurka) offered by Hallmark Stud.  

“We didn’t set out to target the Festival session but the strength of the Premier and Select sessions earlier in the week impacted on our plans,”

O’Sullivan said.  “We were able to purchase for extremely good value.  Horses that were selling at the Festival Sale last year for $60,000 were selling this year for $20,000.”

The leading Festival Sale vendor was Haunui Farm with 11 sales for $229,000.  The leading vendor by average was Henley Park with their four entries averaging $23,750.  Zabeel’s sire son Don Eduardo was the leading Festival sire by average at $26,857.

The NZ Bloodstock National sale series saw 1049 yearlings finding new homes for turnover of $88.08 million across seven days of selling.  That was down 6% on 2010 but it was up 18% on the 2009 figure.