NZ Bloodstock reported its Karaka Select Sale returns either matched or were slightly ahead of last year’s figures at the end of three sessions on Friday.
The average increased $600 up to $46,813, the median held firm at $35,000 and the clearance rate also equalled last year at 75%. There were 21 fewer horses catalogued this year meaning the aggregate was fractionally down to $18.30 million.
A Select Sale record price of $525,000 was paid for a colt by Hallmark Stud’s relatively unknown first season sire Tartan Bearer on Wednesday. An Irish-bred son of Spectrum, he was a Group 2 winner of the 2008 Dante Stakes before finishing a half-length second to New Approach in the English Derby.
Tartan Bearer’s oldest are yearlings – the first crop consisted of just 12 foals – the bulk of them being bred by his owner Andy Chui. His sale-topper is out of Galileo mare Pink Pier, the dam of Group 2 winner Group 1 Rosehill Guineas runner-up Thunder Fantasy (Lucky Owners).
South Australian trainer Phillip Stokes saw off strong competition to buy the colt for Hong Kong businessman Thomas Li who races last-start G1 Emirates Stakes winner Hucklebuck. “Thomas picked the pedigree and I did the inspection,” commented Stokes. “I liked the look of him and then did a bit of research on Tartan Bearer – he was a good staying horse.”
Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan was the leading buyer at the Select Sale acquiring 8 lots for a total of $551,500. She trained Volkstok’n’barrell (Tavistock) to win the Karaka 3YO Mile last Sunday.
Hallmark Stud was the leading vendor by average selling all of their 16 lots catalogued for $1,419,000 at an average of $88,688.
“We had a solid three days of selling at Karaka,” NZB’s Petrea Vela said. “By all accounts buyers were very happy with the selection on offer and we saw good competition across the three sessions.”
NZ Champion O’Reilly was the leading sire by average with three or more sold. The Waikato Stud sire sold 11 horses at $89,409. Tavistock split O’Reilly and his third-placed barn-mate Savabeel.
The one-day Festival Sale has 329 yearlings set to go under the hammer on Sunday (February 1).