The NZB Festival Sale completed a highly successful National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka on Sunday posting increased figures compared with last year.

Following on from the Premier and Select Sales, the aggregate, average, median and clearance rate all climbed at the Festival Sale.  A total of 188 horses were sold at this year’s Festival Sale and turnover increased 7% to $3.02 million.

The average also rose 10% to $16,065 and the median of $12,000 equalled the record set in 2008 and 2012.  The clearance rate was up 8 points to 79%.

Top price at the Festival Sale was $80,000 for the Jimmy Choux – Asian Wind colt bought by Shane Crawford of Regal Farm.  “We’ve enjoyed some good success at the Ready to Run Sale previously and this guy looks an ideal type for that sale,” Crawford predicted.  “He’s a beautiful moving horse who is well balanced and has a good head, neck and shoulder to him.  He is also nicely mannered and looks an early season type.”

Second on the leader-board was the $70,000 Tavistock – Bantry Bay filly purchased by Donna Logan.  The Ruakaka trainer has an affinity with Tavistock preparing Group 1 winner Volkstok’n’barrell and boom galloper Hassselhoof.

The Festival Sale’s leading buyer was Stephen McKee with five horses for $174,500.  His most expensive purchase was the $55,000 Dalghar – Golden Eve colt.

NZB’s managing rirector Andrew Seabrook was delighted with how the six days of selling played out.  “We came into this year’s Sale confident that we would have a good week but we have exceeded our own expectations.  We have grossed nearly $20 million more than last year – to increase by that much is an incredible effort.

“It’s a credit to the state of the New Zealand breeding industry.  There is a resurgent strength in our stallion ranks and we are seeing more breeders invest in quality broodmares which is just as important.  This is a step in the right direction and hopefully it will spur on more people to produce quality horses to meet the needs and wants of buyers.”