NZ Bloodstock’s Festival Sale posted increases across all key statistics to complete a successful 88th National yearling series at Karaka on Sunday.

The Festival average of $14,210 was up 17% from last year and the median increased 25% to $10,000.  The clearance was a five-year high of 81%.  With a smaller catalogue of 290 Lots, 150 less than in 2013, turnover reached $2.94 million.

Topping the Festival leader-board was a Bachelor Duke – Tithe colt purchased by Danny Walker of Brookby Stables for $77,500.  “He’s just a lovely type, a big, athletic horse,” Walker said.  “He sold himself really.”

Brookby Stables was the second leading Festival buyer purchasing four horses for a total of $113,500.

The Top 10 Festival Sale buyers were exclusively NZ-based, with Rogerson Bloodstock heading the list.  Graeme and Debbie Rogerson have been active throughout all three Sale sessions, finishing as the third leading buyer at the Premier Sale and the second leading individual buyer at the Select Sale.

The second top Festival lot was the Shocking – Zaquabeel colt purchased by the Robert Dawe agency for $56,000 from Lyndhurst Farm.  The colt highlights the prominence of first season sires throughout the week led by Rip Van Winkle, Makfi and Per Incanto.

Shocking made a strong start to his sale ring career, with his 37 entries across the Sales Series averaging $55,656 with a top price of $160,000 (Lot 837).

In all, there were 1372 yearlings catalogued over six days of selling at Karaka.  Despite no million-dollar sales, 959 lots sold for $69.65 million.