New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale set records for the fourth year in a row at Karaka this week.

At the conclusion of the two-day auction on Thursday, the aggregate reached $23.36 million and the average increased 15% to $92,002.  The clearance rate improved 8 points to 81%.

“The 2YO Sale has been going from strength to strength recently and this year’s results are phenomenal,” NZB managing director Andrew Seabrook said.  “It’s being recognised around the world and particular mention has to go to our Hong Kong and Chinese buyers.”

A new record price was achieved when the O’Reilly – Miraculous Miss (Exceed and Excel) gelding (Lot 362) was knocked down for $525,000 to Jacky Chun Shing of Hong Kong.  He was offered by Ascot Farm and had been the fastest lot to breeze (9.91s) at Te Rapa.

“I wanted to come to Karaka and have found it very interesting,” Chun Shing said.  “The money was a little higher than we expected but we still got what we wanted.”

The gelding is a full-brother to recent stakes winner Celtic Tiger and a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Avisto (Tavistock).

Hong Kong was the leading buying bench with 43 horses purchased for $6.78 million while Australian visitors bought 61 lots for a total spend of $6.69 million.

Local buyers purchased 61 horses for $3.95 million while other successful bidders came from Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea.

Diamond Lodge regained the leading vendor by aggregate title it held in 2013, selling 18 lots for a total of $2.54 million.  Prima Park finished as the leading vendor by average (three or more sold) with 8 lots for $186,875.

The leading sire by average (three or more sold) was Arrowfield freshman Smart Missile with 4 of his progeny selling at an average of $248,750.

KARAKA RECORD
O’Reilly gelding sold for $525,000