Strong Book 2 Karaka Session Topped by Tivaci Filly

On March 9, the final day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale's Book 1, Roger James and Robert Wellwood went to an unprecedented NZ$900,000 (US$615,146) to land a colt (Lot 508) by The Autumn Sun, a yearling that was in the eyes of the training duo the standout youngster of the sale. On Saturday, the pair returned to the well on the last day of Book 2 to come away with the session topper, a filly (Lot 1063) by popular sire Tivaci for NZ$250,000 ($170,874). 

The filly marked a strong end to Book 2 of this year's sale, with three of the top five lots having been sold in yesterday's final session, to propel the overall aggregate past last year's figure, despite a sluggish start on days one and two.

The aggregate of NZ$10,036,000 ($6,859,566) is NZ$1,183,000 ($808,576) more than a year ago, while it also surpassed the 2020 pre-COVID-19 gross of NZ$9,873,500 ($6,748,498) The average of NZ$40,632 ($27,771) fell just shy of last year's NZ$41,759 ($28,542), but again surpassed 2020's mark of NZ$25,000 ($17,087). The clearance rate for Book 2 sat at 64% at the end of yesterday's final day of trade.

"There was no hiding the fact that it was a slow start on the first day of Book 2, but it went from strength to strength and today was actually very buoyant," New Zealand Bloodstock managing director Andrew Seabrook said.

"This year we sold 22 horses for more than NZ$100,000 ($68,349), opposed to just 15 last year, which goes to show that the top of the market is stronger than it has ever been. I would like to thank our vendors for entrusting us with their quality bloodstock and our buyers, both domestic and international, whether they were on the grounds or bidding from afar, we appreciate your custom and wish you all the best with your new purchases."

Cataloged as Lot 1063, James and Wellwood, together with agents Andrew Williams and Bevan Smith Bloodstock, waited patiently to secure the Beckam Equine-consigned filly, a half sister to recent winner Ragamuffin. 

At NZ$250,000 ($170,872) the result not only surpassed last year's highest-priced Book 2 lot but provided a fairytale result for his first-time breeders, Paora Packer and his brother of Rugby League fame, Russell, with a mare they picked up for a mere NZ$1,300 ($888) on Gavelhouse.com.

"I have been in racing for three years. I grew up with (trainer) Chris Rauhihi and he introduced me to racing," said Paora, who owns his own pre-training and breaking-in operation in Levin. I have gone my way and done what I have wanted to do ... I put my business brain on and thought if we could get here (Karaka) and sell one it is a lot easier than what we were doing so I looked around and went on gavelhouse.com.

"Russell was still playing footy. We bought the mare off Paul Moroney on the site for $1,300 and we went thirds with another partner, but he dropped out and we just carried on. It is our first time to the sales. It is a costly exercise, but when you get results like that it is all worth it."

The filly is out of the Pins  mare Short Tale, a two-time winner on the track and half sister to BMW New Zealand Derby (G1) runner-up What's The Story and the stakes-placed Base.

Her third dam, group 1 winner Fun On The Run, also produced three-time group 1 winner Tall Poppy. 

Just as they did in Book 1, James and Wellwood were determined to come away with their pick of the session. 

"She was an absolute standout filly. The three of us looked at her and a good owner of theirs had come on board to help secure her. We all had grins on our faces and couldn't believe such a nice filly was cataloged today," Wellwood said. "We can't wait to get this filly home and into the stable, because she is truly a star."

Tivaci ended Book 2 as the leading sire by average (with three or more lots sold), with four of his progeny selling for an average of NZ$113,000 ($77,235), with Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor , the sire of the session's second top lot, finished second by that metric, with four yearlings selling at an average of NZ$108,250 ($73,988). 

Indeed, Saturday's session started with a bang after the sale of the NZ$230,000 ($157,204) Almanzor colt (Lot 968) to local Chinese buyers Raptor Thoroughbreds. 

Acting on the advice of NZB China regional representative Alex Teng, Jessica Yang and Kent Sun were immediately taken by the Milan Park consigned colt. 

"First of all it was the pedigree - he is a by a hot sire in Almanzor and he is a really nice type," Teng said. "He is a standout individual in Book 2. He is very sharp-looking, he is athletic, and ticks all the boxes. He was at the top of our list and will have a break now before we work out a plan. The sire is on fire and had another winner last night with Roznamla winning for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young."

Local Chinese ownership is an emerging demographic in New Zealand racing and Kent Sun, speaking through Teng as a translator, was keen to point to the growing sector after Raptor Thoroughbreds secured two yearlings from Book 2, with this colt joining a Proisir colt (Lot 892) they bought March 11.

"Normally we don't see many local Chinese racing here, but actually it is not a small group. Mr. Sun has got a group of New Zealand-Chinese in an owners' alliance. From this group, the members have purchased over ten horses from the sales, which is quite significant," Teng said. "It also helps that Almanzor has got a very good name in Chinese."

Tony Rider of Milan Park, who was celebrating his birthday yesterday, was pleased with the colt's progression into yesterday's sale date. 

"Since the farm parades, he has just stood out and blossomed. Every week he looks better and better," he said. "We thought he should have made somewhere between NZ$150,000 ($102,524) and NZ$180,000 ($123,029), so it was certainly above where we saw him."

Milan Park sold another of Almanzor's progeny on day two of Book 2. Cataloged as Lot 903, the filly was purchased by Wexford Stables for NZ$110,000 ($75,184).

Rider has a lot of time for the Cambridge Stud stallion, with another pair by the sire bringing six figures in Book 1 for Rider.

"I think this time next year they will be very much in demand," he said.

Milan Park finished second among the leading vendors by average (with three or more lots sold) for Book 2 with six sales at an average of NZ$84,917 ($58,040) to lie behind only Beckam Equine's three yearlings to average NZ$102,333 ($69,944).

"We had a very good Book 1 sale. We passed in three out of the 11," Rider added, with Milan Park selling a pair of Savabeel  colts for NZ$575,000 ($393,010) and NZ$260,000 ($177,709) in Book 1.

"I am one of those guys who believes in the breeding we are doing," Rider said. "We are not here breeding commercial stuff to just get the dollars, we are here to hopefully breed a racehorse on the track. In the last 12 months, we have had a good success rate on the track."

Book 2's leading buyer was Paul Chow's Tartan Meadow Bloodstock, who secured six yearlings for a total spend of NZ$430,000 ($293,903).