New Zealand Bloodstock’s national weanling, broodmare, and mixed bloodstock sale ended its three-day run May 9 at Karaka in New Zealand with small improvements in its median and average prices from a year ago. The clearance rate of 81% was the same as it was in 2011.
The final results included a gross of NZ$5,029,850 ($3,978,710 in U.S. funds) for the 501 horses that were sold. The gross was down 12.7% from last year, when 575 head were sold. The average of NZ$10,040 ($7,942) was up less than 1%, but the median of NZ$2,500 ($1,978) represented an increase of 4.2%.
So Divine, a daughter of High Chaparral, topped the auction’s broodmare session on the final day, bringing NZ$130,000 ($102,833). John Foote Bloodstock purchased the bay winner from Goodwood Stud.
Bred in New Zealand, So Divine was foaled in 2007. She finished third in the 2011 editions of the Oaks Stud Manawatu Classic (NZ-I) and New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes. She is a full sister to 2009 AAMI Victoria Derby (Aust-I) and Inglis Spring Champion Stakes (Aust-I) winner Monaco Consul. Their dam, Argante (by Star Way), didn’t race.
The 174 horses that were sold during the broodmare session grossed NZ$1,576,950 ($1,247,400) and averaged NZ$9,063 ($7,169). The median was NZ$1,600 ($1,266). The clearance rate was 80%.