A daughter of No Excuse Needed and a son of Dubawi were the standouts Feb. 2 during the second session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s select yearling sale at Karaka. They each brought NZ$200,000 ($165,622) to become the most expensive horses so far sold during the three-day auction.
Trainer Lisa Latta purchased the No Excuse Needed filly from Waikato Stud.
“I loved her right from the first minute,” Latta said. “I looked at both premier and select (horses) and while we did miss out on a few fillies in the premier sale, I thought she was the pick of the select fillies and am very happy to have got her.
“I have nominated her for the Karaka Million; however, she was selected on pedigree and residual value so that is not a priority. The nice horses are reaching their value, but I am happy with the way the sale has gone for me so far and I will be back again tomorrow.”
The bay yearling is the first foal out of the winning O’Reilly mare Miracle Miss, who finished third in the Hooker Pacific Taranaki Cup (NZ-III). Miracle Miss is a full sister to Dating, who captured the Windsor Park Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (NZ-III) and New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (NZ-III) along with one other added-money event.
Willie Leung’s Magus Equine of Hong Kong bought the Dubawi colt from Lyndhurst Farm.
“Dubawi is doing so well in Hong Kong, Europe, and the Southern Hemisphere, which is why we wanted to get one (of his offspring),” Leung said. “This is probably the last Dubawi crop in the Southern Hemisphere and this colt looks good, strong, and athletic and is from a good family, so we were prepared to pay a bit more. This year we looked for quality horses which is why I have purchased the horses I have so far. We will be back here tomorrow as there are a few more that we want.”
Produced from the unraced Danasinga mare Mlada, the chestnut yearling is a half brother to the winner Royal Crusader (by Lion Heart). Mlada is a half sister to Lord Majestic (by Gaius), who triumphed in the Whakanui Stud International Stakes (NZ-I).
The results for the second session included a gross of NZ$13,049,500 ($10,806,400) for the 292 yearlings that were sold. The average price was NZ$44,690 ($37,008) and the median price was NZ$35,000 ($28,983). Last year, the average and median for the entire auction were NZ$45,711 and NZ$39,000, respectively.
New Zealand Bloodstock reported the clearance rate for this year’s second session was 77%.