The premier portion of New Zealand Bloodstock’s national yearling sales generated a median price that increased 3.7% from a year ago and a gross revenue that was down less than 1%. The average price declined 3.7% during the two-day run that ended Feb. 1 at Karaka.
"We had no million dollar ($771,230 in U.S. funds) lots this year yet we are less than $150,000 ($115,685) away from last year's aggregate and less than 4% down on average, with our clearance rate holding up extremely well,” said Petrea Vela, New Zealand Bloodstock’s co-managing director. "Last year's sale was our second best on record, which we never expected to match, so to be within striking distance of those figures is a fantastic result for the industry."
New Zealand Bloodstock reported final results that included a gross of NZ$65,574,000 ($50,572,000) for the 375 horses that were sold. The average was NZ $174,864 ($134,860) and the median was NZ$140,000 ($107,972).
The clearance rate was 79% compared to 80% in 2010, when 362 horses were sold.
A Red Ransom colt brought NZ$850,000 ($674,826) on the second day to top the premier portion. David Ellis purchased him from Cambridge Stud.
The bay yearling is out of the winning Nureyev mare Nureyev’s Girl, who finished third in the 2004 Stuart Crystal Stakes in Australia. He is a half brother to King’s Rose (by Redoute's Choice), who captured the 2010 New Zealand Bloodstock New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (NZ-I). King’s Rose also won the Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (NZ-III) and Ray Coupland Stakes in 2010 and the New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes (NZ-II) this year.
"He is a terrific colt,” said Ellis of the top-priced yearling. “He has an interesting pedigree and, given he performs on the track, would make a great stud prospect and would be a good match for New Zealand mares. We had to fight off David Hayes and Chris Waller, both astute judges in their own right, to secure the horse, but we are thrilled that he will be staying in New Zealand.
"Today has seen a much stronger day overall,” Ellis added. “There were a lot of quality horses on offer, which was reflected in the market as buyers bid hard for their desired lots."