An Encosta de Lago weanling colt sold for NZ$220,000 ($159,782 in U.S. funds) May 3 to top the opening day of the New Zealand Bloodstock national weanling and broodmare sale at Karaka. Bruce and Maureen Harvey of Ascot Farm purchased the colt, which was the last horse offered during the session, from Curraghmore Stud and plan to resell him as a yearling.
"It's not often that you get a horse that with sort of pedigree coming up at the weanling sale here, so we were eager to get him,” Bruce Harvey said. “He's a lovely horse and is a promising addition to our yearling draft."
Produced from the winning Danehill mare Breeze Hill, the bay weanling is a half-brother to the winner Va Benissimo (by Zabeel). Breeze Hill is a half-sister to Irish champion Archway (by Thatching), English champion Dr Devious (by Ahonoora), Japanese group I winner Shinko King (by Fairy King), and English group III winner Royal Court (by Sadler's Wells).
The results for the national broodmare and weanling sale’s first session included a gross of NZ$2,328,800 ($1,691,360) for the 202 weanlings that sold. The average price was NZ$11,529 ($8,373), and the median price was NZ$3,750 ($2,724). Compared to last year, when 267 horses were sold, the gross fell 3.3%. The average was up 27.8% while the median rose 15.4%.
New Zealand Bloodstock reported a clearance rate of 74%, down from 88% in 2009.