The New Zealand Bloodstock select yearling sale ended Feb. 5 with increases of 34.6% in gross revenue, 40.1% in average price, and 33.3% in median price from a year ago.
An Elusive City colt sold for the auction’s top price of NZ$250,000 ($173,798 in U.S. funds) on the final day at Karaka in New Zealand. Australian trainer Danny O'Brien of O’Brien Thoroughbreds purchased the bay yearling from Haunui Farm.
The colt is the fourth reported foal out of the unraced Generous mare Della Mimosa, who is a half-sister to Pottinger (by Al Hareb), winner of the 1994 BATC Stakes in Australia.
The gross for the 438 horses that sold during the select sale was NZ$22,927,500 ($15,939,000). The average was NZ$52,346 ($36,390), and the median was NZ$40,000 ($27,808). The clearance rate was 78%, up from 73% in 2009.
"When we were selecting for the sale this year, we saw a host of yearlings that in years past might have been in premier (sale) now featuring in the select sale, so we knew the strength was there,” said Petrea Vela, co-managing director of New Zealand Bloodstock. “But it has been great to see the buyers still hard at battle for the lots they want.
"The select sale is growing year by year in its own right, and the results are speaking for themselves. More and more buyers are staying on for this session (following the premier sale) and the results are reflecting this growing competition.”
Elusive Quality was the sale's leading sire based on the average price brought by his progeny of NZ$122,500 ($85,161). Four offspring of Elusive Quality were sold.