Casual Lies Filly Tops First Session of New Zealand Premier Yearling Auction

Sixty-one horses sold for a gross of $4,903,500 (approximately $2,074,181 in U.S. funds) and an average of $80,385 ($34,121) during the opening session of the Premier yearling sale in New Zealand on Monday. The median for the session reached $70,000 ($29,610). Eighty-two percent of the horses offered were sold, an improvement over the 74% clearance rate on last year's first day, according to a press release issued by New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd.

A filly by Casual Lies brought the session's top price of $230,000 ($97,290). She was purchased by Canberra-based trainer John Morissey from Windsor Park Stud. Produced from the Star Way mare Cobanna, the filly is a full sister to Coco Cobana, who won the AJC Australian Oaks (Aus-I) and the AJC Metropolitan Handicap (Aus-I).

The top-priced colt was a son of Zabeel out of the Bletchingly mare Consult. Dominion Bloodstock of New Zealand purchased him from $220,000 ($93,060) from Cambridge Stud.

Leading buyer of the session based on gross expenditures was New Zealand Bloodstock, which represented clients from Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand. The bloodstock agency spent $651,000 ($275,373) for even yearlings. Australian bloodstock agent Kieran Moore was next on the, paying $420,000 ($177,6660) for four horses.

Leading sire of the session by average (three or more sold) was multiple Zabeel, with three lots selling for an average of $163,333 ($69,090). Thirteen yearlings from Tale of the Cat's first Southern Hemisphere Crop were sold for an average of $93,731 ($39,648). The most expensive brought $210,000 ($88,830).

Leading consignor of the session based on gross receipts was Windsor Park Stud, with nine horses lots sold for $878,500 ($371,606). Leading consignor by average was Pencarrow Stud, with three lots sold for an average of $118,333 ($50,055).