Million-dollar Day at Karaka 2018
29 January 2018
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An action-packed Day 2 at Karaka 2018 saw leading local buyer David Ellis provide the fireworks with a sale-topping bid of $1,025,000 to acquire Cambridge Stud’s striking Savabeel colt at Lot 301.
Lot 301 is from New Zealand champion three-year-old Katie Lee (NZ) whose stellar career was highlighted with victories in both the Group 1 1000 Guineas and Group 1 2000 Guineas, herself the progeny of Group winner Miss Jessie Jay.
Ellis, who envisions this colt as a horse that could win a Sires Produce and 2000 Guineas, was thrilled with his new addition to the Te Akau stable.
“He’s just one of those colts I had to have – he’s a beautiful example of equine excellence.
“I can see him winning a Group 1 like the Sires Produce and then heading to Australia to win a good two-year-old race, but our goal will be the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.”
The colt was one of two seven-figure yearlings today, the other coming earlier in the day at Lot 156, a colt by Fastnet Rock knocked down to Mark Pilkington Bloodstock in conjunction with Lindsay Park Racing for $1 million. The pair also secured a Fastnet Rock filly (Lot 25) yesterday out of Curraghmore’s draft for $360,000.
A hugely competitive day in the sale ring had Ellis successful 17 times, including with the third highest price of the day of $900,000 for the Savabeel filly at Lot 290. The high-class youngster comes from a blueblood family of multiple stakes winners including prolific mare La Sizeranne (NZ) (Stravinsky) and Group 1 Derby winner Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock).
Admitting it had been ten years since he had laid eyes on a filly of her quality, she is the first filly that Ellis has bought for his newly formed fillies syndicate.
At the end of Day 2, Ellis is on track to retaining the leading buyer title for his 13th consecutive year having secured 17 yearlings for $4.6 million, with two of his highest priced yearlings coming from the final draft presented by Sir Patrick Hogan under his Cambridge Stud banner.
A broad international buying bench has fuelled much of the action today, with eight countries accounting for the sale of 158 yearlings and $26.5 million in turnover so far. But domestic buyers have held their own against the international company securing five of the top 10 lots.
In terms of sire power, Tavistock and Savabeel continued to feature prominently, with Waikato Stud also to the fore with their first season sire Sacred Falls.
Leading the freshman sires list by average with 15 yearlings sold at an average of $146,000, Sacred Falls’ highest price yet came at Lot 95 when purchased for $275,000 by Waikato Bloodstock for their Hong Kong client.
With 320 lots having been offered over the first two days, the Sale is tracking ahead of all expectations. The clearance has remained strong at 77%, representing 232 lots sold so far for $38.3 million, at an impressive average of $165,119.
Click here for today’s highlight Lots.
- $1 Million Fastnet Rock Colt Leads Day 2 Action
- Early Action Bodes Well for Kaha Syndicate and Mulcaster Bloodstock
- Blueblood Fillies Continue Cracking Pace
Selling continues tomorrow from 11am with Lot 321 to Lot 540 going under the hammer.
2018 Book 1 Yearling Sale Statistics – Day 1 and Day 2
| BOOK 1 DAY 1 & 2 | |
| AGGREGATE | $38,307,500 |
| AVERAGE | $165,119 |
| MEDIAN | $120,000 |
| CLEARANCE | 77% |
| CATALOGUED | 320 |
| SOLD | 232 |
| TOP LOT | $1,025,000 (B. C) Savabeel - Katie Lee, Lot 301 |
Top Lots
| LOT | TYPE | BREEDING | VENDOR | PURCHASER | PRICE |
| 301 | B.C | Savabeel / Katie Lee | Cambridge Stud | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $1,025,000 |
| 156 | BR.C | Fastnet Rock / Diademe | Curraghmore | Mark Pilkington Management / Lindsay Park Racing (Victoria) | $1,000,000 |
| 290 | B.F | Savabeel / Joy's Choice | Cambridge Stud | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $900,000 |
| 159 | B.F | Tavistock / Diamond Like | Cambridge Stud | Moody Racing (Victoria) | $750,000 |
| 172 | B.F | Fastnet Rock / Dragon's Tail | Hallmark Stud | BBA Ireland (Ireland) | $725,000 |
| 215 | B.C | Snitzel / Floria | Haunui Farm | Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | $625,000 |
| 48 | B.F | Tavistock / Bagalollies | Highden Park | Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (Waikato) | $500,000 |
| 84 | B.C | More Than Ready / Buckling | Haunui Farm | Wallace Thoroughbreds (Auckland) | $500,000 |
| 190 | B.C | Savabeel / Eudora | Waikato Stud | Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) | $500,000 |
| 132 | B.C | Zoustar / Crystal Spur | Curraghmore | Aquis Farm / Lindsay Park Racing (Victoria) | $460,000 |
Leading Purchaser by Aggregate
| PURCHASER | BOUGHT | AGGREGATE | AVERAGE | TOP PRICE | TOP LOT |
| Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | 17 | $4,595,000 | $270,294 | $1,025,000 | 301 |
| Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong) | 4 | $1,510,000 | $377,500 | $500,000 | 190 |
| Kaha Syndicate / Mulcaster Bloodstock (New South Wales) | 5 | $1,365,000 | $273,000 | $425,000 | 108 |
| Mark Pilkington Management / Lindsay Park Racing (Victoria) | 2 | $1,360,000 | $680,000 | $1,000,000 | 156 |
| Busuttin Racing (Victoria) | 7 | $1,075,000 | $153,571 | $320,000 | 255 |
| John Chalmers Bloodstock Services (Western Australia) | 6 | $995,000 | $165,833 | $250,000 | 202 |
| Paul Moroney Bloodstock (Victoria) | 7 | $975,000 | $139,286 | $230,000 | 269 |
| Moody Racing (Victoria) | 3 | $950,000 | $316,667 | $750,000 | 159 |
| Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (Waikato) | 2 | $800,000 | $400,000 | $500,000 | 48 |
| BBA Ireland (Ireland) | 1 | $725,000 | $725,000 | $725,000 | 172 |
Leading Vendor by Aggregate
| VENDOR | SOLD | AGGREGATE | AVERAGE | TOP PRICE | TOP LOT |
| Waikato Stud | 32 | $5,865,000 | $183,281 | $500,000 | 190 |
| Cambridge Stud | 24 | $5,580,000 | $232,500 | $1,025,000 | 301 |
| Curraghmore | 9 | $2,820,000 | $313,333 | $1,000,000 | 156 |
| Haunui Farm | 8 | $2,120,000 | $265,000 | $625,000 | 215 |
| Windsor Park Stud | 16 | $2,075,000 | $129,688 | $400,000 | 319 |
| Westbury Stud | 16 | $1,675,000 | $104,688 | $180,000 | 155 |
| Hallmark Stud | 7 | $1,390,000 | $198,571 | $725,000 | 172 |
| Trelawney Stud | 7 | $1,140,000 | $162,857 | $240,000 | 80 |
| Highden Park | 4 | $1,090,000 | $272,500 | $500,000 | 48 |
| Little Avondale Stud | 5 | $1,000,000 | $200,000 | $360,000 | 40 |
Leading Vendor by Average (three or more sold)
| VENDOR | SOLD | AVERAGE | AGGREGATE | TOP PRICE | TOP LOT |
| Curraghmore | 9 | $313,333 | $2,820,000 | $1,000,000 | 156 |
| Highden Park | 4 | $272,500 | $1,090,000 | $500,000 | 48 |
| Haunui Farm | 8 | $265,000 | $2,120,000 | $625,000 | 215 |
| Henley Park | 3 | $235,000 | $705,000 | $400,000 | 26 |
| Cambridge Stud | 24 | $232,500 | $5,580,000 | $1,025,000 | 301 |
| Mana Park | 4 | $202,500 | $810,000 | $360,000 | 272 |
| Little Avondale Stud | 5 | $200,000 | $1,000,000 | $360,000 | 40 |
| Hallmark Stud | 7 | $198,571 | $1,390,000 | $725,000 | 172 |
| Waikato Stud | 32 | $183,281 | $5,865,000 | $500,000 | 190 |
| Monovale Farm | 3 | $178,333 | $535,000 | $225,000 | 303 |
Leading Sire by Average (three or more sold)
| SIRE | SOLD | AVERAGE | AGGREGATE | TOP PRICE | TOP LOT |
| Fastnet Rock | 8 | $406,250 | $3,250,000 | $1,000,000 | 156 |
| Savabeel | 30 | $278,000 | $8,340,000 | $1,025,000 | 301 |
| Showcasing | 3 | $193,333 | $580,000 | $250,000 | 202 |
| Tavistock | 29 | $188,793 | $5,475,000 | $750,000 | 159 |
| Per Incanto | 7 | $173,571 | $1,215,000 | $370,000 | 212 |
| Iffraaj | 8 | $164,375 | $1,315,000 | $360,000 | 272 |
| Foxwedge | 3 | $163,333 | $490,000 | $300,000 | 116 |
| Sacred Falls* | 15 | $146,000 | $2,190,000 | $275,000 | 95 |
| Makfi | 6 | $135,833 | $815,000 | $210,000 | 141 |
| Charm Spirit* | 12 | $130,833 | $1,570,000 | $400,000 | 319 |
*First season sire