Festival Sale Day 1 Sees Strongest Market For Some Time

1 February 2004

DAY 1 FESTIVAL SALE SUMMARY
The Success Continues

The first day of the Festival Session of the National Yearling Sales 2004 has shown extremely pleasing results, with the Sale average, median and clearance rate all showing significant improvement on last year's results.

The Sale average has risen an impressive 27% from $7,954 last year, to $10,154. The median has also risen by the same margin, from $5,000 to $7,000. Most significant however is the outstanding clearance rate of 85% - up 18% from 67% last year.

Today was certainly the most buoyant market experienced at Festival Sale level for several years. The successful trade today can be attributed partly to a buying bench that featured more overseas presence than usual at this sale, together with a strong kiwi contingent and credit to the Festival Sale vendors who have set realistic expectations for their offerings and let the market be the judge.

The top lot of the day was Lot 1232 Yamanin Vital x Our Addition, a colt that Stephen Johnson of Victoria purchased for $52,000 out of the draft of White Robe Lodge Stud.

So far the leading buyers by aggregate are Paul Moroney Bloodstock with 5 Lots for $75,500, Paul Willets with 4 Lots for $71,000 and Stuart Hale with 6 Lots purchased for $69,350.

The Festival Sale continues and concludes with the final session tomorrow. This will also draw to a close what has been a highly successful 2004 National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka, where already some $59,146,000 has turned over with a full day still to come, compared with a total series aggregate last year of $47,235,000.

2004 FESTIVAL SALE
STATISTICS FROM DAY 1

AVERAGE = $10,154
27% increase from last year's final Festival Session average
2003 Final Festival Sale average = $7,954

DAY 1 SESSION AGGREGATE = $1,573,900
2003 End of Festival Sale Aggregate = $1,622,700

DAY 1 SESSION CLEARANCE RATE = 85%
2003 Final Festival Sale Clearance rate = 67%

DAY 1 SESSION MEDIAN = $7,000
27% increase from median last year
2003 MEDIAN = $5,500

TOP PRICE = Lot 1232 Yamanin Vital x Our Addition $52,000
Last year Top Price = Lot 1442 Al Akbar x The Eye Opener $45,000

DAY 1 LEADING BUYERS BY AGGREGATE
1st = Paul Moroney Bloodstock 5 Lots for $75,500
2nd = Mr Paul Willets 4 Lots for $71,000
3rd = Stuart Hale & Co 6 Lots for $69,350

DAY 1 TOP LOTS v = vendor p= purchaser

1st= Lot 1232 Yamanin Vital x Our Addition $52,000
v=White Robe Lodge/p=Mr Stephen Johnson
2nd= Lot 1230 Pins x Oregon Express $45,000
v=Fairdale Stud/p=Mr Kim Lee
3rd= Lot 1297 Monolith x Sounds Like Gold $38,000
v=Brighthill Farm/p=Stuart Hale & Co
4th= Lot 1121 D'Cash x Interject $31,000
v=Maara Grange/p=John Foote Bloodstock Pty
4th= Lot 1273 Istidaad x Royal Annie $31,000
v=Rosehill Farm/p= John Foote Bloodstock Pty


DAY 1 LEADING SIRES BY AVERAGE 2004 (3 or more sold)

1ST = D'CASH 3 SOLD FOR AVERAGE $22,167
2ND = ISTIDAAD 3 SOLD FOR AVERAGE $17,333
3RD = BAHHARE 3 SOLD FOR AVERAGE $14,667


DAY 1 LEADING VENDOR BY AVERAGE 2004 (3 or more sold)

1ST = WHITE ROBE LODGE STUD 3 SOLD FOR AVERAGE $24,833
2ND = FAIRDALE STUD 7 SOLD FOR AVERAGE $17,429
3RD = RICH HILL THOROUGHBREDS LTD 4 SOLD FOR AVERAGE $16,250
4TH = BRIGHTHILL FARM 6 SOLD FOR AVERAGE $14,125
5TH = BLOOMSBURY STUD 3 SOLD FOR AVERAGE $13,167


DAY 1 LEADING VENDOR BY AGGREGATE 2004

1ST = FAIRDALE STUD 7 SOLD FOR $122,000
2ND = BRIGHTHILL FARM 6 SOLD FOR $84,750
3rd= PARAMOUNT LODGE LTD 7 SOLD FOR $83,750
4TH = WHITE ROBE LODGE STUD 3 SOLD FOR $74,500
5th= ESKER LODGE 8 SOLD FOR $65,250

The final day of the Festival Session is tomorrow, with 214 Lots being offered from 12pm.