Strong Finish to Close Outstanding Karaka 2024

Lot 1081, a filly by Ancient Spirit out of Back Date Photo: Trish Dunell

The curtain came down on the final day of selling at NZB’s Karaka 2024 Book 2 Sale with the third and final day proving to be the strongest day of selling for the third consecutive year.

NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook praised the vendor’s efforts.

“Just like last year’s Sale, the final day of Book 2 has been the strongest of the three days by far,” he commented.

“On Friday we cleared 78%, pulling the Book 2 clearance up to 70% from the previous days’ 63%.

“The number of horses sold for $100,000 or more in Book 2 has climbed from nineteen last year to twenty-seven this year.

“There were some very happy vendors on Friday, and it is wonderful to see them get those rewards.”

The top lot of the day came when leading buyers Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman stretched to $160,000 for Lot 1081, a filly by the first season sire Ancient Spirit.

“It’s a great result, she’s going to a great home,” commented an elated Gus Wigley who offered the filly under his Inglewood Stud banner and landed as leading vendors by average of the Book 2 Sale.

“Mike trains the half-brother Force of Law, so it’s a great result, she’ll get every chance.

“We are rapt for fellow South Islander’s White Robe Lodge and their first season sire Ancient Spirit.

“We had a very good Book 1 sale, and to back it up with a Book 2 sale like this, getting three amazing results for our only three horses in Book 2 was amazing.”

Leading Book 2 vendor Westbury Stud’s Principal Russell Warwick commented on Karaka 2024‘s Book 2 results.

“I think good horses sold well in Book 2 with some decent prices being achieved, you’d be happy with those results.”

At the conclusion of selling in Book 2, the leading sire by average was the emerging Waikato Stud sire Ardrossan with four lots being secured for an average of $103,907.

All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2024 are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series, featuring the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO, $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and two new $200,000 bonuses. To nominate your yearling, contact finance@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055. Entries close Monday 4 March 2024.

Yearlings purchased at the Book 2 Sale who nominate for the Karaka Millions Series are also eligible for the $200,000 Book 2 Bonus, to be won by the first horse across the finish line in the 2026 $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO race.

To enquire about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz, or Andrew Buick on +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz.

Attention now turns to NZB’s National Online Yearling Sale to be held in April on Gavelhouse Plus, with further details to follow.

View the full Book 2 results and online catalogue here.
Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Book 2 online.

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Statistics (at end of selling)

 2024 BOOK 2 TOTAL2023 BOOK 2 TOTAL2022 BOOK 2 TOTAL2021 BOOK 2 TOTAL
AGGREGATE$11,444,000$11,516,000$10,036,000$8,853,000
AVERAGE$43,185$43,131$40,632$41,759
MEDIAN$32,500$32,000$30,000$30,000
CLEARANCE70%71%64%76%
CATALOGUED443435466339
OFFERED377375384277
SOLD265267247212
TOP LOTLot 790 Time Test – Kerre (Br.C) $220,000Lot 789 Proisir – Harriet Wilson (G.C) $180,000Lot 1063 Tivaci – Short Tale (B.F) $250,000Lot 725 Churchill – Astrid (Ch.F) $200,000

Karaka 2024: Combined Statistics (at end of selling)

 2024 COMBINED TOTAL2023 COMBINED TOTAL2022 COMBINED TOTAL2021 COMBINED TOTAL
Aggregate$91,842,000$82,091,500$74,382,500$60,996,500
Average$122,783$111,235$106,109$94,276
Median$90,000$80,000$70,000$62,500
Clearance76%77%75%82%
Catalogued112510791103918
Withdrawn141121156127
Offered984958947791
Passed236220246144
Lots Sold748738701647
Top Price$1,600,000$1,000,000$1,000,000$800,000

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Day Three Top Lots

LOTSIREDAMSEXVENDORBUYERPRICE
1081Ancient SpiritBack DateFillyInglewood StudBallymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato)$160,000
1029ArdrossanVenetian RaiderColtSeaton Park LtdBell Racing (Waikato)$120,000
1122WroteCrackerColtHighviewHY Investments (Malaysia)$120,000
1049Circus MaximusWord SavvyFillyRalph ThoroughbredsBloodstock Solutions (Queensland)$110,000
1088EmbellishBlue ShadowColtHiwiroa LodgeRichardson Racing Stables (Waikato)$110,000
1108Satono AladdinChilliFillyBrighthill FarmPhill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Waikato)$105,000
1034AlmanzorVin RougeFillyHighline ThoroughbredsKasa Bloodstock Ltd (Waikato)$100,000
1055MauriceZakaliciousFillyBrighthill FarmPhill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Waikato)$100,000
1077Satono AladdinArdereFillyRich Hill StudCiaron Maher Bloodstock (Victoria)$100,000
1099AlmanzorCapblamoColtGrangewilliam StudWallace Thoroughbreds Ltd (Auckland)$100,000

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Top Lots

LOTSIREDAMSEXVENDORBUYERPRICE
0790Time TestKerreColtLeanach Lodge LtdPaul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing (Queensland)$220,000
0896ProisirPolsonFillyRich Hill StudBallymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato)$170,000
0907ArdrossanPwerfectColtLandsdowne Park LtdBenner Racing Ltd (Manawatu-Whanganui)$165,000
1081Ancient SpiritBack DateFillyInglewood StudBallymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato)$160,000
0795ArdrossanLa DonnaColtLandsdowne Park LtdLilywhites Lodge Ltd (Auckland)$155,000
0944ProisirSentitoFillyBeckam EquineMr RA James / Mr R Wellwood (Waikato)$150,000
0935Ace HighSavasongColtSeaton Park LtdKasa Bloodstock Ltd (Waikato)$140,000
0731Sun CityFlippity LassFillyWestbury StudBenner Racing Ltd (Manawatu-Whanganui)$130,000
0892El RocaPhoenixColtWestbury StudMs R Carter (Auckland)$130,000
0723Time TestFascino LassColtHGT Bloodstock LtdJohn Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong)$120,000
0815GruntLittle RockFillyBrighthill FarmMr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau)$120,000
1029ArdrossanVenetian RaiderColtSeaton Park LtdBell Racing (Waikato)$120,000
1122WroteCrackerColtHighviewHY Investments (Malaysia)$120,000

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Purchasers by Aggregate

PURCHASERBOUGHTAGGREGATETOP PRICETOP LOT
Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman10$788,500$170,000896
Wallace Thoroughbreds Ltd7$388,500$100,0001099
Lisa Latta Racing Stables7$340,500$90,000980
Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing3$327,000$220,000790
Patrick Payne5$302,500$75,000976
Richardson Racing Stables3$300,000$110,0001088
Benner Racing Ltd2$295,000$165,000907
John Foote Bloodstock4$277,500$120,000723
Rogerson Bloodstock4$263,000$75,0001082
Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ)4$260,000$105,0001108

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Vendors by Aggregate

VENDOROFFEREDSOLDAGGREGATEAVERAGETOP PRICETOP LOT
Westbury Stud1716$992,500$62,031$130,000892
Rich Hill Stud1412$779,500$64,958$170,000896
Haunui Farm2623$720,000$31,304$77,500925
Landsdowne Park Ltd1111$702,000$63,818$165,000907
Seaton Park Ltd1919$638,000$33,579$140,000935
Ralph Thoroughbreds99$510,000$56,667$110,0001049
Highview97$487,500$69,643$120,0001122
Brighthill Farm109$427,500$47,500$120,000815
Highline Thoroughbreds99$427,500$47,500$100,0001034
Mapperley Stud Ltd119$416,000$46,222$100,000773

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)

VENDOROFFEREDSOLDAVERAGETOP LOTTOP PRICE
Inglewood Stud33$98,3331081$160,000
Highview127$69,6431122$120,000
Beckam Equine43$68,333944$150,000
Rich Hill Stud1912$64,958896$170,000
Landsdowne Park Ltd1311$63,818907$165,000
Westbury Stud2716$62,031892$130,000
Beaufort Downs Ltd64$58,750980$90,000
Ralph Thoroughbreds129$56,6671049$110,000
HGT Bloodstock Ltd106$54,167723$120,000
Platinum Bloodstock53$53,833690$100,000

Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)

SIREOFFEREDSOLDAVERAGETOP PRICETOP LOT
Ardrossan86$103,917$165,000907
Satono Aladdin65$72,000$105,0001108
Wrote107$71,357$120,0001122
Cosmic Force44$61,250$90,0001123
U S Navy Flag87$57,714$90,0001046
Redwood117$54,929$80,000711
Hello Youmzain*65$53,200$90,000980
War Decree75$53,000$100,000846
Ace High148$52,875$140,000935
Almanzor139$49,556$100,0001099

*First season sire