Unique Ready to Run Sale Defies Odds

Lot 195, the Pierro colt, was purchased out of Riversley Park’s draft by Mathew Becker for $640,000. Photo: Mike Walen

Momentum continued on the final day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2021 Ready to Run Sale off the back of a positive first day, with a strong market demanding quality juveniles that fetched significant price tags.

NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was jubilant over the efforts of the auction house, consignors and agents.

“This is a culmination of a huge effort from all industry participants.”

“The consignors provided an exceptional level of service this year, not only with the standard of preparation but also the quality of their marketing via social media and other channels.

“The kiwi agents also made their presence felt by going above and beyond to assist clients both domestically and from afar.

“I am immensely proud of our team at NZB, with all the work they have put in behind the scenes to make the sale happen.

“I think what we have achieved with no international buyers on the grounds, and no horses physically present is phenomenal and I couldn’t be more pleased by what has been accomplished over the last two days,” Seabrook said.

Remarkably, the 2021 edition of the sale saw 37 two-year-olds sell over the $200,000 threshold, in comparison to 25 in 2020 and 30 in 2019.

The highlight of day two came via NZB’s online bidding platform, which served for another solid day of trading accounting for 51% of lots sold and turning over more than $9.5 million remotely.

Mathew Becker of Group 1 Bloodstock purchased Lot 195 online from across the Tasman. The Pierro colt out of Fastnet Rock mare Mary Lou was purchased for $625,000, proving popular amongst domestic and international buyers.

Becker was thrilled to have secured the top-class colt in partnership with Busuttin Racing and Ozzie Kheir from Riversley Park’s draft.  

“The horse will be going to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, who have had great results out of the Ready to Run Sale.”

“We were keen to target some really nice lots and this guy was one of the top picks. We really only targeted two or three horses coming in and we’re so thrilled to be able to land him,” he said.

Becker was also involved in the purchase of Lot 218, with a suspenseful bidding duel taking place between the floor and online punters over the Sacred Falls colt out of Savabeel mare Movie (NZ) from Ohukia Lodge’s draft.

The half-brother to recent Group One winner Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci) hails from the famous Waikato Stud family and was knocked down for $600,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing and Becker’s Group 1 Bloodstock banner.

The third highest purchase of the day was secured by renowned agent Dean Hawthorne, who purchased Lot 238 for $400,000 in partnership with prominent Hong Kong buyer Ricky Yiu.

The colt was by sire of the moment Deep Field out of Petit Cheval (Denman) and was secured from Riversley Park’s draft.

Hawthorne commented on his experience purchasing at the 2021 edition of the virtual sale.

“The market is very strong for the good horses, which surprised me,” he said.

“I can only imagine what it is going to be like when everyone is back in New Zealand. When you’ve got 150-odd people looking over them, the middle market will strengthen, so it can only get better.

“The top end has amazed me really, and it’s great to see the pinhookers going well.

“It holds the sale up and the pinhookers that do this for their living are very good at it. They produce great horses and that’s why the top end of this Sale will always hold up,” Hawthorne said.  

Riversley Park’s Sam Beatson. Photo: Supplied

For the fifth consecutive year, Sam and Hana Beatson and their team at Riversley Park claimed their throne as the leading consignor by aggregate, selling $4,657,500 worth of two-year-old stock.

“We’re very proud, it was a bit unexpected this year but to pull that off again it was great,” commented Sam Beatson. “It’s all about doing the best for your clients and the horses, and if you can get a good average and top the sale then that’s a bonus.”

Regal Farm topped the leading consignor by average table, selling three horses for an average price of $213,333.

To make enquiries about any Passed Lots contact Kane Jones by calling +64 27 274 4985 or emailing kane.jones@nzb.co.nz or Regan Donnison by calling +64 21 512 466 or emailing regan.donnison@nzb.co.nz .

Catch all of the Ready to Run Sale highlights on NZB’s Sale TV channel here.

2021 Ready to Run Sale Statistics

 2021 Ready to Run Sale (Virtual)2020 Ready to Run Sale2019 Ready to Run Sale
Aggregate$20,547,000$17,639,500$23,585,500
Average$121,580$95,349$91,772
Median$80,000$60,000$60,000
Clearance66%77%74%
Catalogued322311414
Offered256240348
Sold169185257
Top LotLot 107 $640,000 Savabeel – Etiquette (Br.C)Lot 298 $700,000 (B.C) Savabeel – Miss OpulenceLot 375 $550,000 (Br.C) Shamus Award – Exchanges

Top Lots

LotTypeBreedingConsignorPurchaserPrice
107BR.CSavabeel / EtiquetteOhukia Lodge LtdMr DC Ellis (Te Akau)$640,000
195BR.CPierro / Mary LouRiversley Park LtdBusuttin Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock / Ozzie Kheir (Victoria)$625,000
218BR.CSacred Falls / MovieOhukia Lodge LtdBjorn Baker Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (New South Wales)$600,000
44BR.CDeep Field / Bang OnRiversley Park LtdMr Jimmy Ting (Hong Kong)$470,000
238B.CDeep Field / Petit ChevalRiversley Park LtdMr R Yiu / Mr D Hawthorne (Hong Kong)$400,000
64B.CDeep Field / CarlinaRegal FarmMr Me Tsui (Hong Kong)$350,000
229B.GSavabeel / Okahu BayWoburn FarmWaikato Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Hong Kong)$350,000
114BR.CSavabeel / Fast CompanyRiverrock FarmMr DC Ellis (Te Akau)$340,000
12B.CAlmanzor / TricoteusePhoenix ParkMcEvoy Mitchell Racing / Bevan Smith Bloodstock (South Australia)$330,000
103Ch.CCapitalist / Emirates ComfortKilgravin LodgeMr R Yiu / Mr D Hawthorne (Hong Kong)$320,000
139BR.GPer Incanto / Great ExpectationsRiversley Park LtdAnnabel Neasham Racing (New South Wales)$310,000
291BR.CVadamos / SelenusRiversley Park LtdTrilogy Racing (New South Wales)$305,000
73B.CSacred Falls / Cheryl Moana MarieOhukia Lodge LtdBusuttin Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock (Victoria)$300,000
161BR.CSafeguard / KerimbaWoburn FarmAmanda Turner Racing (New South Wales)$300,000
271B.CReal Impact / RoseitoWoburn FarmBusuttin Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (Victoria)$290,000

Leading Purchasers by Aggregate

PurchaserBoughtAggregateAverageTop PriceTop LotState
Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)11$2,050,000$215,556$640,000107Te Akau
Mr Jimmy Ting (Hong Kong)3$820,000$273,333$470,00044Hong Kong
Mr R Yiu / Mr D Hawthorne (Hong Kong)2$720,000$360,000$400,000238Hong Kong
Waikato Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Hong Kong)3$700,000$233,333$350,000229Hong Kong
Upper Bloodstock (Hong Kong)3$645,000$215,000$260,000308Hong Kong
Busuttin Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock / Ozzie Kheir (Victoria)1$625,000$625,000$625,000195Victoria
Bjorn Baker Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (New South Wales)1$600,000$600,000$600,000218New South Wales
Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Hong Kong)3$580,000$193,333$280,000292Hong Kong
Busuttin Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock (Victoria)2$550,000$275,000$300,00073Victoria
Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Victoria)5$502,000$100,400$260,000321Victoria

Leading Consignors by Aggregate

ConsignorEntriesSoldAggregateAverageTop PriceTop Lot
Riversley Park3422$4,657,500$211,705$625,000195
Ohukia Lodge3219$3,985,000$209,737$640,000107
Woburn Farm2212$1,745,000$145,417$350,000229
Kilgravin Lodge1612$1,645,000$137,083$320,000103
Riverrock Farm116$1,015,000$169,167$340,000114
Phoenix Park96$805,000$134,167$330,00012
Lilywhites Lodge168$777,500$97,188$250,000247
Westbury Stud3116$669,000$41,813$120,000182
Regal Farm43$640,000$213,333$350,00064
KB Bloodstock128$605,000$75,625$180,00021

Leading Consignors by Average (three or more sold)

ConsignorEntriesSoldAverageAggregateTop PriceTop Lot
Regal Farm43$213,333$640,000$350,00064
Riversley Park Ltd3422$211,705$4,657,500$625,000195
Ohukia Lodge Ltd3219$209,737$3,985,000$640,000107
Riverrock Farm116$169,167$1,015,000$340,000114
Woburn Farm2212$145,417$1,745,000$350,000229
Kilgravin Lodge1612$137,083$1,645,000$320,000103
Phoenix Park96$134,167$805,000$330,00012
Lilywhites Lodge168$97,188$777,500$250,000247
Cheltenham Stables86$85,583$513,500$280,000292
Leanach Lodge Ltd53$80,000$240,000$120,000193

Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)

SireEntriesSoldAverageAggregateTop PriceTop Lot
Savabeel107$286,429$2,005,000$640,000107
Deep Field97$262,857$1,840,000$470,00044
Sacred Falls177$255,714$1,790,000$600,000218
Per Incanto1610$154,500$1,545,000$310,000139
Almanzor*75$154,000$770,000$330,00012
Satono Aladdin*84$152,500$610,000$250,000221
War Decree*33$146,667$440,000$225,000204
Iffraaj65$137,200$686,000$260,000308
Tarzino144$108,750$435,000$250,000247
Shamexpress64$98,750$395,000$200,00046


*First Season Sires