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Seven-figure filly puts exclamation mark on success New Zealand yearling sale
New Zealand Bloodstock is toasting another successful Karaka Yearling Sale after the main book of the 2023 offering produced New Zealand's second seven-figure yearling in the past four years and generated key performance indicators that were all up on last year.
David Ellis and Te Akau Racing paid NZ$1 million for a daughter of Fastnet Rock and the Testa Rossa mare Test The World on Tuesday's third day, which proved the headline lot of Book 1.
After the three days of Book 1, NZ$70,063,000 had changed hands at an average of $151,980 with a median of $130,000 and a 79 percent clearance rate.
Last year's sale grossed $63,127,500 at an average of $146,808 with a $100,000 median and 77 percent clearance rate.
Ta Akau's big buy matched the price paid for the brother to Mo'Unga (Savabeel x Chandelier) at last year's sale, with those two the equal highest-priced yearlings in New Zealand since the horse now known as No Limits – who is a brother to I wish I Win – sold for $1.4m in 2019.
The Fastnet Rock filly was one of 27 yearlings bought by Ellis for a total of $6,115,000, at an average $226,481, which left him as the sale's leading buyer for the 18th straight year.
"I've bought some pretty good fillies over the years – Avantage, of course, was by the same sire – (and) I have had a lot of luck out of this sale with fillies I have really liked," Ellis said.
"The quality this year was extremely high and the breeders have done an excellent job.
"They've had a great growing season this year and I think there will be some excellent horses that come out of this sale in a few years' time."
Waikato Stud was leading vendor by gross, selling 52 yearlings for a total of $7,742,500, while Trelawney (12 yearlings sold at $248,333 each) and Curraghmore (23 at $244,565) topped the averages for those towards the head of the vendors' chart.
Pierro was the leading sire by average, with five lots selling for $352,000 a piece, while Too Darn Hot was the standout first season sire, having four lots sell at an average of $315,000, including the $750,000 colt out of Lady Sayyida who was the second most expensive lot of the week.
Karara 2023 headline lots
$1 million – Lot 586 (Fastnet Rock x Test The World): Curraghmore-sold daughter of enduring Coolmore stallion who is the second foal from a Testa Rossa mare who is the half-sister to the dams of Listed winners The Travelling Man and Unanimously.
$750,000 – Lot 294 (Too Darn Hot x Lady Sayyida colt): By well-received first season stallion from a half-sister to Ocean Park and the dam of Grunt who has already produced Excelida. Bought by Cameron Cooke and will be trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
$625,000 – Lot 59 (Savabeel x Bayrock colt): Another bought by Te Akau Racing by New Zealand's champion stallion from a sister to Merchant Navy who is the dam of Stakes winner Hindaam.
$625,000 – Lot 616 (Super Seth x Valpolicella filly): By Caulfield Guineas-winning first season sire who is out of a Group 3-winning Red Ransom mare who has had five to race, including Stakes performers Vavasour, Vilanova, Celebrity Dream and Rondinella. She will eventually end up in Sydney, where she will be trained by John Sargent.
$600,000 – Lot 97 (Savabeel x Chiaretta filly): Daughter of Makfi who is a half-sister to Members Joy, the dam of Group 2 winner Pure Elation. Will be trained by Andrew Forsman, who bought in partnership with Andy Williams and Bevan Smith.
$500,000 – Lot 344 (Pierro x Meleka Belle): Half-sister to 14-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle who will be trained by Annabel Neasham after being bought by Tim Stakemire on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum.