The New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale came to a close on Sunday at Karaka with a filly by Novar Park Stud's Sweynesse the top lot for Book 3, selling for $50,000.
The first-season sires fared well in Book 3, which saw 123 of the 179 lots sold for an aggregate of $1,229,250 with an average of $9,994 and a median of $7,000.
The numbers were both down on 2018, which saw total sales of $1.537m and an average of $13,608.
“Overall, trade is back on last year as the industry works towards improving the state of racing in New Zealand,” NZB’s Bloodstock Sales Manager Danny Rolston said.
“Despite that, there was plenty of action on the right lots."
“We saw good clearance rates achieved for popular sires, including first season Sweynesse and The Bold One, with Sweynesse on top of the sires table and achieving the highest price of the day.
Sweynesse had sold seven lots in Books 1 and 2 earlier in the week and another seven were sold on Sunday, including Lot 1090, for an aggregate of $101,750.
Out of Happy Endings (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), the daughter of four-time Group One winner Snap (NZ) (Kingdom Bay {NZ}), Lot 1090 was offered by Brighthill Farm and sold to Paul Moroney who purchased in partnership with the New Zealand Chinese Jockey Club.
Lot 1090 Sweynesse x Happy Endings filly
“I selected her for The New Zealand Chinese Jockey Club, it is the first time they have used my advice to buy a horse,” Moroney said.
“I think she is a cracking filly, I thought she was the standout in Book 3 without any doubt. "
“Myself and my partner Catherine looked at every horse on the complex in Book 3 and she was our standout. By the time we finished our second looks on the ones that we had uncovered, she was a fair way better than the other horses. "
“Myself and my partner Catherine looked at every horse on the complex in Book 3 and she (Lot 1090) was our standout." - Paul Moroney
“When you see a filly like that with the pedigree she has got, we try and get them bought and fortunately Alan (Fu) from the New Zealand Chinese Jockey Club was happy to back our judgment and she has been secured.”
Moroney said she was purchased with next year’s Karaka Million 2YO in-mind.
“I think she could be a chance to get up and run at two. She has got a lot of natural muscle about her, good forearms, gaskins and square-hind quarters. She has got a lot of quality about her,” Moroney said.
Paul Moroney
There was also enthusiasm for fellow first-season sire The Bold One (NZ), who had four lots on sale in Book 3.
Lot 1265 went for $28,000 to the bid of Shane Crawford’s Regal Farm Partnership operation.
Offered by Grangewilliam Stud, the colt is out of Coimbrea (Mossman), making him a half-brother to Hong Kong winner Lamarosa (Postponed {Ire}).
Kalpira Lodge picked up Lot 1280, by Coats Choice, for $26,000, while there were five lots that went for $25,000, including two lots by Westbury Stud’s Redwood (GB).
Greene Racing bought Lot 1124 and AOK stables purchased Lot 1135 by the imported stallion.
That saw Redwood head the averages for Book 3 with six lots at an average of $14,833.
Long Acres Stud sold nine lots to lead the vendor aggregates with $100,000, while Hallmark Stud were the leading vendor by average at $15,333.
The busiest buyers on the day were Dean Wiles from Warrior Stables with 11 purchases and Kevin Myers, who secured eight horses.
The attention of the Australasian sales season now turns to Sydney for the Inglis Classic Sale which starts next Saturday at the Riverside Stables.
