Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
At A Glance
A total of 97 horses were sold on Day 2 at an aggregate of NZ$13,173,000 and an average of NZ$138,840. Across the two days, 329 lots were catalogued, of which 257 were offered and 195 were sold.
The overall sale aggregate jumped to NZ$25,186,000, up from NZ$20,547,000 in 2021 (the sale was held virtually), while the average across the two days to NZ$129,159, up from the 2021 figure of NZ$121,580.
The overall median remained the same as last year – NZ$80,000 and clearance rate skyrocketed to an impressive 76 per cent, up 10 per cent on 2021.
A Capitalist colt (Lot 258), the only one offered at over the two-day auction, was the headline act, with bloodstock agent John Foote going to NZ$625,000 and he will join David Hall's Hong Kong-based stable.
Jamie Richards/Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) was the leading buyer by aggregate. They bought five lots together at an aggregate of NZ$1,375,000, and an average of NZ$275,000.
Meanwhile, Williams also paid NZ$550,000 for a colt (Lot 307) by Hellbent colt from the Kilgravin Lodge draft.
The top end of the market was dominated by horses bound for Hong Kong, with seven of the 10 top lots headed to the Asian jurisdiction.
Foote Capitalises on golden opportunity
Capitalist has hit the ground running in Hong Kong and a son by the Newgate Farm resident will be heading to the Asian jurisdiction after prominent bloodstock agent John Foote went to a sale-topping NZ$625,000 on the final day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale for a colt by the high-class stallion.
Catalogued as Lot 258, the colt is out of the winning Sebring mare Sebrina and was offered by Regal Farm. A grandson of the Group 3-winning mare Crown Princess (Beautiful Crown {USA}), he breezed in a slick 10.31s.
Initially purchased by Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) / Silverdale Farm for $250,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, he was later passed in at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale before Regal Farm/Upper Bloodstock paid $155,000 for him at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud.
Lot 258 - Capitalist x Sebrina (colt) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer David Hall will train the chestnut colt and Foote told TDN AusNZ there was plenty to like about the youngster.
“He’s very well-bred and had a lovely action on him,” Foot explained. “He’s one of the nicer horses here. My client decided that was the one he wanted to buy and that’s the one he bought.
“He’s just a very nice horse and everyone liked him and that’s why he made the money he made.”
“He’s (Lot 258) just a very nice horse and everyone liked him and that’s why he made the money he made.” - John Foote
Capitalist made the perfect start to racing in Hong Kong last Sunday when the Tony Cruz-trained debutant Superb Capitalist bolted in by 4.5l, almost breaking Master Eight’s (Oamaru Force) Class 4 record in the process.
The star sire made it two winners from as many runners when the Frankie Lor-trained Savvy Chic triumphed in Class 4 company at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
“He’s done well in Hong Kong so far with limited numbers,” Foote said. “It’s only early days, but he’s certainly one of the flavours of the month up there.”
“It’s only early days, but he’s (Capitalist) certainly one of the flavours of the month up there (Hong Kong).” - John Foote
This colt is Sebrina’s third foal and she won four races between 1300 to 1900 metres and finished third in the G3 James Carr S. in 2015.
Sebrina’s first foal, Gulf Of Tomini (Not A Single Doubt) is a 4-year-old gelding, who started his career with Anthony Cummings, but is now with Cassandra Schmidt at Port Macquarie. Sebrina’s second foal is an unraced 3-year-old colt by Exceed And Excel.
“The colt has a nice pedigree, there’s a bit there to back him up, which always helps with any horse. He’s from a Sebring mare and the second dam was Group 3 placed,” Foote added.
Andrew Williams and Jamie Richards active on Day 2
Another leading bloodstock agent, Andrew Williams of Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) was busy on Thursday, and by stumps, he had bought seven lots – five of them in tandem with fellow-Kiwi and now Hong Kong-based trainer Jamie Richards.
Williams was delighted with his haul and told TDN AusNZ it was a typically high-quality sale.
“I love coming back to New Zealand; I’ve got the utmost respect for the grass that these horses are either grown out on or the horsemanship of these guys, the vendors… it’s always a sale that produces a very good horse. You only have to look at Sharp ‘N’ Smart and there’s also Golden Sixty, the list goes on,” he said.
“I love coming back to New Zealand; I’ve got the utmost respect for the grass that these horses are either grown out on or the horsemanship of these guys, the vendors… it’s always a sale that produces a very good horse.” - Andrew Williams
“I’m very lucky to be able to purchase them.”
He paid NZ$550,000 for Lot 307 – a colt by Hellbent from the Magic Albert mare Title Holder, who was initially purchased at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by RTR Partnership / McKeever Bloodstock / Bevan Smith Bloodstock for $120,000 from the Yarraman Park Stud draft.
Offered by Kilgravin Lodge, the colt looked good in running 10.30s for his breeze.
“He was a lovely, athletic horse, he was a beautiful type,” Williams said. “We rate him one of the highest-rated horses in the sale on breeze, also physically, as well.
Andrew Williams | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He came highly recommended by the vendor and he is a very good horseman. He definitely gave the go-ahead for this horse.”
The colt will head to Australia and go through the system before his racing future is determined.
This is the fourth foal for Title Holder, who had just three starts and won over 800 metres. Her first foal, Titled Tycoon (Written Tycoon), added a third victory to her CV at Hawkesbury on Thursday, while her second foal, Title Shot, is a two-time winner.
This colt has an unraced 3-year-old sister Hell Of A Shambles, and after missing in 2021, Title Holder foaled another Hellbent filly in August.
Williams then teamed up with Jamie Richards to buy Lot 248 - an Almanzor (Fr) gelding from the Ohukia Lodge draft – for NZ$475,000.
He is the sixth foal of the winless Salkantay (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), a half-sister to Group 2 winner Te Akau Coup (NZ) (Thorn Park) and Listed victor Don Garcia (NZ) (Danehill {USA}). Salkantay’s second foal, Smiling Pride (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), won two Class 4 races in Hong Kong when trained by Jimmy Ting.
“It’s exciting, he’s a lovely middle-distance style of horse,” Williams explained. “I’ve got a lot of time for Almanzor and he’s out of a Zabeel mare, which is even better.
“He is a beautiful horse and we’ll try and get him up to Hong Kong and aim him up at the 4-year-old series.”
“He (Lot 248) is a beautiful horse and we’ll try and get him up to Hong Kong and aim him up at the 4-year-old series.” - Andrew Williams
Williams and Richards once again combined for Lot 262, paying NZ$330,000 for a Kilgravin Lodge-consigned Star Turn colt from the winning mare Sessantesimo (Flying Spur).
The Vinery Stud-based Star Turn has made his mark in Hong Kong, with all four of his runners victorious, including Group 3 scorer Cordyceps Six.
This colt’s dam, a winner at 1800 metres, is a sister to the two-time Listed winner Traveston Girl and this is her fifth foal. Sessantesimo has produced, among others, Sess (Pluck {USA}) – a winner at 2400 metres in South Africa, as well as Grandellie (Rubick) – a 1000-metre winner in Australia.
“Jamie identified this particular horse; he really liked this horse and thinks he’s perfect for Hong Kong. He obviously wants to build a stable around the horses he likes, so it’s exciting for him,” Williams said of the colt who breezed in 10.49s.
“Jamie (Richards) identified this particular horse (Lot 262); he really liked this horse and thinks he’s perfect for Hong Kong. He obviously wants to build a stable around the horses he likes, so it’s exciting for him.” - Andrew Williams
“We thought he was a good, strong, well-mannered horse that again came recommended from the vendor. He’s an exciting horse to be following over the next couple of years.”
Williams will take home Lot 231 – a colt by Deep Field from Ra Ra Epic (Drumbeats), who registered a time of 10.81s for his breeze-up.
This is the first foal for the dam, who won three races in Queensland. She is a sister to Bergerac, who won two 10 races, including two in Listed grade, and a three-quarter sister to Group 3 victor turned sire Ardrossan. Ra Epic is also a half-sister to G1 Caulfield Cup hero Incentivise (Shamus Award) and Listed winner Cheyenne Warrior (Not A Single Doubt).
Lot 231 - Deep Field x Ra Ra Epic (colt) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“He’s a fantastic sire up there in Hong Kong. There’s going to be less and less of them over the next few years, so I think the demand will go up and up,” Williams commented.
The colt was a member of the Riversley Park draft, and they bought him in partnership with broadcaster and journalist Michael Guerin for $200,000 at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds.
“This horse came highly recommended by Sam Beatson (owner of Riversley Park) as a real Hong Kong horse. He’s obviously a horse with a good pedigree, being out of a sister to Incentivise and Ardrossan,” Williams commented.
“This horse (Lot 231) came highly recommended by Sam Beatson (owner of Riversley Park) as a real Hong Kong horse. He’s obviously a horse with a good pedigree, being out of a sister to Incentivise and Ardrossan.” - Andrew Williams
“He’s your quintessential Hong Kong horse, bought by one of my favourite clients, and he will be gelded on Friday, have a Christmas in New Zealand, he’ll go to the trials early in the autumn with the potential to head up to Hong Kong in probably June or July into the new season.”
Williams and Richards’ other purchases on Thursday were Lot 209 – a Sweynesse colt from the Ohukia Lodge draft, which they paid NZ$210,000 for; Lot 254 – a Vancouver gelding from the Pertab Racing draft, which cost them NZ$160,000; and Lot 265 – a Tarzino (NZ) colt offered by Westbury Stud, which made NZ$200,000.
Well-related Justify colt Asia bound
Morgan Carter Bloodstock parted with NZ$520,000 for Lot 249 – a Justify (USA) colt from Santa Clara (Foxwedge), who breezed in 10.47s and was offered by Ohukia Lodge.
The colt’s dam won over 1200 metres and she is a three-quarter sister to the dual Listed winner Gybe (Fastnet Rock), who is the dam of Listed winner Crosswinds (Written Tycoon). Santa Clara is also a half-sister to the two-time Group 1 winner Anabandana (Anabaa {USA}), and she herself is the dam of Group 2 victor Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock).
“I can tell you right now, you feel nerves when you go up on to the rostrum as an auctioneer, and that’s one thing, but this is different,” Carter told the New Zealand Racing desk. “I thought I was pretty relaxed right up until about two lots before the horse went through.
“I was a bit nervous, but it’s my first proper order from the Ready to Run Sale for Hong Kong, and now I’m really, really excited.
“My day-to-day role is mainly private sales off the track, so I hadn’t really given much time to buying from the sales until now, just because of the other business and my auctioneering work taking up that time as well.
“But we wanted one decent horse from the Ready to Run Sale today, and that was it.”
Bought on behalf of his regular client, Hong Kong trainer Michael Chang, Morgan is hopeful their good run of success can continue.
“Over the years that I’ve been forging a business in Hong Kong, Michael and I have done a bit of business together,” Carter said. “I recently got him a horse called Ching, who just came out to run a huge second the other day at Sha Tin.”
Santa Clara’s first foal, Mr Burrows (Sebring), in an unraced 3-year colt with Canberra-based trainer Matthew Dale.
This colt was first bought for $60,000 from the draft of Morning Rise Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Riversley Park on top yet again
Sam Beatson and the team at Riversley Park were celebrating at the conclusion of the two-dale sale, and well might they should, after taking out leading vendor honours for the sixth year on the bounce.
Of its 43 entries, Riversley Park sold 27 lots at an aggregate of NZ$5,192,500 and a recorded average of NZ$192,315. They had two colts make NZ$500,000 – a colt by Turn Me Loose (NZ) from Aypebe (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), which was purchased by Hong Kong-based trainer Caspar Fownes and a colt by Exceed And Excel which was snapped up by Magus Equine.
Seabrook stoked after buyers spend up on Day 2
New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) CEO, Andrew Seabrook, was justifiably over the moon at the conclusion of the sale, with the Day 2 figures off the charts.
The clearance rate leapt from 65 per cent on Day 1 to 76 per cent across the two days, with that latter figure up 10 per cent on last year, while the overall aggregate (+NZ$4,639,000) and overall average (+NZ$7579) both increased significantly.
Andrew Seabrook | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
In total, 17 lots realised NZ$300,000 or more.
“(Wednesday) I was satisfied, (Thursday) I am absolutely ecstatic,” a jubilant Seabrook told TDN AusNZ.
“This is my 30th 2-year-old sale, 30 years I’ve been with NZB, and it was the most incredible day of selling (Thursday), it was unbelievable.
“This is my 30th 2-year-old sale, 30 years I’ve been with NZB, and it was the most incredible day of selling (Thursday), it was unbelievable.” - Andrew Seabrook
“Buyers sat back and took it all in, whereas today, they just unleashed.
“We did over 80 per cent clearance (Thursday) and we’ve never done that before at a 2-year-old sale, with an average of NZ$135,000, which is unheard of.
“Overall, we’ve ended up at 75 per cent clearance, which is a really good clearance for a 2-year-old sale.”
Seabrook added that results were all the more satisfying, given the hardship everyone has endured over the past couple of years due to COVID.
“It was so great to see a lot of our Australian friends back, they haven’t been able to travel for so long,” he said. “Some of the big names were active and Hong Kong was really strong.
“And John Foote bought the top lot, the Capitalist colt, which was great; he’s been a huge supporter of NZB for many, many years, so that was great.
“I’m thrilled for the vendors; we’ve had a tough couple of years in New Zealand with the borders closed. To see how the sale went (Thursday) was huge.”
“I’m thrilled for the vendors; we’ve had a tough couple of years in New Zealand with the borders closed. To see how the sale went (Thursday) was huge.” - Andrew Seabrook
Top lots
| 258 | Capitalist | Sebrina | C | Regal Farm | John Foote Bloodstock | $625,000 |
| 307 | Hellbent | Title Holder | C | Kilgravin Lodge | Andrew Williams Bloodstock | $550,000 |
| 249 | Justify | Santa Clara | C | Ohukia Lodge Ltd | Morgan Carter Bloodstock | $520,000 |
| 248 | Almanzor | Salkantay | G | Ohukia Lodge Ltd | Jamie Richards Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock | $475,000 |
| 231 | Deep Field | Ra Ra Epic | C | Riversley Park Ltd | Andrew Williams Bloodstock | $460,000 |
| 318 | Russian Revolution | Virani | C | Ohukia Lodge Ltd | Lucky Owners | $400,000 |
| 276 | Written Tycoon | Snitzel Blitz | C | Riversley Park Ltd | Mr R Fownes | $380,000 |
| 235 | The Autumn Sun | Real Stolle | C | Kiltannon Stables Ltd | Worldwide Bloodstock | $330,000 |
| 262 | Star Turn | Sessantesimo | G | Kilgravin Lodge | Jamie Richards Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock | $330,000 |
| 174 | Per Incanto | Miss Bondi | C | Riversley Park Ltd | Liam Howley Racing | $320,000 |
Top buyers
| Jamie Richards Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) | 5 | $1,375,000 | $275,000 |
| Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $1,010,000 | $505,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $625,000 | $625,000 |
| Mr R Fownes | 2 | $560,000 | $280,000 |
| Morgan Carter Bloodstock | 1 | $520,000 | $520,000 |
| Lucky Owners | 1 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
| Liam Howley Racing | 2 | $355,000 | $177,500 |
| Dungowan Racing / Waikato Bloodstock | 2 | $350,000 | $175,000 |
| Worldwide Bloodstock | 1 | $330,000 | $330,000 |
| Provisional - Sold | 2 | $320,000 | $160,000 |
Vendors by aggregate (3 or more sold)
| Westbury Stud | 17 | $1,250,500 | $73,558 |
| Ohukia Lodge Ltd | 16 | $3,235,000 | $202,187 |
| Riversley Park Ltd | 12 | $2,210,000 | $184,166 |
| Lilywhites Lodge | 10 | $851,000 | $85,100 |
| Kilgravin Lodge | 7 | $1,360,000 | $194,285 |
| Prima Park | 5 | $670,000 | $134,000 |
| Regal Farm | 4 | $883,000 | $220,750 |
| Phoenix Park | 4 | $520,000 | $130,000 |
| KB Bloodstock | 4 | $485,000 | $121,250 |
| Pertab Racing | 3 | $470,000 | $156,666 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Regal Farm | 4 | $220,750 | $883,000 |
| Ohukia Lodge Ltd | 16 | $202,187 | $3,235,000 |
| Kilgravin Lodge | 7 | $194,285 | $1,360,000 |
| Riversley Park Ltd | 12 | $184,166 | $2,210,000 |
| Pertab Racing | 3 | $156,666 | $470,000 |
| Prima Park | 5 | $134,000 | $670,000 |
| Phoenix Park | 4 | $130,000 | $520,000 |
| KB Bloodstock | 4 | $121,250 | $485,000 |
| Lilywhites Lodge | 10 | $85,100 | $851,000 |
| Riverrock Farm | 3 | $75,000 | $225,000 |
Sires by aggregate (3 or more sold)
| Almanzor | 3 | $682,500 | $227,500 |
| Charm Spirit | 3 | $530,000 | $176,666 |
| Tarzino | 4 | $515,000 | $128,750 |
| Sacred Falls | 3 | $475,000 | $158,333 |
| U S Navy Flag | 5 | $375,000 | $75,000 |
| Swiss Ace | 3 | $345,000 | $115,000 |
| Reliable Man | 5 | $307,500 | $61,500 |
| Ocean Park | 4 | $235,000 | $58,750 |
| Preferment | 3 | $220,000 | $73,333 |
| Belardo | 3 | $205,000 | $68,333 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Almanzor | 3 | $227,500 | $682,500 |
| Charm Spirit | 3 | $176,666 | $530,000 |
| Sacred Falls | 3 | $158,333 | $475,000 |
| Tarzino | 4 | $128,750 | $515,000 |
| Swiss Ace | 3 | $115,000 | $345,000 |
| U S Navy Flag | 5 | $75,000 | $375,000 |
| Preferment | 3 | $73,333 | $220,000 |
| Belardo | 3 | $68,333 | $205,000 |
| Time Test | 3 | $65,333 | $196,000 |
| Reliable Man | 5 | $61,500 | $307,500 |
| Ocean Park | 4 | $58,750 | $235,000 |
| Redwood | 3 | $58,333 | $175,000 |
| Telperion | 3 | $22,666 | $68,000 |
