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Book 2 figures down compared to 2019 sale
New Zealand Bloodstock's 94th National Yearling Sale Series ended on Friday with the final session of Book 2 which was immediately followed by Book 3.
Figures for Book 2 were down on those achieved during the 2019 renewal. In 2020 282 lots sold for NZ$9,873,500 compared to 2019 when 246 lots sold for NZ$9,743,000. The average fell 12 per cent from NZ$39,606 to NZ$35,012 whilst the median dropped 16.7 per cent from NZ$30,000 in 2019 to NZ$25,000. The clearance rate also fell four per cent from 73 per cent in 2019 to 69 per cent this year.
Friday's Book 2 session was topped by Lot 1097, a colt by Preferment (Zabeel) out of winning mare Essayez (Excellent Art) who was bought by Guy Mulcaster for NZ$120,000 from the draft of Hallmark Stud.
The colt is the second foal out of the dam and he comes from the family of Group winners Spring Heat (More Than Ready) and Deferential (Royal Academy).
"We bought Preferment here at Karaka and we have supported him. I brought Chris Waller to have a look at a few of them the other day and we ended up buying two," Mulcaster said.
"He then said we should probably get one more and we have a loyal group of owners who are going to race him together. We bought two beautiful colts and a filly, so we are going to have a bit of fun with them."
Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables finished Book 2 as the leading purchaser having spent NZ$396,500 on seven lots and also topped the sale having bought a colt from the first crop of Rich Hill Stud-based sire Vadamos (Monsun) for NZ$185,000.
Highview were the leading vendor by aggregate in Book 2 selling 23 yearlings for NZ$906,000 at an average of NZ$39,391 and top price of NZ$115,000. Highden Park were the leading vendor by average (with three or more lots sold) with six yearlings having sold for a total of NZ$473,000 at an average of NZ$78,833.
Responsible for the Book 2 topper, Vadamos found himself at the head of the leading sires table by average (with 3 or more lots sold) with his nine yearlings selling for NZ$562,500 at an average of NZ$62,500.
In a new format for 2020, Book 3 followed on and saw 66 yearlings sell for NZ$698,500 at an average of NZ$10,583 and median of NZ$7,500 with 67 per cent of horses sold.
Book 3 was topped by Lot 1167, a colt by Keeper (Danehill) out of the unraced mare Lucky J'Abeel (Lucky Unicorn) who was bought by Hong Kong Bloodstock agent Paul Chow under his Tartan Meadow banner for NZ$65,000 from the draft of Platinum Bloodstock.
"He was a very nice type," said Chow.
"He's correct, athletic, by a proven sire and from a good family. There's a lot to like about him.
"He is from the Denise's Joy family. I am actually very surprised to find a pedigree of that class in Book 3, so it's a no-brainer this horse."
"Out of all the ones I have seen in Book 3 he stands out by a long way. I would have gone a fair bit more (than NZ$65,000) to make sure I got him."
