At A Glance

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Te Akau’s David Ellis landed the Sale-topper when he went to NZ$800,000 for a daughter of Zoustar, Lot 94, offered by Pencarrow Stud.

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Ellis had earlier outlaid NZ$625,000 for a Written Tycoon colt, Lot 52, who was consigned by Woburn Farm on behalf of breeder Sir Patrick Hogan.

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Day 1 aggregate reached NZ$17,047,500 at an average of NZ$130,134, a median of NZ$100,000 and a clearance rate of 73 per cent.

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The 2020 aggregate was NZ$21,952,500 at an average of NZ$145,381, the median was NZ$110,000 and a clearance rate of 73 per cent.

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Ellis purchased 12 lots for a total spend of NZ$2,540,00 including the two highest-priced lots, at an average of NZ$211,666.

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Trainer Graeme Rogerson was active with seven purchases, including colts by Savabeel, Lot 5, and Almanzor (Fr), Lot 7, for NZ$300,000 apiece.

Coolmore gets involved

While overseas visitors were absent from Karaka, Ellis ensured major international participation when he purchased the Zoustar filly out of Pencarrow Stud’s draft and then disclosed Te Akau would be racing the well-related youngster with a partnership, including global powerhouse Coolmore.

“John Magnier said he wanted to support Karaka this year and that he would like to take a share in the best filly,” Ellis said. “I thought she was the best in the Sale and John has taken a good-sized share in her.”

Also involved will be an unnamed Hong Kong-based client with Te Akau also remaining in the ownership, and a remaining small stake expected to be quickly snapped up.

“We have a very good friend and client in Hong Kong, who has raced a lot of horses with Te Akau,” Ellis said.

The daughter of Zoustar is out of Scintillula (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G3 Leopardstown S. and finished runner-up in the G1 Curragh Moyglare Stud S. and both of her foals to race have been successful.

Rich pedigree

Scintillula is a sister to the G3 Royal Ascot Albany S. winner and G1 Thousand Guineas second Cuis Ghaire (Ire) and the Listed winner The Major General (Ire).

Another sister Gile Na Greine (Ire) was a winner and twice placed at Group 1 level in the Royal Ascot Coronation S. and the G1 Thousand Guineas.

“She’s got the pedigree and the athleticism and we think she’s a 1000 Guineas filly who can train on to be an Oaks filly,” Ellis said. “It’s very rare to see a filly at Karaka with her pedigree.

“She is as nice a filly as I’ve bought and I thought I might have to go to NZ$1 million to get the Sale-topping filly.”

Ellis said the form of the Jamie Richards-trained Avantage (Fastnet Rock) hadn’t escaped Magnier’s attention and played a part in him forming an alliance with Te Akau.

“He has been very impressed with the job we have done with Avantage. She has won six Group 1 races from 1200 to 2000 metres, more Group 1s than any other Fastnet Rock."

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Pencarrow Stud Manager Leon Casey said the youngster had received plenty of attention in the lead-up expected her to be extremely popular.

“She is a top-class filly in every way. We had lots of interest from many good judges, including many New Zealanders as underbidders.

“She is a lovely type. You can see the Zoustar quality as well as the Galileo strength, plenty of quality and depth.”

Steady as she goes

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was cautiously optimistic in the weeks leading into the Sale, with both vendors and buyers remaining positive and he was satisfied with the Day 1 results.

“It was a pleasing start to the week ahead given the current circumstances and being the first time since Phar Lap was sold that international buyers have not been on the grounds here in New Zealand,” he said.

“It was great to see confidence from the domestic market with a number of trainers, syndicators and buyers coming out strong on the first day.

“Earlier in the week, I had accepted that a 10 per cent decrease on last year’s average would be a pleasing result, so we are tracking well.

“It was also great to see the amount of participation on our online bidding platform, with 41 per cent of the yearlings offered today receiving online bids,” said Seabrook.

The Day 1 aggregate reached NZ$17,047,500 at an average of NZ$130,134, a median of NZ$100,000 and a clearance rate of 73 per cent.

The 2020 aggregate during the first session was NZ$21,952,500 at an average of NZ$145,381, the median was NZ$110,000 and a clearance rate of 73 per cent.

Colt ticks all boxes

Ellis was shopping for a colt with the precocity to enhance his future stallion profile and the Te Akau chief believes he hit the jackpot with a Written Tycoon youngster.

He was happy to stretch the budget to NZ$625,000 on Sunday afternoon in his successful pursuit of Lot 52, a son of the stakes winner Pussy O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

The youngster was bred by Sir Patrick Hogan and offered on his behalf by Adrian Stanley and Hannah Kettlety’s Woburn Farm.

“I first saw him in early December and I’m looking for colts that can run in the Karaka Million and the G1 Golden Slipper S. and then come back here and go to stud. This colt meets all the criteria,” Ellis said.

The son of Written Tycoon is out of Pussy O’Reilly, who won the Listed Flying H. and finished runner-up in the G1 Makfi Challenge S. She is a three-quarter sister to the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. winner Pussy Willow (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

“He’s a beautiful colt from a really good family and I’m thrilled to have him. He went for a bit more than I thought, but to get these top colts you have to pay more,” Ellis said.

It is a family that Haunui Farm has also enjoyed great success with, most notably through the G3 Manawatu Classic winner Valpolicella (Red Ransom {USA}), dam of the Group 2 winners Vavasour (Redoute’s Choice) and Vilanova (Commands).

“This colt is very athletic and has Karaka Million written all over him. He was bred by Sir Patrick and I fell in love with him the first time I saw him,” Ellis said. “I think he’s one of the top three colts in the Sale.”

The purchase came off the back of Richards producing On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) to spearhead a first-four result in Saturday’s R. Listed Karaka Million and Te Akau’s fifth consecutive winner of the feature.

“We have got huge interest from people who want to buy shares and I’ll be buying at all budgets and everyone is welcome to join the team,” Ellis said. “I think there will be value here, but maybe not on the top colts who will look after themselves.”

Vendor Stanley said the Written Tycoon colt was on the market when bidding hit NZ$180,000.

“He is a quality individual. He definitely has the wow factor, but is also easy to work with, a quick thinker,” Stanley said. “He has gone to a great stable. I couldn’t be happier that Jamie has him, he’ll be given all the right opportunities.”

Early double for Rogerson

Tuhikaramea trainer Graeme Rogerson was quickly into action on the first morning with a pair of NZ$300,000 purchases within the first 20 minutes.

He moved first for Lot 5, a son of Savabeel presented by Waikato Stud and a family known well to him, and the doubled up for Lot 7, a son of first-season sire Almanzor (Fr) offered by Cambridge Stud.

The Savabeel colt is out of the unraced Pins mare On Broadway (NZ) and she is a sister to the dam of Dowager Queen (NZ) (Savabeel), who won three Listed events for Rogerson.

She also finished runner-up in the G1 VRC Oaks and third in both the G1 Flight S. and G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. and was twice Group 1-placed. The pedigree page also features the presence of the G1 Patinack Classic winner Swick (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}).

The sale provided Waikato Stud with an early windfall after pre-listing the colt would be on the market at NZ$150,000 or near offer.

The first youngster by Almanzor to grace the Karaka ring had earlier got Rogerson’s attention and he had the final say on the colt. He is out of the multiple winner and stakes performer Onlyarose (NZ) (One Cool Cat {USA}).

She is the dam of the Group 3 performer Snapper (NZ) (Power {GB}) and the family of successful stallions Commands and Danewin and six-time group 1 winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).

Savabeel’s son, Lot 130, provided another case of significant overs for Waikato Stud when, after following a lengthy bidding duel he was knocked down to the online duo of Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock for NZ$320,000.

The Matamata farm had pre-advised the colt would be on the market at NZ$150,000. He is out of the Pins mare Snowdrop (NZ), a talented performer who won six races and was twice runner-up at Listed level. She is a daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner Daffodil (No Excuse Needed {GB}).

James stays distance

Roger James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, thought he was down and out when chasing Lot 126, but thanks to the support of his undisclosed client was successful in securing a Sebring filly for NZ$295,000.

“I’m indebted to my owner who showed a lot of heart. I thought we were out NZ$100,000 earlier,” James said. “She’s a true-blue athlete.”

The filly was offered by Trelawney Stud and is the first foal of the six-time winner and stakes performer Smashing (NZ) (Pins).

She is out of the dual Group 2 winner Ruud Van Slaats (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}) and the family of the G1 Diamond S. and Karaka Million winner Ruud Awakening (NZ) (Bernardini {USA}).

“I first saw her three weeks ago at the stud and I don’t look at yearlings until after the New Year. I’ve seen the entire catalogue since and we’ve got some more work to do here in the next two days,” James said.

He was also delighted with the performance of Western Springs (Lonhro), who rushed home from back in the field to finish sixth in the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO at Ellerslie on Saturday evening.

“I bought him as a Classic 3-year-old miler and he ended up in the best 2-year-old race and boy, did he find the line,” James said.

He bought Western Springs, who is out of a half-sister to the Karaka Million winner Xiong Feng (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the family of the G1 Cox Plate winner Maldivian (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), out of Monovale Farm’s draft 12 months ago for NZ$280,000.

Late HKJC strike

International participation continued through to the end of the Sale when the final offering of the day, a Reliable Man (GB) colt, Lot 200, from Westbury Stud’s draft, was sold for NZ$340,000.

She was signed for by Bruce and Maureen Harvey, of Ascot Farm, on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

The colt is out of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Veva Girl who has produced the G3 Soliloquy S. winner De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and her sister Aalaalune (NZ) was runner-up in the G1 Diamond S.

The pedigree page features the G2 TAB S. winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}).

The Harveys have a lengthy and successful association with the HKJC and have been in charge of the preparation of Australasian-bred horses for its International Sale for more than a quarter of a century.

Top lots

Top buyers

Perry signed for a variety of youngsters on Day 1 at Karaka and assisted Danny O’Brien with the NZ$320,000 purchase of Lot 74, a daughter of Pierro from Curraghmore’s draft and a family of whom the leading Victorian trainer has inside knowledge.

She is out of the G1 Auckland Cup, G3 Sunline Vase winner and G1 New Zealand Oaks placegetter Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) and she is a half-sister to Shamrocker (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

Shamrocker was trained by O’Brien and earned champion 3-year-old filly honours in Australia in 2010/11 following victories in the G1 Australian Derby and the G1 Australian guineas.

“Danny obviously knows the family well and you wouldn’t have got a filly like this at the (Magic Millions) Gold Coast, I think she was good value,” Perry said.

“We have a good relationship with Danny and he entrusted me to be his eyes and ears and we got some lovely horses.”

The Pierro filly was offered by Curraghmore on behalf of Raffles Dancers and partners.

Another filly signed for by Perry and O’Brien was Lot 82, a daughter of Vadamos (Fr) from the Rich Hill Stud draft for NZ$170,000. She is out of the black-type winner Royal Era (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and the family of the two-time Group 1 winner Our Tristalight (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).

They also won the battle for Lot 139, a son of Almanzor (Fr) and a half-brother to the G3 Bendigo Cup winner Top Of The Range (NZ) (Savabeel) from Blandford Lodge for NZ$220,000.

Perry also purchased Lot 24, another by Almanzor for NZ$320,000 and Lot 27, a daughter of Iffraaj (GB) for NZ$240,000 with JML Bloodstock’s Lib Petagna to be involved in both fillies.

The Almanzor youngster was offered by breeder Pencarrow Stud and is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Papilio (NZ), successful in the Listed South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. She is a half-sister to the G3 Darley Plate winner Amaryllis (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}).

Offered by Haunui Farm, Iffraaj’s daughter is a half-sister to the winning siblings and Group 3 performers Live And Free (NZ) (Savabeel) and Clementina (NZ). There is a notable international presence in the family through the presence of G1 Newmarket Fillies’ Mile winner Lyric Of Light (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}).

“The market has been good and I think it may end up a bit stronger than last year,” said Perry, who has been fielding increased inquiries from potential Australian buyers.

“We have good relationships with a lot of people over there (Australia) and some new ones as well. We’ve been pretty busy and so far have got the ones we wanted.

“There’s been strong competition on the good ones and plenty of people bidding online. I would expect it to hold up through the Sale.”

A Vadamos colt consigned by Carlaw Park joined the team after Perry had the final say on Lot 25 at NZ$160,000. He is a son of the unraced Passion Cut (NZ) (Pins) and a member of the legendary Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) clan.

Perry also operated toward the lower end of the market and snapped up a Zacinto (GB) colt, Lot 11, from Lansdowne Park’s draft for NZ$25,000.

“He was a bit of a cheapie and he’s mine at the moment, but we’ll see if we can get a few others into him,” he said.

The colt is a son of Orquidea (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) and she is a half-sister to the former champion stayer Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}) and the family of another multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire Darci Brahma (NZ).

Star 3-year-old Need I Say More claimed his fourth career stakes win in seven starts in the G3 Almanzor Trophy, before On The Bubbles, also bred by Burnewang North, won the NZ$1 million R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO.

Both horses were sold as foals by Burnewang North, before eventually being purchased by Te Akau Racing's David Ellis as yearlings and prepared by Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards.

"Both horses are very lucky to end up in the stewardship of Jamie Richards and Te Akau, because their dominance and results set and extraordinary benchmark for Australasian racing," Burnewang North owner Cathy Hains told TDN AusNZ.

"Te Akau are just a juggernaut, it’s awesome to see and we are beside ourselves to have that connection with them.

"Good on the people who took them as weanlings and took them to New Zealand, because clearly there was something that happened in between times that have suited those horses.

"Neither of them were standouts as foals. We would have rated them in the top 25 per cent of our crop, but clearly they are a whole lot higher than that now!"

On The Bubbles was purchased by Ben Kwok and Bevan Smith Bloodstock from the Burnewang North draft at the 2019 Inglis Great Southern Sale in Melbourne for $60,000, before being pinhooked for NZ$90,000 to Ellis as part of the Leanach Lodge draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka last year.

"He was an attractive foal, but he had a few setbacks when he was younger and that made him look a bit behind his other mates in the paddock. We thought he had a good frame and would eventually grow into a nice hose, but he was a bit backwards," Hains said.

"He was also a bit feisty, so we weren't at all surprised to learn he had to be gelded, because of attitude issues.

"He didn't have the best of x-rays. He had moderate sized stifle OCDs. So while he was popular with viewers and had quite a few second lookers, we only got him just over the line for his reserve."

It was a similar path to Jamie Richards' stables that Need I Say More plotted a year earlier, when initially sold by Burnewang North for $65,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale to Kilgravin Lodge, who then secured a NZ$130,000 pricetag from Ellis for him at Karaka in 2019.

"She's a big mare, his dam Bo Bardi, and he was a big first foal, so it was a pretty tough foaling. He was a fair size, with good shoulder and leg and had plenty of scope as a weanling," Hains said.

"He was narrow-chested and a bit light in the forearm. He didn't look your typical early runner. Eoin Kemp from Kilgravin Lodge bought him up on the Gold Coast. He was a good mover and he had plenty of x-ray hits."

Humble origins make success sweeter

Considering the recent hot nature of the Australian yearling market, they aren't big prices for horses that are featuring at the front end of New Zealand's best 2 and 3-year-old races, and that's something which proves to Hains the importance of good judgement.

"Good on David Ellis and Jamie Richards for picking them out," she said.

"On face value, it looks like the market has slipped away from the syndicate buyers and the everyday owners, but it hasn't really, because there is still opportunities there for some of the smarter buyers to overlook some of the things that are so important to the high-end commercial buyers and end up with a viable proposition," she said.

Hains feels that while the sales of Need I Say More and On The Bubbles weren't exactly lucrative for them as breeders, it was important to give prominence to the opportunities there on offer for those willing to invest at different points of the market.

"To me, it’s really important to have an entry level which people can access and enjoy. It's fantastic when you see Bryan Martin and the team he had involved with On The Bubbles, at the pub with their bubbly, that's the sort of thing that makes it fun," she said.

"With the big-money horses, it’s fabulous to have an industry that reaches those heady heights, but for me, it’s about the sport. For people to be able to cover some costs and have some fun and get some really enjoyable moments at a higher level, is really something that should be affordable, if we are going to attract people to spend their hard-earned money on it."

Brem's legacy

Both horses were first foals out of mares that Burnewang North purchased out of broodmare sales under the guidance of the late bloodstock agent Steve Brem.

"I'm sure he would be absolutely delighted to see his selections producing such great results, especially in these races in New Zealand, given he himself was a Kiwi," Hains said.

Need I Say More's dam, Bo Bardi (Fastnet Rock), is a winning daughter of American stakes winner Our Golden Dream (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) who cost $75,000 in foal to No Nay Never (USA) at the 2017 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, while On The Bubbles' dam, More Bubbles (Sebring), is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Politeness (Street Sense {USA}) who cost $100,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale in foal to Brazen Beau.

Hains said the strategy wasn't specifically to secure mares in foal, but find ones that would work well within the Burnewang North broodmare band.

"Young mares are always at a premium and an in-foal mare has that residual value. We tend to take the attitude that it’s best not to be overly influenced by who the mare is in foal to. We look first and foremost at the mare and how she fits our parameters in terms of type, pedigree and affordability," she said.

"Being in foal is optimal, being in foal to a good stallion is better still and being affordable is what gets you over the line in the ring."

Both delivered foals by Darley's Impending last spring, Bo Bardi a filly and More Bubbles a colt.

"Bo Bardi's Impending filly is like her brother, plenty of size and leg and she is now in foal to Too Darn Hot," Hains said.

"The colt (out of More Bubbles) is probably the pick out of those two. Having said that, the filly has residual value if Need I Say More can go on."

Both are a chance to feature in upcoming drafts for Burnewang North during the weanling sales mid-year, although Hains said she would keep her options open.

More Bubbles missed to Frosted (USA) last spring. "She might just be one of those less voracious breeders, but we won't hold that against her," she said.

Hains said Saturday's results were also a fitting reward for the hard-working staff at Burnewang North.

"We’ve got an amazingly positive, committed and dedicated team. Absolutely, it puts a spring in everyone's step. They work really, really hard and they always look on the sunnyside of things," she said.

"That's sort of necessary in this business, but when you get a real ray of sunshine, there is a lot to be celebrated, and exactly what we have been doing among ourselves."