Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
At A Glance
The overall aggregate at the time of writing was NZ$35,107,000, which is a huge increase of 39 per cent on last year (NZ$25,186,000). The 2021 sale, which was held virtually, grossed NZ$20,547,000.
Across the two days, 383 lots were catalogued, of which 308 were offered and 225 were sold. That saw the clearance rate sit at 73 per cent, which is marginally down on last year (76 per cent), but better than 2021 (66 per cent).
The average skyrocketed from NZ$129,159 last year to NZ$156,031. In 2021, it was NZ$121,580.
The median sits at NZ$90,000, which is NZ$10,000 more than the past two years.
A Star Turn colt, consigned on Thursday by KB Bloodstock as Lot 376, made a sale-record NZ$825,000. He was bought by Hong Kong’s Pato Leung.
Twelve lots made NZ$500,000 or more.
Hong Kong-based buyers were responsible for over NZ$16.7 million in spend across 70 lots.
Australian buyers were also strong, securing 60 lots for a total of NZ$8 million in receipts.
Domestic buyers made themselves known, with NZ$5.5 million spent across the two days.
The leading buyer title was secured by Hong Kong-based Yeung Kin Man, who secured 12 lots for a total spend of NZ$2,465,000.
Vinery Stud’s Star Turn has the sale-topper at NZ$825,000 and barnmate All Too Hard had a gelding make NZ$800,000.
Riversley Park secured the leading vendor title for the seventh consecutive year, selling 26 lots for NZ$5,335,000.
Kilgravin Lodge claimed the leading vendor by average title, after 16 2-year-olds sold for an average of NZ$300,781.
The leading sire by average was Zoustar with three lots selling for an average of NZ$466,667. Super Seth had a very strong sale, with eight lots making a combined NZ$2,295,000 (at an average of NZ$286,875).
Hong Kong buyers splash the cash
After spending NZ$6.55 million on Day 1, participants from Hong Kong were again particularly active on Thursday.
The day’s top-seller made a sale-record NZ$825,000, with Hong Kong-based owner Pato Leung buying the colt.
Consigned by KB Bloodstock as Lot 376, he is by Vinery Stud’s Group 1-producing sire Star Turn from the winning Foxwedge mare Commonwealth, and clocked a slick breeze-up time of 10.24s. Star Turn has had success in Hong Kong with horses such as the Group 3 winner Cordyceps Six and the five-time scorer Astrologer.
The colt was bred by equine veterinarian Dr Ian Duckworth, who co-bred the 2014 G1 Golden Slipper heroine Mossfun (Mossman), among others. Duckworth’s Fairview Stud sold the colt for $120,000 to Solari Bloodstock at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
The colt’s second dam, Our Pride And Joy (Canny Lad), won four races and she is a half-sister to the Group 1 winners Criterion (NZ) and Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock).
Leung was represented at Karaka by trainer Benno Yung and his daughter Samantha.
Lot 376 - Star Turn x Commonwealth (colt) topped the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale when sold for NZ$825,000 from KB Bloodstock to Mr Pato Leung | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“We’ve looked at a lot of good horses at the sale today (Thursday), and the Star Turn really stood out to us,” Samantha Yung said. “He’s a really nice mover and has a very strong build.
“He has a great temperament from what we’ve seen so far. The amount that we paid may have been a little more than we were expecting, but we feel that he will do well for the owner.
“Star Turn has been doing well in Hong Kong, and that’s another reason why we were interested in buying this horse.
“Star Turn has been doing well in Hong Kong, and that’s another reason why we were interested in buying this horse (Lot 376).” - Samantha Yung
“We do think that he’ll be a powerful sprinter, but with time, he may be able to go further as well.”
Samantha and Benno Yung | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
KB Bloodstock sold seven 2-year-olds across the two days, netting NZ$1,735,500 in sales. For operator Kit Brooks, the results were beyond his wildest dreams.
“I certainly didn’t expect him to be the sale-topper. They were going for big money. It was a pleasant surprise,” Brooks told The Thoroughbred Report.
“I certainly didn’t expect him (Lot 376) to be the sale-topper. They were going for big money. It was a pleasant surprise.” - Kit Brooks
“He was popular and I thought he would make good money, but I certainly didn’t think he would go that far.
“The sale was pretty awesome, certainly very strong.”
| Riversley Park Ltd | 26 | $5,335,000 | $205,192 |
| Ohukia Lodge Ltd | 22 | $5,133,000 | $233,318 |
| Kilgravin Lodge | 16 | $4,812,500 | $300,781 |
| Westbury Stud | 33 | $2,269,000 | $68,758 |
| Pertab Racing | 14 | $2,240,000 | $160,000 |
| Woburn Farm | 11 | $1,935,000 | $175,909 |
| KB Bloodstock | 7 | $1,785,000 | $255,000 |
| Cheltenham Stables | 9 | $1,727,500 | $191,944 |
| Riverrock Farm | 14 | $1,575,000 | $112,500 |
| Lilywhites Lodge | 15 | $1,455,000 | $97,000 |
Table: Top vendors by aggregate at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - prices in NZ$
It was KB Bloodstock’s third draft at the NZB Ready to Run Sale, and for Brooks, it was by far the most enjoyable experience.
“We started in COVID times when it was an online sale, then last year was our first time being on the complex, and now here we are,” he said.
“We were really happy, we only had a small draft of eight horses and sold seven of them. Predominantly, they sold very well, so no complaints.”
“We were really happy, we only had a small draft of eight horses and sold seven of them. Predominantly, they sold very well, so no complaints.” - Kit Brooks
Brooks, who recently welcomed a baby daughter, admitted he and his team would celebrate the incredible result on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Lot 289 - a gelding by Star Turn’s barnmate All Too Hard - fetched NZ$800,000, with Yeung Kin Man buying him from the Riversley Park consignment. The gelding was a pinhook for Riversley Park and Michael Guerin, who bought him from the Baramul Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $100,000.
The gelding, who breezed in a slick 10.34s, is the fourth foal of the unraced Mossman mare Tuscany Lady and she herself is a half-sister to the stakes performers Metonymy (Hotel Grand) and Love Shack Baby (All Too Hard). Tuscany Lady has produced two winners.
Lot 289 - All Too Hard x Tuscany Lady (gelding) sold from Riversley Park to Yeung Kin Man for NZ$800,000 at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
His second dam, Shack (Canny Lad), was also unraced and is a sister to the Group 3 victor Peat Bog, and a half-sister to the Group 2 victress Heather (Grand Lodge {USA}). The winless Irish Hut (Quest For Fame {GB}) is also a half-sister to Shack and she is the dam of the Group 3 winner Beret (Helmet).
He will be trained by Manfred Man.
Mr Wong Kwun Keong and Mr Yeung Kin Man | Image courtesy Trish Dunell
Speaking on behalf of Yeung, Magus Equine’s Willie Leung said, “Mr Yeung has about 10 horses racing in Hong Kong already and he is a genuine racing fan and would love to have more good horses in Hong Kong. That’s why he wanted to go for some stock here, so we can go through the selection process to find a Group 1 horse.
| Mr KM Yeung | 12 | $2,465,000 | $205,417 |
| Laming Racing / John White Bloodstock | 4 | $1,485,000 | $371,250 |
| Jamie Richards Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock | 3 | $1,250,000 | $416,667 |
| Shailer Racing Pty Ltd / Hughes Bloodstock | 4 | $1,235,000 | $308,750 |
| Mr. Pierre Ng | 3 | $1,025,000 | $341,667 |
| Blandford Bloodstock / Andrew Williams Bloodstock | 2 | $935,000 | $467,500 |
| HY Investments | 10 | $910,000 | $91,000 |
| Mr. Pato Leung | 1 | $825,000 | $825,000 |
| Tartan Meadow Bloodstock / Andrew Williams Bloodstock | 1 | $800,000 | $800,000 |
| Magnolia Bloodstock | 1 | $750,000 | $750,000 |
Table: Top buyers by aggregate at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - prices in NZ$
“They will be here for education and training and then we’ll do some assessment. They will probably be ready to go, but some will need to be qualified as a PP for Hong Kong and so we’ll keep them racing here.
“All Too Hard is a very consistent and useful sire in Hong Kong, and the Group 1 winner Wellington has performed really well in Hong Kong and on grass and synthetic and so he suits Hong Kong. This one looks really precocious, and so hopefully we can get him going to Hong Kong early next season.”
“This one (Lot 289) looks really precocious, and so hopefully we can get him going to Hong Kong early next season.” - Willie Leung
Earlier, Equine Investments and Bevan Smith Bloodstock went to NZ$500,000 for Lot 203 - a Zoustar colt, also offered by Riversley Park. Champion jockey-turned trainer Douglas Whyte is also involved in the partnership.
“I have been to Karaka previously, but I haven’t bought here before,” Whyte said. “I haven’t been training for that long, so it’s the first time I’ve stuck my neck out and purchased horses here, but it’s been good.
“This is where it all starts, really. You’ve got to get the young ones to keep the yard ticking over. I’ve got a nice crop of young horses now, who you just have to get them to develop the right way.
Sam Wright, Douglas Whyte and Bevan Smith inspecting at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“I’ve got a couple of older horses at the moment who are close to the end of their tether. The young ones are what you’re here for, and they’re going to make or break my yard.”
“The young ones are what you’re here for, and they’re going to make or break my yard.” - Douglas Whyte
The colt, who registered a breeze-up time of 10.88s, is the fifth foal of the winning Swiss Ace mare Reconstruct (NZ) who has thrown three winners from three to race.
The colt’s grandam, Renovated (King’s Best {USA}), was winless in two starts and she herself is a half-sister to the Group 2 scorer Alma’s Fury (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) and Enforced (Snippets), who triumphed at Group 3 level in Australia before racing in Hong Kong as Championship.
The stakes performer Daneforce (Danzero) and the Listed winners Rokanori (Awesome Rock) and Takanori (Vital Equine {Ire}) also feature prominently on the colt’s page.
| Zoustar | 3 | $466,667 | $1,400,000 |
| Capitalist | 3 | $355,000 | $1,065,000 |
| Hellbent | 3 | $341,667 | $1,025,000 |
| Justify | 4 | $306,250 | $1,225,000 |
| Savabeel | 3 | $300,000 | $900,000 |
| Ardrossan | 3 | $288,333 | $865,000 |
| Deep Field | 7 | $287,857 | $2,015,000 |
| Super Seth | 8 | $286,875 | $2,295,000 |
| Proisir | 7 | $185,714 | $1,300,000 |
| U S Navy Flag | 3 | $166,667 | $500,000 |
Table: Top sires by average at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - prices in NZ$
Bevan Smith, owner of Bevan Smith Bloodstock, said, “He was bought for Hong Kong and he really fitted that Hong Kong profile; he’s by a proven stallion, he breezed up super, and we bought him from Riversley Park, who have an outstanding record - they sold Golden Sixty, who’s the best horse in Hong Kong.
“I said to Sam Beatson, ‘Sam, I need to buy the best horse here, which one is it?’, and he pointed me in this direction. When he says that, I listen.
“I said to Sam Beatson, ‘Sam, I need to buy the best horse here, which one is it?’, and he pointed me in this direction (Lot 203). When he says that, I listen.” - Bevan Smith
“When he came out of the box, he matched up. Physically, he’s just a beautiful horse. He’s a great walker, everything’s proportionate, he’s a well-balanced horse, so to use the cliche, he ticked all the boxes for us.
“He breezed-up great and when we inspected him here on the grounds he impressed us even more.”
Hong Kong-based Kiwi trainer Jamie Richards was busy on Day 2, spending NZ$1,040,000 on three 2-year-olds.
Lot 341 - Exceed And Excel x Barbadine (USA) (colt) sold from Cheltenham Stables to Jamie Richards Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for NZ$450,000 at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Richards, in partnership with Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA), went to NZ$450,000 for Lot 341 - an Exceed And Excel colt from the winning Giant’s Causeway (USA) mare Barbadine (USA).
The colt, who recorded a breeze-up time of 11.08s, was a member of the Cheltenham Stables draft.
That duo teamed again to purchase Lot 367 - a Deep Field colt offered by Kilgravin Lodge - for NZ$400,000.
Lot 367 - Deep Field x Centafaith (colt) sold from Kilgravin to Jamie Richards Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for NZ$400,000 at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
He is out of Centafaith (Keep The Faith) - a two-time winner who has thrown the Listed victress and Group 1 placegetter Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt).
The colt breezed-up in 10.61s.
NZB’s Jones ‘shell-shocked’ after record-breaking sale
Like Brooks, Kane Jones, bloodstock sales manager of New Zealand Bloodstock, was somewhat in a state of disbelief at the conclusion of Day 2.
The 2023 Ready to Run Sale smashed a number of records, including the aggregate, which at the time of writing, reached a staggering NZ$35,107,000, up 39 per cent on last year (NZ$25,870,000).
The average sits at NZ$156,031 and that figure, which may still go up, is significantly higher than 2022 (NZ$129,159) and 2021 (NZ$121,580).
| Kilgravin Lodge | 16 | $300,781 | $4,812,500 |
| KB Bloodstock | 7 | $255,000 | $1,785,000 |
| Ohukia Lodge Ltd | 22 | $233,318 | $5,133,000 |
| Riversley Park Ltd | 26 | $205,192 | $5,335,000 |
| Phoenix Park | 3 | $200,000 | $600,000 |
| Cheltenham Stables | 9 | $191,944 | $1,727,500 |
| Woburn Farm | 11 | $175,909 | $1,935,000 |
| Regal Farm | 4 | $170,000 | $680,000 |
| Pertab Racing | 14 | $160,000 | $2,240,000 |
| Kiltannon Stables Ltd | 10 | $137,000 | $1,370,000 |
Table: Top vendors by average at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - prices in NZ$
Another metric to improve was the median, which climbed to NZ$90,000, after settling at NZ$80,000 the past two years.
“I’m a little bit shell-shocked, to be honest. The whole sale took me by surprise, I guess,” Jones said when speaking to TTR AusNZ.
“I’m a little bit shell-shocked, to be honest. The whole sale took me by surprise, I guess.” - Kane Jones
“We knew we had a strong buying bench, especially from Hong Kong, but the sale has well and truly exceeded our expectations, and we’re just thrilled.
“We’re thrilled for all the vendors, and the buyers have had to really step up to the plate. There’s been some spirited bidding on a number of horses. They’ve come away with some lovely horses.”
Kane Jones | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Jones said he was confident Day 2 would also deliver strong results, but he admitted he didn’t envisage the Star Turn colt (Lot 376) would fetch NZ$825,000.
“Wednesday was outstanding and the momentum was maintained right throughout Day 2. I didn’t think we would exceed the sale-topper from Day 1, but to have one sell for NZ$825,000 was quite unbelievable. He was a lovely colt and I knew he was very, very popular, but it exceeded my expectations and caught me by surprise,” he explained.
“Wednesday was outstanding and the momentum was maintained right throughout Day 2.” - Kane Jones
“I’m thrilled for Kit and Bianca, they do a great job at KB Bloodstock out at Cambridge. They’re lovely people and I’m just thrilled for them to have such a good result. To have a result like that really puts them on the map and it’s well-deserved.”
High-priced Deep Field colt headed to Malaysia
The third-most expensive juvenile on Day 2 and fourth-highest of the entire sale was Lot 381 - a Deep Field colt - who realised NZ$750,000.
Consigned by Ohukia Lodge, he was knocked down to Magnolia Bloodstock and is destined for Malaysia. Ohukia Lodge paid $300,000 for the colt at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when offered by Newgate Farm.
He is from the winning I Am Invincible mare Criquette, herself a half-sister to Champion’s Way (Hinchinbrook) - a five-time winner and Champion Griffin in Hong Kong in 2018/19.
Lot 381 - Deep Field x Criquette (colt) sold from Ohukia Lodge to Magnolia Bloodstock for NZ$750,000 at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The colt produced an impressive breeze-up, stopping the clock at 10.38s.
Ohukia Lodge enjoyed another strong sale. The specialist breeze-up vendor sold 22 horses, grossing NZ$5,133,000 at an average of NZ$233,318.
Proprietor Jamie Beatson was delighted with the results.
“There was a bit of talk heading into the sale that there was going to be a lot of Hong Kong guys here, which proved to be right,” said Beatson.
| Super Seth | 8 | $2,295,000 | $286,875 |
| Deep Field | 7 | $2,015,000 | $287,857 |
| Zoustar | 3 | $1,400,000 | $466,667 |
| Proisir | 7 | $1,300,000 | $185,714 |
| El Roca | 10 | $1,295,000 | $129,500 |
| Justify | 4 | $1,225,000 | $306,250 |
| Contributer | 8 | $1,160,000 | $145,000 |
| All Too Hard | 2 | $1,080,000 | $540,000 |
| Capitalist | 3 | $1,065,000 | $355,000 |
| Hellbent | 3 | $1,025,000 | $341,667 |
Table: Top sires by aggregate at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - prices in NZ$
“At that top-end, it was great. There was a little bit missing in the middle, which we knew was coming with Singapore missing, but it made up at the top-end.”
Laming Racing / John White Bloodstock add to haul
On Wednesday, Laming Racing and John White Bloodstock made two purchases, including Lot 116 - the Contributer (Ire) half-brother to the three-time Group 1 winner Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse). The Woburn Farm-consigned colt realised NZ$550,000.
And they were at it again on Day 2, going to NZ$700,000 for Lot 298 - a Super Seth filly from the Kilgravin Lodge draft. She was initially bought by Kilgravin Holdings for NZ$85,000 at the 2022 NZB National Weanling Sale, with Curraghmore consigning the filly.
The 2-year-old is the third living foal of winning Makfi (GB) mare Vitesse (NZ) and she herself is a half-sister to the triple Group 1 hero Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and the Group 3 scorer Cheval D’Or (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}). Vitesse’s only foal to race is this year's G1 Queensland Derby hero Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
The filly, who breezed in 10.49s, is also closely related to the multiple Group 1 winner King Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and the Group 3 victor Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}).
“She was a standout on looks,” Richard Laming said. “She was one of my top picks. We valued her up to NZ$600,000 and had to go a little bit more than that, but we’ve got a really nice filly.
Lot 298 - Super Seth x Vitesse (NZ) (filly) sold from Kilgravin Lodge to Laming Racing and John White Bloodstock for NZ$700,000 at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“She’s a proper horse. She’s got a nice action, she breezed up great. She has a very good attitude and was nice and relaxed in the ring, so we’re very happy to get her.
“She’s (Lot 298) a proper horse. She’s got a nice action, she breezed up great.” - Richard Laming
“We like Super Seth. We’ve got a couple we bought as yearlings that go good. We came over here to buy another nice one, and she’s got a great pedigree, great residual and she’s an outstanding individual. She breezed up good. She had plenty going for her.
“She’s a half to a Group 1 winner who’s a very good horse, so she’s got that scope to hopefully show some of her brother’s ability.”
Laming Racing and John White Bloodstock also signed for Lot 303 on Thursday - a Reliable Man (GB) filly out of the winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Way To Win, who breezed in 11.11s. She was consigned by Westbury Stud.
