Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
At A Glance
The top price on day two was NZ$825,000 paid for Lot 374, a Zoustar colt bought by Mr KM Yeung from the KB Bloodstock draft.
Hong Kong buyers accounted for 41.45% of the total spend across the two days, buying 75 horses for NZ$17,195,000
With 265 horses sold across the two days, the aggregate was NZ$41,407,500, which compared favourably to 2024 when 254 horses sold for NZ$38,593,500.
Overall the average for the sale, which was NZ$156,255 for the two days, which was slightly up from 2024’s average of NZ$151,943
The median increased to NZ$100,000 from NZ$90,000 in 2024.
The clearance rate of 75% was a slight decrease on 2024’s clearance rate of 78%.
The leading vendor by sales was Riversley Park with 34 horses sold for NZ$6,525,000, while the leading buyer was Hong Kong’s KM Yeung, who purchased 16 horses for NZ$3,570,000.
Riversley Park have been the top vendors by aggregate for nine consecutive years.
Hong Kong buyers to the forefront
The strength and influence of the Hong Kong buying bench continued throughout Day 2 of the sale, with a high proportion of 2-year-olds destined for that racing jurisdiction.
Hong Kong buyers accounted for 41.45% of the total spend across the two days, purchasing 75 horses for NZ$17,195,000.
Among them was prominent owner KM Yeung, well known for campaigning Galaxy Patch (Wandjina), the Champion 4-year-old in Hong Kong. Yeung purchased 13 horses on Day 2, including the sale-topper, Lot 374, a Zoustar colt out of Hijack Hussy (Hussonet {USA}) from the KB Bloodstock draft. The colt boasts a close link to Yeung’s stable star, being related to Wandjina, the sire of Galaxy Patch.
Lot 374 - Zoustar x Hijack Hussy colt | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Yeung also purchased three lots on Day 1, bringing his total to 16 horses and cementing his position as the leading buyer at the Ready to Run Sale for the third consecutive year. His total spend reached NZ$3,570,000, averaging NZ$223,125 across Wednesday and Thursday.
It wasn’t just Yeung making his presence felt. On Day 2 alone, 21 separate buyers secured horses bound for Hong Kong, underlining the market’s ongoing strength and appetite for quality New Zealand bloodstock.
Soon-to-be Hong Kong trainer James Cummings was also active, purchasing three quality lots for a combined NZ$1,430,000. His haul included a Written Tycoon half brother to My Whisper (Frankel {GB}), a winner of three Group 3 races on the track, along with a Bivouac gelding for NZ$425,000 and an Exceedance gelding for NZ$230,000.
James Cummings | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I haven’t been here since early 2017, so it’s good to be back and seeing some familiar faces,” said Cummings, who is enduring a short break after being Godolphin’s head trainer in Australia.
“This is a very good sale. It’s a good set-up and there’s lots of clients here from Hong Kong. It’s definitely a hunting ground, and a happy one at that, for good quality Hong Kong gallopers.”
“It’s definitely a hunting ground, and a happy one at that, for good quality Hong Kong gallopers.” - James Cummings
Big, strong and powerful Zoustar tops the sale and heads to Hong Kong
Kit Brook’s KB Bloodstock presented Lot 374, a big, strong son of Australia's reigning Champion sire Zoustar, who became the new top lot for this year’s sale at NZ$825,000 when sold to Mr KM Yeung.
“He (Mr KM Yeung) has got a very nice superstar in Hong Kong that ran second in a Group race last time (Patch Of Theta). So he's looking for another superstar. He loves this one,” said Willie Leung of Magus Equine, speaking on behalf of Mr KM Yeung.
“He looks big and strong, so it’s likely we'll take him to Hong Kong earlier. And his half-brother in Hong Kong is doing very well.
“The last few years Mr Yeung has come to this sale, and he really gets behind it. He loves coming here and he loves bidding himself, he enjoys the sale very much. The first year we got two winners and they won nine races, so it's a good result, and last year we brought a couple as well.”
The colt is the fourth foal out of Hijack Hussy (Hussonet {USA}), a four-time winner up to 1400 metres who was successful in the Listed Lexus Hybrid Plate and placed in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate and the Listed Mode Plate.
In recent years, Hijack Hussy has produced a Jacquinot yearling colt and an Ozzmosis filly in September. He comes from the extended family of Group 1 winners and sires Dracula and Wandjina, as well as the outstanding Hong Kong sprinter Inspiration (Flying Spur), who won the G1 Hong Kong Sprint.
Son of Armory makes NZ$625,000
There were fireworks early on Day 1 when a sharp-looking colt by Armory (Ire), offered by Ohukia Lodge, sold to Cameron Cooke Bloodstock and Busuttin Racing for NZ$625,000. It was a massive result considering Armory stood for just $10,000 (plus GST) in his first season at Mapperley Stud, who had secured the Group 1-performed and multiple Group-winning son of the legendary Galileo (Ire) in partnership with Windsor Park Stud.
Armory has already made a fast start to his stud career, with the Cody Cole-trained Silhouette (NZ) winning on debut at Trentham late last month. This colt only furthered that momentum, turning heads with a slick breeze in 10.52 seconds, before strong competition in the ring pushed his price to the impressive $625,000 mark.
When asked about the purchase, made in partnership with Cameron Cooke Bloodstock, Trent Busuttin said:
“As an individual he is one of the picks of the sale. He was always going to be expensive, but you have to buy the ones that you like. Cameron Cooke, he selected him and he is a great judge of a horse, and we are lucky enough to get to train him.”
“We loved him, obviously. Armory has already had a winner, and it’s good to buy off New Zealand farms and New Zealand stallions, so we are very excited.”
Busuttin added that the colt stood out from the outset, with an impressive breeze-up and style about him.
“These kind of horses stand out, and everyone sees them. He’s a cracking horse, so we knew we were going to have to pay plenty. We went over budget a bit, but hopefully he repays us.”
Trent Busuttin | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bred by Windsor Park Stud, the colt is the seventh living foal from the five-time winner and Listed winner Cora Lynn (NZ) (Golan {Ire}). She has produced two winners, including the nine-time winner Weona Smartone (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), who claimed eight of those victories in succession and has been Group 3-placed in Sydney.
Further back in the family sit elite performers Balmuse (NZ) (Lord Ballina) and Kaapstad Way (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}), both Group 1 winners who add further depth to this colt’s already impressive pedigree.
BMD Bloodstock’s $90K Hello Youmzain turns into $700K
Hello Youmzain (Fr) has made a promising start in Australasia, with his oldest progeny now 3-year-olds. He has already registered 16 winners across both sides of the Tasman, including the stakes winners Platinum Diamond (NZ) and Lucy In The Sky (NZ).
It may be a well-bought son from his second crop that keeps the momentum building for the Cambridge-based stallion. The colt, out of the three-time winner Cool Tart (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), was presented in superb fashion by BMD Bloodstock and made a splash when selling for NZ$700,000 to Mr Hongwei Chen of China. Barry Donoghue's operation have enjoyed a successful few days.
This good-looking colt was originally purchased by BBA Ireland Ltd, Hurworth Bloodstock and BMD Bloodstock for NZ$90,000 from the Windsor Park Stud draft at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale. To turn NZ$90,000 into NZ$700,000 in around 10 months represents an outstanding pinhooking result.
“Today’s result with the Hello Youmzain colt was an enormous thrill and very special,” Donoghue said.
“Today’s result with the Hello Youmzain colt was an enormous thrill and very special.” - Barry Donoghue
“We knew we were going into the sale with a really nice horse and we were expecting him to be popular. But we had a reserve of only $150,000, and whatever happened beyond that was a bonus. We couldn’t be happier.”
BMD Bloodstock offered 16 horses across the two days of the Ready to Run Sale, selling 14 of them for a total of $2.69 million and an average price of $192,500.
Barry Donoghue | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The dam, Cool Tart, is a three-quarter-sister to the G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 Victoria Derby and G1 Turnbull Stakes winner Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), and a half-sister to the New Zealand Weight-for-age Group 1 winner On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), who claimed the G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes over 2000 metres at Te Rapa.
Jones reflects on successful sale
“It’s quite remarkable, another record-breaking sale,” commented NZB’s Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones.
Kane Jones | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“The whole team have put in a massive shift, not just over the last few days, but months out, and even years building relationships for this sale. I’m very proud of the entire team.
“Just a magical number hitting that NZ$41m in turnover, but the average is up, median is up as well which indicates that middle market was particularly strong.
“This sale has gone from strength-to-strength in the last five years. The horses breezed phenomenally, and the type of horses that are brought to this sale improves year on year.
“It’s just a credit to the vendors who continue to support this sale and make it what it is,” added Jones.
Top Lots
| 374 | Zoustar | Hijack Hussy | Colt | KB Bloodstock | Mr KM Yeung | $825,000 |
| 371 | Written Tycoon | Hersigh | Colt | Prima Park | James Cummings | $775,000 |
| 283 | Hello Youmzain (Fr) | Cool Tart | Colt | BMD Bloodstock | Mr Hongwei Chen | $700,000 |
| 398 | Per Incanto (USA) | Joan's a Jett | Colt | Trelawney Stud Ltd | Shijiazhuang Hongtao Horse Breeding | $700,000 |
| 285 | Armory (Ire) | Cora Lynn | Colt | Ohukia Lodge | Cameron Cooke / Busuttin Racing | $625,000 |
| 335 | Ghaiyyath (Ire) | Final Choice | Gelding | Landsdowne Park Ltd | Ms B Yim | $480,000 |
| 478 | The Autumn Sun | Mummentum | Gelding | Riversley Park Ltd | Mr WK Yip | $425,000 |
| 310 | Sword of State | Duraaj | Colt | Kiltannon Stables Ltd | Mr Tien Kay Chan | $420,000 |
| 365 | Ghaiyyath (Ire) | Hampton Classic | Colt | Ohukia Lodge | Mark Newnham Bloodstock Pty Ltd | $420,000 |
| 369 | I Am Invincible | Haraka | Filly | Prima Park | Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) / Ridgmont | $360,000 |
Top Buyers
| Mr KM Yeung | 16 | $3,570,000 | $ 223,125 |
| James Cummings | 3 | $1,430,000 | $ 476,667 |
| Mr Sanxiong Gao | 2 | $1,425,000 | $ 712,500 |
| Mark Newnham Bloodstock Pty Ltd | 4 | $1,105,000 | $ 276,250 |
| Mr Hongwei Chen | 2 | $970,000 | $ 485,000 |
| Patella Bloodstock Ltd | 3 | $965,000 | $ 321,667 |
| R Yiu | 3 | $915,000 | $ 305,000 |
| Mr Ryan Fownes | 3 | $830,000 | $ 276,667 |
| Magus Equine | 3 | $810,000 | $ 270,000 |
| Shijiazhuang Hongtao Horse Breeding | 1 | $700,000 | $ 700,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| Per Incanto (USA) | 6 | $2,030,000 | $ 338,333 |
| Satono Aladdin (Jpn) | 7 | $1,473,000 | $ 210,429 |
| Zoustar | 3 | $1,295,000 | $ 431,667 |
| Sword of State | 5 | $1,280,000 | $ 256,000 |
| Noverre(NZ) | 10 | $1,274,000 | $ 127,400 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 3 | $1,120,000 | $ 373,333 |
| Proisir | 6 | $1,100,000 | $ 183,333 |
| Hello Youmzain (Fr) | 4 | $1,070,000 | $ 267,500 |
| The Autumn Sun | 5 | $970,000 | $ 194,000 |
| Snitzel | 3 | $965,000 | $ 321,667 |
Top sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Ghaiyyath (Ire) | 2 | $900,000 | $ 450,000 |
| Zoustar | 3 | $1,295,000 | $ 431,667 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 4 | $1,120,000 | $ 373,333 |
| Ole Kirk | 3 | $690,000 | $ 345,000 |
| Per Incanto (USA) | 13 | $2,030,000 | $ 338,333 |
| Snitzel | 3 | $965,000 | $ 321,667 |
| Harry Angel (Ire) | 6 | $860,000 | $ 286,667 |
| Alabama Express | 2 | $540,000 | $ 270,000 |
| Hello Youmzain (Fr) | 8 | $1,070,000 | $ 267,500 |
| Sword of State | 6 | $1,280,000 | $ 256,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Riversley Park Ltd | 46 | 34 | $ 6,525,000 | $ 191,912 |
| Prima Park | 22 | 18 | $ 3,660,000 | $ 203,333 |
| Ohukia Lodge | 25 | 16 | $ 3,567,500 | $ 222,969 |
| KB Bloodstock | 28 | 13 | $ 3,460,000 | $ 266,154 |
| Kiltannon Stables Ltd | 25 | 18 | $ 3,220,000 | $ 178,889 |
| BMD Bloodstock | 18 | 15 | $ 2,845,000 | $ 189,667 |
| Kilgravin Lodge | 35 | 22 | $ 2,660,000 | $ 120,909 |
| Riverrock Farm | 23 | 10 | $ 1,830,000 | $ 183,000 |
| Westbury Stud | 49 | 21 | $ 1,372,500 | $ 65,357 |
| St Kilda Lodge | 17 | 7 | $ 1,200,000 | $ 171,429 |
Top vendors by average (2 or more sold)
| Landsdowne Park Ltd | 12 | 4 | $ 1,110,000 | $ 277,500 |
| KB Bloodstock | 28 | 13 | $ 3,460,000 | $ 266,154 |
| Trelawney Stud Ltd | 5 | 4 | $ 930,000 | $ 232,500 |
| Ohukia Lodge | 25 | 16 | $ 3,567,500 | $ 222,969 |
| Prima Park | 22 | 18 | $ 3,660,000 | $ 203,333 |
| Riversley Park Ltd | 46 | 34 | $ 6,525,000 | $ 191,912 |
| BMD Bloodstock | 18 | 15 | $ 2,845,000 | $ 189,667 |
| Riverrock Farm | 23 | 10 | $ 1,830,000 | $ 183,000 |
| Kiltannon Stables Ltd | 25 | 18 | $ 3,220,000 | $ 178,889 |
| St Kilda Lodge | 17 | 7 | $ 1,200,000 | $ 171,429 |
