We are extremely happy with our Karaka results. It certainly wasn't as strong as the previous couple of years but that was to be expected with the economic environment.
It's been a while since a NZ bred was 11 to 1 in February for the Golden Slipper. Read on for news about the LA bred filly that has plenty of tongues wagging across the Tasman.
And O'Reilly aside, Towkay continues to fly the flag for NZ breds in South East Asia, unearthing some exciting new talent in the process.
Karaka 2009
This year our Premier Sale average was $143,636 for eleven sold compared to $98,437 for eight sold last year. Our Select Sale average was down on last year but still a healthy $48,454, well above the Sale average of just over $37,000.
Okay last year's Premier average was a little distorted given we had four of our top lots succumb to growing pains and miss the Sale but this year we've had much the same happen with youngsters from Steluta, Cent from Heaven and Loose Lil so it's not an unrealistic comparison.
Jim Barlow's Savabeel - Vedodara filly (pictured above left) realised $270,000 making her clearly the top priced Savabeel yearling in the Sale. In the Select Session we sold the top priced O'Reilly ($140,000 for the Ashley Downs colt) and top priced No Excuse Needed youngsters ($70,000 for the Forest Dream colt), which was exciting.
It's also pleasing to see respected buyers such as Bart Cummings, his son Anthony and John Foote returning to buy from us. Well regarded local trainers such as John Wheeler, Lisa Latta, Kevin Myers and Lance Noble also bought from our drafts. Singapore based New Zealand trainer Kevin Gray purchased a favourite in the Stratum - Eloa filly and has sent her to father Kevin to begin her career.
Marquardt
Patinack Farms bought four lots at Karaka this year. On Saturday at Rosehill, Nathan Tinklers massive operation produced the two-year-old filly Marquardt (Shamardal-Centrefold Angel) for an impressive debut win at Rosehill last Saturday.
The victory provided Patinack with their first city winner from their 2008 Australasian yearling purchases.
That's her pictured right as a yearling at LA last summer prior to her purchase by Patinack for $100,000 from our Karaka Premier draft.
LA will retain the Pins yearling half sister. The mare has a Fast n Famous filly at foot and was not mated in 2008.
Coincidentally the runner-up to Marquardt was a hyped Encosta De Lago colt called Manhattan Rain who happens to be a half brother to a useful horse and sire called Redoutes Choice who some of you may have heard of...
Towkay
Last month saw Armada (Towkay-Dance in Time) recognised for his performances last year when allocated 118 on the International Federation of Horse Authorities Rankings for the 2008 calendar year. Joining him as the equal highest rated NZ bred on the classification were his Hong Kong foe Able One and Cox Plate winner Maldivian. Alamosa, Red Ruler, Nom Du Jeu and Seachange all rated 115.
Winners for Towkay last month were...
Smeach (Towkay-Meach) - second consecutive win.
Ace Allao (Towkay-Waikawa) - debut Singapore winner bred by Christopher Grace.
Analytic (Towkay-Kentucky Lass) - second win in 6 starts
Ambitious Owner (Towkay-Melissa Moon) in Hong Kong
Ego's Malang (Towkay-Hyapatia Lee) in Singapore
Oileisumsum (Towkay- Glacier Queen) also in Singapore
Currently Towkay sits in 7th position on the Hong Kong Sires Premiership based on stakemoney won and is second only to O'Reilly in terms of individual winners.
Early into the season in Malaysia and Towkay leads their Sires Premiership based on stakemoney won.
With Armada taking a break probably the most talked about Towkay horse in Hong Kong at present is Amazing Flyer (Towkay-Vicki Buck). Some of you may remember us reporting his easy trial win at Te Awamutu last winter. Sent to Hong Kong shortly thereafter the three-year-old has had two starts for two seconds. His Canterbury breeder Nick Wigley welcomed home Vicki Buck during February safely back in foal to Towkay.
Other News/Sydney Easter Sale
More Bountiful's winning streak in Hong Kong may have been snapped at five but he lost no admirers with his half head second in the Group One Mercedes Benz Classic Mile on 11 January. LA prepared and sold More Bountiful (Van Nistelrooy-Centaine Gu Li) for breeder Helen Phinney to John Foote Bloodstock, fetching $38,000 at the 2007 South Island Sale.
Appreciation (Danasinga-Kincia), an impressive winner on debut in Hong Kong last week for John Size was bred by LA client Lorraine Jameson and bought once again by John Foote from our 2007 Karaka Select draft for $92,500.
Another success for the LA/John Size connection with Special Days (Keeper-Eva's Belle) securing his fourth Hong Kong win with his 1800m success last week. Special Day's sold from our 2005 Karaka Select draft for $110,000 to Cherry Taylor.
At this stage LA's Sydney Easter Sale representation will be the Pins - Rights of Spring, No Excuse Needed - Clermont Lass and the Zabeel - Trigon Lass colts.
Last but not least a big thank you to all our staff for the wonderful job you did at Karaka in the stifling Auckland heat and humidity. The horses were presented in great condition and the marquee food was superb!. We'd like to say a special thank-you to our buyers and all other participating bidders for supporting us this year, New Zealand Bloodstock for an excellent sale and Steve Davis for some very entertaining auctioneering!
We look forward to seeing you all at next year's sale series.
Until next month, keep the sun block at hand and enjoy the long weekend.
