KB Bloodstock enjoy strong results
Kit Brooks’ KB Bloodstock bookended Thursday with two strong results in the ring, first selling a colt by Super Seth (Savabeel) for NZ$420,000 and then enjoying another fine result when a son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) realised NZ$480,000.
The son of Super Seth was snapped up by TJ Askew of NZ$70,000 at NZB’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka in January and turned heads when clocking 10.56 in his breeze. He was bought by up-and-coming Victorian-based trainer Dom Sutton and Byron Rogers.
Brooks told ANZ Bloodstock News he was expecting the horse to sell well and believes he will prove a good investment for his new owners.
“He was certainly a nice colt who did everything right. He has gone to an up-and-coming young trainer who has already had success with the breed and the cross so we hope this is another one,” he said.
“It was a good result for us too as he made a little more than we were anticipating, so good luck to the new owners. They have bought a nice individual.”
It was of little surprise to see Sutton return to the New Zealand Bloodstock sale having bought his Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m)-placed Feroce (Super Seth) for NZ$160,000 at the 2023 edition. Being by Super Seth is not the only similarity Thursday’s acquisition has in common with Sutton’s stable star – he is also out of a daughter of brilliant broodmare sire O’Reilly (Last Tycoon), which also appealed to his new trainer.
“The colt has a great attitude and did a top–class breeze–up. He puts his head down and looks like he wants to run. We use bio mechanics to help us decide on purchases and he ticked a lot of boxes,” Sutton said.
“We bought him for UK clients and he will go to Victoria. We also race Feroce who is bred on the same Super Seth – O’Reilly cross.”
In the final hours of trade, KB Bloodstock struck again when Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman and Andrew Williams Bloodstock teamed up to purchase the Snitzel colt out of the juvenile-winning mare Hard As (All Too Hard).
The colt, who breezed in a super quick time of 10.23, was another pinhooking success story at the sale, with the youngster having been snapped up by Sweat Equity Bloodstock for $60,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale at the beginning of the year.
Brooks said the colt’s laidback attitude during the inspections had impressed a number of buyers.
“He is a lovely big framed colt who developed well over the last few months,” he said. “He did everything within himself and was no nonsense and natural. Everyone that saw him liked him.”
Boman has become a mainstay on the buyers sheet at the Ready To Run Sale and he said the Snitzel colt had been purchased by a group of European–based clients.
“The colt was easy to like – he was big, scopey and correct and for a big horse did a good breeze–up. He has a big stride and did it with plenty in hand. We will keep coming here.
“The colt was bought for a group of European clients who also bought here last year. They have a good record of breeze–up sale purchases in the northern hemisphere and admire the record of this world class sale. We did our analysis and had a team here to attend the Te Rapa breeze–ups on our behalf.”
Boman was active throughout the two days of trade, buying three colts with Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, while he also bought a gelding by Toronado with Albert Bosma’s Go Racing for NZ$260,000. The agent’s total spend at the sale finished at NZ$1,610,000.
Meanwhile, KB Bloodstock sold 17 two-year-olds for NZ$3,610,000 which saw the operation finish with an average of NZ$212,353.
Final Figures
After day one’s blockbuster day including the record-breaking sale of a NZ$1,650,000 two-year-old, momentum continued into the final day of selling which saw the total aggregate land at NZ$38,593,500, a ten per cent increase on the 2023 record edition of the Sale.
The clearance rate at the close of selling was a strong 78 per cent with the average and median on par with last year’s remarkable results.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the buying bench we were able to assemble. We had hoped to match last year’s results but to exceed them has been a wonderful outcome,” commented NZB managing director Andrew Seabrook.
“To achieve nearly 79 per cent with the clearance rate, that’s really satisfying. We’ll be selling horses for the next few hours and into tomorrow so if we can get over 80 per cent that would be fantastic.
“The horses are incredibly well prepared by our vendors, who continue to step up every year. They do such a great job preparing these horses, there’s no one like them in the world and NZB is blessed to have such great consignors.”
A significant international presence was felt with Hong Kong-based buyers responsible for over NZ$17.1 million in spend across 72 lots, while Australian buyers secured 67 lots for a total of NZ$10.6 million in receipts. Emerging market Malaysia stamped their mark throughout the sale, purchasing 40 horses for NZ$3 million, while the domestic market made a splash of NZ$6.2 million for 57 lots. Other markets active included China, who purchased ten lots, and for the first time Mongolia signed up for five lots.
Taking the honours of leading buyer for the second consecutive year was prominent Hong Kong owner and businessman Yeung Kin Man, purchasing an eye-watering 24 lots for NZ$4.995 million.
“I think the quality of the catalogue was even stronger this year, so that is why I have bought more horses,” he said.
The most expensive lot he bought was a NZ$450,000 gelding by Encryption (Lonhro), who clocked a stunning 10.06 in his breeze. The gelding was offered by Sam Beatson’s Riversley Park for, who were crowned leading vendor for the eighth consecutive year in a row after selling 35 lots for NZ$6,945,000.
“It’s full–on having such a large draft, but we’ve got great staff,” said Beatson. “We like to get horses on the market early and let them find their value. We also bought at the lower end this year and it worked out.
“But to be able to breeze them on a consistent turf surface is the best advantage for everyone.
“Selling good genuine horses and keeping people happy is what I take pride in.”
Leanach Lodge finished the sale as the leading vendor by average, selling three youngsters for an average of NZ$303,333, while I Am Invincible was crowned leading sire, his four two-year-olds selling for an aggregate of NZ$2.7 million at an average of NZ$675,000.
Sale Statistics – Overall
2024 2023
Catalogued 404 383
Offered 324 308
Sold 254 (78%) 225 (73%)
Aggregate NZ$38,593,500 (+10%) NZ$35,107,000
Average NZ$151,943 (-2.6%) NZ$156,031
Median NZ$90,000 NZ$90,000
Top Lot NZ$1,650,000 NZ$825,000