‘The sale has a great history of success so there is good reason for buyers to be confident’
New Zealand Bloodstock prepares for its first major sale since pandemic struck
Vendors are in uncharted territory ahead of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale as they attempt to navigate the two-day auction without many of the familiar faces who often underpin the market being at the Karaka complex.
Inspections ramped up yesterday as the reliance on New Zealand bloodstock agents and their international contacts to help achieve reasonable trading of the 311 lots became apparent for consignors who say they remain optimistic, albeit realistic, about healthy buyer competition taking place from tomorrow.
Prima Park’s Kelly Van Dyk said a number of inquiries, including from those potential buyers who are unable to attend Karaka this year, had been more frequent than she expected.
“We’ve been pretty busy today and actually pleasantly surprised, but who knows what will happen, being the first New Zealand sale since the world was tipped upside down,” Van Dyk said yesterday.
“One very pleasing thing is the number of calls and texts from offshore asking our opinion of many of our lots and that is on top of all the great information available.
“So, we are very hopeful. We have done our best and we will see what happens on Wednesday.”
Ohukia Lodge’s Jamie Beatson echoed Van Dyk’s comments in regards to inspection numbers and interest in the lead-up to the sale.
“We have been quite busy since we arrived yesterday. Busier than I expected. It has been very steady,” he said.
“We had a lot of phone calls after the breeze ups, mainly from Australia, so that is positive. Interest is good.
“The middle market could be tough, but as always the top lots look after themselves.”
Waikato Bloodstock’s Ginger Tankard backed up many opinions in saying the sale would be “a guessing game and no one knows” how it will pan out.
“The top 20 per cent stand out and many of these we saw as yearlings,” Tankard said.
“We have seen some really nice two-year-olds, though. In fact, we are spoilt for choice.
“With so many top judges, you aren’t going to steal one. We have also gone to trials and have seen some as many as three or four times.”
Last year’s sale averaged NZ$88,866, with a median of NZ$55,000 and a clearance rate of 78 per cent.
Unsurprisingly, Australia was the biggest segment of the market, with 93 horses sold for a total of NZ$8.779 million at an average of NZ$94,398, while Hong Kong bought 33 lots (average NZ$143,788).
Singapore’s spend was down dramatically last year, with 16 two-year-olds bought for the Asia jurisdiction, well down on the 41 bought the previous year. That trend has continued at the two Australian sales in recent weeks.
Westbury Stud’s Russell Warwick encouraged New Zealand owners and trainers, who last year bought 94 horses at an average of NZ$79,782, to make the most of this week’s auction.
“The sale is going to be very much in the hands of the vendors but if any sale is to succeed using the online, digital platform, this is the one,” Warwick said.
“Buyers have so much information now, so being here physically might not be so important.
“The sale has a great history of success so there is good reason for buyers to be confident in their purchases, even when buying online.
“The other thing is that this sale presents a great opportunity for local trainers and buyers to get some really nice horses without having to compete against overseas dollars.”
Phoenix Park’s Janine Dunlop suggested the standard of horses on offer was above average but whether that translated into sale results, she was unsure.
“How is the sale going to go? That’s the million dollar question,” Dunlop queried.
“Our activity has been good and the agents appear to have done their homework. One of the things about the sale is that for two-year-olds to get here they have had to pass all sorts of tests.
“Anything not up to standard will already have been withdrawn, so competition might be quite good.
“Those in the sale at this point are all pretty good, that’s why they are here. As always, the top ones stand out but I have stressed to my clients that meeting the market is paramount. I stress that at every sale.”
Regal Farm proprietors Shane Crawford and Kara Waters, who have four horses set to go under the hammer, are in the fortunate position of having sold a Deep Field (Northern Meteor) colt for $610,000 at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale last month.
“It’s going to be a buyers’ market, for sure, and the middle could be tough but we are here to meet the market. We are keeping our fingers crossed, even if it looks a little dicey,” Waters said.
“We are on a bit of a high, however, having sold the top lot in Sydney. Lime Country sold on our behalf.
“We did all the prep and sent him over four days before the sale.”
New Zealand Bloodstock sales manager Danny Rolston said the vendors who have supported this year’s sale would be doing their best to meet the market.
“The vendors are under no illusion regarding the challenges presented by the current circumstances, but they have really risen to that challenge with their individual efforts. For that they should be complimented,” Rolston said.
“Feedback has been positive and I think they will be realistic when their lots are in the ring.”
Day one of the NZB Ready to Run Sale starts tomorrow at 1pm New Zealand time.