NZB's day two wrap

An action-packed day two at Karaka 2018 saw leading buyer David Ellis provide the fireworks with a sale-topping bid of $1,025,000 to acquire Cambridge Stud’s striking Savabeel at Lot 301.

A colt from New Zealand champion three-year-old Katie Lee, whose stellar career was highlighted with victories in both the Gr.1 1000 Guineas and Gr.1 2000 Guineas, herself the daughter of Group winner Miss Jessie Jay.

Ellis, who suggested the colt was a horse that could win a Sires' Produce and 2000 Guineas, was thrilled with his new addition to the Te Akau stable.

“He’s just one of those colts I had to have – he’s a beautiful example of equine excellence," the Te Akau boss said.

“I can see him winning a Group One like the Sires Produce and then heading to Australia to win a good two-year-old race but our goal will be the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.”

The son of Savabeel was one of two six-figure yearlings today, the other coming earlier in the day at Lot 156, a colt by Fastnet Rock knocked down to Mark Pilkington Bloodstock in conjunction with Lindsay Park Racing.

A hugely competitive day in the sale ring had Ellis successful 17 times, including with the third highest price of the day of $900,000 for the Savabeel filly at Lot 290, also from the Cambridge Stud draft.

The high-class youngster comes from a blueblood family of multiple stakes winners including prolific mare La Sizeranne (Stravinsky) and Group One Australian Derby winner Tavago (Tavistock).

Admitting it had been 10 years since he had laid eyes on a filly of her quality, the filly was the first that Ellis has bought for his newly formed fillies syndicate.

At the end of day two, Ellis was on track to retaining the leading buyer title for his 13th consecutive year having secured 17 yearlings for $4.6 million, with two of his highest-priced yearlings from the final draft presented by Sir Patrick Hogan under his Cambridge Stud banner.

A broad international buying bench has fuelled much of the action today, with eight countries accounting for the sale of 158 yearlings and $26.5 million in turnover so far. But domestic buyers have held their own against the international company securing five of the top 10 lots.

In terms of sire power, Tavistock and Savabeel continued to feature prominently, with Waikato Stud also to the fore with their first season sire Sacred Falls.

Leading the freshman sire’s list by average with 15 yearlings sold for $2.19 million, Sacred Falls’ highest price yet came at Lot 95 when purchased for $275,000 by Waikato Bloodstock for their Hong Kong client.

With 320 lots having been offered over the first two days, the Sale is tracking ahead of all expectations. The clearance has remained strong at 77%, representing 232 lots sold so far for $38.3 million, at an impressive average of $165,119.

2018 Book 1 Yearling Sale Statistics – Day 1 and Day 2

Top Lots