New Zealand sale ends on positive note

A successful conclusion to the New Zealand Bloodstock's three-day National

Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale has seen the remaining broodmares on

offer met with solid demand to record increases across the board.

The highlight of Tuesday's broodmare offering was Hip No. 561, a six-year-old

Fusaichi Pegasus mare. Out of the Group 2 winner Precious Glitter (Danehill),

Glitter Woman (Aus) sold for NZ$250,000. In foal to Zabeel (NZ), the bay, who

was consigned by Curraghmore Stud, was purchased by Margaret and Murray Hardy's

Camray Trust.

The second highest price of the evening was given for Hip 617, from the draft

of Seaton Park Ltd, agent. Make Me Dream, an unraced Sadler's Wells mare, was

secured by the Hong Kong Breeders Club for NZ$210,000. Out of French listed

winner Heavenly Calm (Diesis [GB]), the nine-year-old mare is in foal to Pins.

A positive atmosphere around the sale grounds translated into good results

for the newly united broodmare and weanling sessions, including a 78 percent

clearance rate for the broodmare portion of the sale, up from 66 percent last

year. With 312 broodmares cataloged, the largest at Karaka since 2004, 222 sold

for NZ$2,681,150, up 81 percent from NZ$1,482,550 realized for 138 last year.

The median price for the broodmares climbed 33 percent to NZ$4,000, up from

NZ$3,000 in 2007, while average followed suit to finish at NZ$12,077, up 12

percent from NZ$10,743 in 2007.

Leading all broodmare buyers was the Hong Kong Breeders Club, who five for

head NZ$262,100. John O'Flaherty's Oughterard Farm in Te Aroha led the broodmare

vendors by average with three sold for an average of NZ$36,000, while Rachel

Spriggins' Walnut Hill Farms in Matamata was the leading vendor by aggregate

with 17 mares sold for NZ$334,800.

At the conclusion of the three-day sale, total turnover was NZ$7,376,550 for

588 horses sold from the 777 cataloged. The overall average weighed in at

NZ$12,545, with a median of NZ$5,000, and a healthy clearance rate across all

three days of 84 percent.

For complete sale results, visit www.nzb.co.nz.