Day One of NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale witnessed incredible results across the board, including an Australasian record for a two-year-old at auction.
The aggregate reached $18,547,000, an increase of 14% on the previous year at the same stage. Other key sale indicators also increased, with the average reaching $173,336 (+10%) and the median settling at $90,000.
The top two lots of the day were both progeny of Champion sire I Am Invincible, with Lot 174 (ex Shillelagh) setting a Southern Hemisphere record when selling for $1,650,000.
Knocked down to Te Akau Racing, David Ellis was elated to secure the fast-breezing colt.
“The fact that we trained Shillelagh for Christopher and Susanna Grace makes this quite special for Te Akau, but the simple fact is that I thought he was easily the nicest colt I’ve ever seen at the Ready to Run Sale,” commented Ellis.
“I was on the toe the whole time he was in the ring, because I really wanted to take this horse home. At one stage my wife Karyn [Fenton-Ellis] said to me, ‘If you really, really like this colt, don’t be beaten.’
“That gave me the confidence to put in those last couple of bids.”
Prepared and offered by Kiltannon Stables, an emotional Lorraine Forbes reflected on the result.
“We knew he would go well but that result was amazing. It’s pretty exciting.”
“This is huge for us. We are only a small team, and for Christopher and Suzanna to trust us with a horse like this means a lot.
“He’s been such a pleasure to prepare, he’s got such a cool nature and it’s so good to see him go to Te Akau so we can watch him race which is even more exciting,” she added.
Happy to be back in his homeland, Yulong’s Sam Fairgray was delighted to secure the second highest-priced lot of the day, Lot 32 (ex La Luna Rossa colt) for $675,000.
“It’s great to be back in New Zealand amongst the vendors.”
“Vinnie is a champion stallion, and this colt has a really nice pedigree page to match,” he added.
“He put his head down and paraded well, and I really liked his breeze up. He’ll head back to Australia and take it easy and will be trained by Chris Waller."
NZB’s Head Auctioneer Mike Kneebone commended today’s results.
“It’s a remarkable Sale. It keeps pushing the boundaries.”
“Yesterday at the welcome drinks, I looked around and thought the buying bench was as good and as strong as I’ve ever seen, and the results are starting to show for that.”
“There’s about 40 Malaysians and 17 of their trainers here. They’ve made Karaka their base they want to buy horses from.”
“I’ve also been amazed with the Australian spend. They don’t normally buy two-year-olds, so to see them hunting up behind Hong Kong, only behind by a few million is remarkable.
“But with results on the racetrack with the likes of Ceolwulf, Mr Brightside, Antino and Warmonger, it’s no surprise that they have come to play.”
To make enquiries about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz, or Andrew Buick on +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz.
Selling on Day Two commences at 11am (NZT) on Thursday 21 November, with the broadcast coverage beginning from 10:30am (NZT).
The Sale will continue to be streamed on Freeview channel 200 and SKY channel 64 in New Zealand, plus the usual feed to NZB’s website and Facebook page.
Catch all the Ready to Run Sale highlights on NZB’s Sale TV channel here.
Ready to Run Sale Statistics – Day One (at end of selling)
| 2024 Ready to Run Sale - Day One | 2023 Ready to Run Sale - Day One | 2022 Ready to Run Sale - Day One | 2021 Ready to Run Sale - Day One (Virtual) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate | $18,547,000 | $16,206,500 | $11,329,500 | $10,344,000 |
| Average | $173,336 | $157,345 | $124,500 | $129,300 |
| Median | $90,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 |
| Clearance | 66% | 68% | 65% | 65% |
| Catalogued | 200 | 190 | 170 | 160 |
| Offered | 161 | 151 | 139 | 124 |
| Sold | 107 | 103 | 91 | 80 |
| Top Lot | Lot 174 $1,650,000 I Am Invincible - Shillelagh (Br.C) | Lot 143 $800,000 Harry Angel - Monrecour (B.C) | Lot 166 $575,000 Savabeel - Maxmara (Br.C) | Lot 107 $640,000 Savabeel - Etiquette (Br.C) |
2024 Ready to Run Sale – Day One Top Lots
| Lot | Sire | Dam | Sex | Vendor | Purchaser | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 174 | I Am Invincible | Shillelagh | Colt | Kiltannon Stables | Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) | $1,650,000 |
| 32 | I Am Invincible | La Luna Rossa | Colt | KB Bloodstock | YLP (Victoria) | $675,000 |
| 79 | Proisir | Miss Vegas | Gelding | Riversley Park | Andrew Williams Bloodstock / Hong Kong Bloodstock (New South Wales) | $650,000 |
| 122 | Ole Kirk | Press Box | Gelding | Lyndhurst Farm | Magus Equine (Hong Kong) | $550,000 |
| 190 | Deep Field | Sorpesee | Colt | Ohukia Lodge | Douglas Whyte / Sam Wright / Bevan Smith Bloodstock (Hong Kong) | $550,000 |
| 83 | Xtravagant | Moshki | Colt | KB Bloodstock | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Racing / Blandford Bloodstock (New South Wales) | $450,000 |
| 88 | Deep Field | My Goodness | Colt | Riversley Park | Mr KM Yeung (Hong Kong) | $425,000 |
| 145 | Ghaiyyath | Romantic Whisper | Colt | Phoenix Park | PR Thoroughbreds / Lindsay Park Racing (Victoria) | $425,000 |
| 186 | Star Turn | Soiree | Gelding | Riversley Park | Mr R Yiu (Hong Kong) | $400,000 |
| 48 | So You Think | Lost Diamond | Colt | Ohukia Lodge | Mr KM Yeung (Hong Kong) | $380,000 |
