Optimism Ahead of New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Sale

After a fruitful few months on the track for New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale graduates, confidence from both sides of the bench is high ahead of this year's edition, which begins its two-day run in Karaka Nov. 20. This year's renewal has a hard act to follow, coming off the back of a record-breaking 2023 that saw numbers smashed across the board. The total aggregate increased by 39% to more than NZ$35.1 million and no less than 12 lots selling for NZ$500,000 or more. Meanwhile, the average closed at NZ$156,031 (US$94,369, NZ$1=US$.60), an increase of 21% over the figure recorded at the 2022 sale. Kane Jones, New Zealand Bloodstock's sales manager, told ANZ Bloodstock News that while it will be a hard task to top last year's results, the auction house believes it has a high-class group of juveniles assembled—404 before withdrawals. NZB expects they will be well received by both domestic and international buyers who have been perusing the sales ground in search of the next star graduate. The 2024 Ready to Run Sale catalog features the progeny of 101 of the biggest names in not just the stallion ranks of Australasia, but globally, including sons and daughters of proven sires such as Savabeel (AUS), I Am Invincible (AUS), Invincible Spirit (IRE), Snitzel (AUS), Deep Field (AUS), Proisir (AUS), Toronado (IRE), and Written Tycoon (AUS), to name only a few. "This year's sale is especially strong sire-wise. Apart from the local sires such as Savabeel, Proisir, and Per Incanto, the Deep Fields, I Am Invincibles, and Toronados will be much sought after," Jones said. "Whether we can match last year remains to be seen as 2023 was an exceptional sale, but the signs are good." In the space of 12 months, the auction's reputation has been added to courtesy of Warmonger (NZ), the runaway winner of last season's Queensland Derby (G1), and Megastar Heart (AUS), last year's top lot who lived up his NZ$825,000 price tag when triumphing in June's Oxlade Stakes at Eagle Farm. In the last few weeks, the sale has been thrust into the spotlight once again due to the exploits of group 1-winning miler graduates Antino (NZ), Ceolwulf (NZ), and Mr Brightside (NZ), who were all sourced at the sale. Agent Phill Cataldo said: "I hope to buy a few but there will be plenty of competition. The sale has a terrific history, which explains why so many good judges are here. "It's a top catalog with a lot of nice 2-year-olds. I looked at one draft earlier and they have more than several outstanding lots. I reckon they will have a great sale." The sale has been a happy hunting ground for Asian jurisdictions recently. In 2023, buyers from Hong Kong spent more than NZ$16.5 million on 69 lots, making up a huge 47.5% of the market share. Hong Kong's marquee pair of Golden Sixty (AUS), by Medaglia d'Oro, and Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) were both bought at the sale for NZ$300,000 and NZ$90,000, respectively, graduates who no doubt add to the sale's appeal for buyers from the jurisdiction. Both Wednesday and Thursday's sessions begin at 11 a.m. (NZT). Click here to view the catalog.