NZB Ready To Run Sale Concludes With Record Results

The second and final session of NZB's Ready To Run Sale propelled the auction to another record-breaking conclusion Nov. 13, with the aggregate soaring past NZ$41 million (US$23,179,145, NZ$1=US$0.57) and both the average of NZ$156,255 (US$88,338) and median of NZ$100,000 (US$56,535) reaching all-time highs. The results underscored the sale's continued growth as one of the world's most successful 2-year-old auctions. "It's quite remarkable, another record-breaking sale," NZB's bloodstock sales manager Kane Jones said. "The whole team have put in a massive shift, not just over the last few days, but months out, and even years building relationships for this sale. I'm very proud of the entire team. "It's just a magical number hitting that NZ$41 million in turnover, but the average is up, median is up as well, which indicates that the middle market was particularly strong. "This sale has gone from strength to strength in the last five years. The horses breezed phenomenally, and the type of horses that are brought to this sale improves year on year. It's just a credit to the vendors who continue to support this sale and make it what it is." Hong Kong buyer Yeung Kin-Man emerged to once again finish leading buyer, the second half of the catalog inspiring 82.8% of his NZ$3.57 million total spend across 16 lots, the lion's share going on the sales-topping NZ$825,000 (US$466,410) son of Australia's champion sire Zoustar (AUS)—Lot 374. Sam Beaton's Riversley Park finished a leading vendor for the eighth consecutive year, selling 33 of its 39 lots for NZ$6,525,000, the highlight being the Satono Aladdin (JPN) colt (Lot 105), who sold for NZ$675,000 to Sanxiong Gao. Of the 353 lots offered, 265 were sold to produce a strong clearance rate of 75%, in line with recent years. Consigned by Kit Brooks' KB Bloodstock as Lot 374, the sale-topping Zoustar is the fourth foal out of stakes-winning Hussonet mare Hijack Hussy, from the family of Hong Kong Sprint (G1) winner Inspiration, Australian Guineas (G1) winner Wandjina, and fellow group 1 scorers Masked Party and Festal. "Mr. Yeung was looking for another Zoustar. This one looks big and strong and is an early type, so it's likely we will bring him to Hong Kong earlier," bloodstock agent Willie Leung said. "Last year we bought more, and we are already about to bring ten new horses to Hong Kong. He wanted to stock up a little bit more and then pick the quality ones to go to Hong Kong." Brooks said he couldn't have been happier with how the NZ$200,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase presented throughout the preparation, and was pleasantly surprised by the figure he returned. "He's a beautiful-natured colt who was the stable favorite," he told ANZ News. "Gee, I wish we could find a few more like him. He was a pleasure to have around. He made our job real easy. "He's big and strong, perfect for Hong Kong, and he handled the preparation in his stride. I thought he'd make around NZ$500,000, but I was a little surprised at the NZ$825,000." Next on the New Zealand sales calendar is the much-anticipated 100th National Yearling Sale, kicking off with the TAB Karaka Millions Raceday at Ellerslie Jan. 24, Book 1 at Karaka Jan. 25-26, Book 2 Jan. 27, and the Karaka Summer Sale Jan. 29.