At A Glance
>> Buying on his own for the first time, agent Bevan Smith made an impact when he paid NZ$95,000 for a weanling daughter of Tivaci.
>> Sharing top billing was a son of Australian-based first season sire Divine Prophet, who was secured by Lou Te Keeti’s BOP Bloodstock.
>> Rich Hill Stud’s Vadamos, was the leading sire of the weanling sale with his progeny selling for an average of NZ$34,125.
>> Haunui Farm was the leading vendor by aggregate with 12 weanlings sold for NZ $217,500.
>> Curraghmore was the leading vendor by average, with six lots sold for an average of NZ$35,000.
>> The average weanling price reached NZ$18,121, the median rose to NZ$10,000 with the aggregate closing at NZ$1,649,000 for 91 lots sold at a clearance rate of 71 per cent.
Top billing shared
Tivaci and Divine Prophet shared top honours during the Karaka May Sale when the former’s daughter, Lot 83, made NZ$95,000 and that price was matched later in the session by Divine Prophet’s son, Lot 135, to top the weanling division.
Group 1 winner Tivaci resides at Waikato Stud and principal Mark Chittick was understandably over the moon with the result.
“I’m pretty rapt with that. I went around the sale to have a look at what he had there and I knew they were good types,” he said.
“Certainly this filly really took my eye, she was all quality. It’s a great kick-start to the stallion’s career.”
Tivaci has been well-supported by breeders since his retirement to the premier Matamata nursery.
“He served 130 in the first year and 120 last season,” Chittick said. “In that first season, three-quarters of his book were either black type performers themselves or producers or half or full sisters to black type performers.”
Bold first move
Agent Bevan Smith made a bold statement when he bought the Tivaci filly, who was bred by Chrissy Bambry and her parents Tony and Judith and offered by Curraghmore, his first solo purchase after going out on his own following a period with the successful Group 1 purchaser Guy Mulcaster.
“She was a belter of a filly, in my opinion she was the best horse here at the sale,” Smith said.
“She was a lovely moving horse, she has got size and scope and I just think she is going to grow into a really nice horse.
“She is by an exciting new season sire in Tivaci. He has got great credentials and is an outstanding looking horse himself and he has passed that onto this filly.”
“She was a belter of a filly, in my opinion she was the best horse here at the sale.” - Bevan Smith.
Tivaci retired to Waikato Stud after a successful racing career for trainer Michael Moroney, culminating in his victory in the G1 All Aged S.
The filly is well-related and isn’t expected to take long to show off the family’s precociousness.
“We are not going to have to wait a long time for her,” Smith said. “There is 2-year-old form in the family. She is a half to two stakes winners and one of those is a 2-year-old.
“She has been bought for a new client. I have just gone out on my own and I have got some support from Defining Moments Racing.
“It is the first purchase under my own banner, it’s great to get the one I wanted. It’s a good start I hope.” – Bevan Smith.
“We will decide what we are going to do with her, she may come back through a sale next year or we will assess things after winter and see if we want to keep her and race her.
Tivaci
“She has got a pedigree, so if she does turn out to be a good racehorse, she is going to have a lot of residual value there.
“It is the first purchase under my own banner, it’s great to get the one I wanted. It’s a good start I hope.
The filly is a half-sister to Listed winners Lord Turbo (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) and Alcaldesa (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu (NZ).
Honours equal
Sharing top billing was the colt from the first crop of Divine Prophet, the G1 Caulfield Guineas who stands at the Hunter Valley arm of Aquis’ operation, and he was signed for by Lou Te Keeti’s BOP Bloodstock for NZ$95,000.
Offered by the Taylor family’s Koru Thoroughbreds, he is out of the Pins mare Caramellos (NZ), who is a sister to the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders S. winner Viennetta (NZ) and a half-sister to the G3 Lion Red Plate winner Butterscotch (NZ) (Gold Brose).
It is also the family of the Group 1 winners Headturner (Anabaa {USA}), O’Marilyn (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Anacheeva (Anabaa {USA}).
Lot 135 goes through the ring at the Karaka May Sale
“We have a farm policy that for any dry mares that we have we send to Australia to get in-foal.” - Julie Taylor.
Koru also sold Lot 92, a Divine Prophet filly out of the Starcraft (NZ) mare Startina to Hallmark Stud for NZ$60,000.
“We have a farm policy that for any dry mares that we have we send to Australia to get in-foal,” - Julie Taylor
“We went and saw Divine Prophet and just loved him. We knew Proisir, a full-brother, was here in New Zealand and we really liked him, but they are two different horses.
“We sent two dry mares over to Australia, they got in-foal and then brought them back home.”
Thompson happy
Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson also had a smile a mile wide after they sold their colt, Lot 77, by resident sire Vadamos (Fr) for NZ$80,000 to Te Akau Stud’s David Ellis. It was the second-highest price of the weanling sale.
“A lot of people told us he was a stand-out colt,” Thompson said. “I expected him to sell well and that was a bit above so it was great.
“He’s gone to a leading stable, you couldn’t ask for anything better and it’s a terrific start for Vadamos.”
Lot 77 Vadamos (Fr) x Selenus
Ellis strikes
Te Akau principal David Ellis bought the highest-priced Vadamos (Fr) weanling and he predicted a bright future for the stallion.
“I think Vadamos is a very good chance at stud and just the sort of stallion that New Zealand is desperate for,” Ellis said.
“I can see him leaving some really good stayers in the years to come. I bought this horse for a first-time Te Akau owner and I bought him to win the Derby.”
Ellis said he found it hard to fault the youngster, who is out of the winning Pentire (GB) mare Selenus and from the family of international Group winners Altazarr (USA) (Relaunch {USA}) and Irish Gypsy (USA) (Hennessy {USA}).
“He’s a very, very athletic colt and has lovely balance. He’s obviously got a good constitution and a good looking colt. He’s just a magnificent individual.”
Te Akau principal David Ellis
Top buyer
The leading purchaser of the sale by aggregate was Hallmark Stud, who secured five weanlings for a combined price of NZ$196,000.
“I thought there was great value here,” Hallmark’s Mark Baker. “The one day sale got rid of a lot of the less desirable types and I thought there were more nice horses on offer than in previous years.”
Sales representative Regan Donnison said New Zealand Bloodstock was pleased with the day’s trade.
“With the reduced quantity of horses on offer we were confident that the quality was much better than last year and that’s been reflected by the increase in average and median.”
Leaderboards
Top lots: overall
| 83 | B.F | Tivaci / Sitting on a Hill | Curraghmore | Bevan Smith Bloodstock / Defining Moments Racing | Waikato | $95,000 |
| 135 | B.C | Divine Prophet / Caramellos | Koru Thoroughbreds | BOP Bloodstock | Bay of Plenty | $95,000 |
| 77 | B.C | Vadamos / Selenus | Rich Hill Stud | Mr DC Ellis | Te Akau | $80,000 |
| 149 | B.C | Iffraaj / Diva Down Under | Brighthill Farm | Carlaw Park | Waikato | $65,000 |
| 92 | BB.F | Divine Prophet / Startina | Koru Thoroughbreds | Hallmark Stud | Waikato | $60,000 |
| 154 | B.C | Flying Artie / Dynastic Lady | Curraghmore | Mr CW Kwok | Hong Kong | $55,000 |
| 215 | B.M | Schiaparelli | Pencarrow Stud | Milbourne Farm | Waikato | $55,000 |
| 52 | BR.C | Kermadec / Oxana | Haunui Farm | Cypress Point Farms | Auckland | $52,500 |
| 14 | BR.C | Vancouver / High Hostess | Westbury Stud | Highview Bloodstock | Waikato | $50,000 |
| 85 | BR.C | Shamexpress / Skaapa | Monovale Farm | Hallmark Stud | Waikato | $50,000 |
Top lots: weanlings
| 83 | B.F | Tivaci / Sitting on a Hill | Curraghmore | Bevan Smith Bloodstock / Defining Moments Racing | Waikato | $95,000 |
| 135 | B.C | Divine Prophet / Caramellos | Koru Thoroughbreds | BOP Bloodstock | Bay of Plenty | $95,000 |
| 77 | B.C | Vadamos / Selenus | Rich Hill Stud | Mr DC Ellis | Te Akau | $80,000 |
| 149 | B.C | Iffraaj / Diva Down Under | Brighthill Farm | Carlaw Park | Waikato | $65,000 |
| 92 | BB.F | Divine Prophet / Startina | Koru Thoroughbreds | Hallmark Stud | Waikato | $60,000 |
| 154 | B.C | Flying Artie / Dynastic Lady | Curraghmore | Mr CW Kwok | Hong Kong | $55,000 |
| 52 | BR.C | Kermadec / Oxana | Haunui Farm | Cypress Point Farms | Auckland | $52,500 |
| 14 | BR.C | Vancouver / High Hostess | Westbury Stud | Highview Bloodstock | Waikato | $50,000 |
| 85 | BR.C | Shamexpress / Skaapa | Monovale Farm | Hallmark Stud | Waikato | $50,000 |
| 1 | BR.C | Sweynesse / Eleesha | Westend Partnership | Kilgravin Holdings | Waikato | $40,000 |
| 109 | BR.C | Proisir / Works Wonders | Pear Tree Farm | Mr DM Goldsbury | Manawatu | $40,000 |
Top lots: broodmares
| 215 | B.M | Schiaparelli | Pencarrow Stud | Milbourne Farm | Waikato | $55,000 |
| 233 | BR.M | Baubo | Phoenix Park | Mr PA Willetts | Queensland | $50,000 |
| 238 | B.M | Champagne Tastes | Phoenix Park | Mr DW Wallace | Wellington | $45,000 |
| 186 | Ch.M | Goldilicious | Mapperley Stud | Mr PA Willetts | Auckland | $38,000 |
| 184 | BRG.M | Freequence | Haunui Farm | Kakasiri International Trading | Auckland | $31,000 |
| 209 | B.M | Pomellato | Pencarrow Stud | Waikino Bloodstock | Waikato | $18,000 |
| 225 | B.M | Treasure the Cross | Westbury Stud | Mr GJ Rogers | Victoria | $17,000 |
| 193 | BG.M | Lady Zhivago | Haunui Farm | Mr CL Sim | Southland | $16,000 |
| 187 | G.M | Groovy Choice | Haunui Farm | Mr H Smit | Waikato | $15,000 |
| 208 | G.M | Phoebe Snow | Haunui Farm | Milan Park / Little River Thoroughbreds | Waikato | $15,000 |
Top overall buyers by aggregate
| Hallmark Stud (Waikato) | 6 | $207,000.00 | $34,500.00 | $60,000 (Lot 92) |
| Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau) | 3 | $150,000.00 | $50,000.00 | $80,000 (Lot 77) |
| BOP Bloodstock (Bay of Plenty) | 2 | $125,000.00 | $62,500.00 | $95,000 (Lot 135) |
| Mr PA Willetts (Queensland) | 3 | $113,000.00 | $37,667.00 | $50,000 (Lot 233) |
| Bevan Smith Bloodstock / Defining Moments Racing (Waikato) | 1 | $95,000.00 | $95,000.00 | $95,000 (Lot 83) |
| Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Victoria) | 4 | $94,500.00 | $23,625.00 | $35,000 (Lot 78) |
| Carlaw Park (Waikato) | 1 | $65,000.00 | $65,000.00 | $65,000 (Lot 149) |
| Mr CW Kwok (Hong Kong) | 2 | $65,000.00 | $32,500.00 | $55,000 (Lot 154) |
| Cypress Point Farms (Auckland) | 2 | $58,500.00 | $29,250.00 | $52,500 (Lot 52) |
| Milbourne Farm (Waikato) | 1 | $55,000.00 | $55,000.00 | $55,000 (Lot 215) |
Top overall vendors by aggregate
| Haunui Farm | 18 | $297,500 | $16,528 | $52,500 (Lot 52) |
| Brighthill Farm | 14 | $229,000 | $16,357 | $65,000 (Lot 149) |
| Curraghmore | 6 | $210,000 | $35,000 | $95,000 (Lot 83) |
| Koru Thoroughbreds | 2 | $155,000 | $77,500 | $95,000 (Lot 135) |
| Phoenix Park | 5 | $141,500 | $28,300 | $50,000 (Lot 233) |
| Rich Hill Stud | 10 | $134,000 | $13,400 | $80,000 (Lot 77) |
| Mapperley Stud | 6 | $119,000 | $19,833 | $38,000 (Lot 186) |
| Pencarrow Stud | 9 | $108,000 | $12,000 | $55,000 (Lot 215) |
| Monovale Farm | 3 | $97,500 | $32,500 | $50,000 (Lot 85) |
| Westbury Stud | 6 | $93,000 | $15,500 | $50,000 (Lot 14) |
