Hong Kong buyers dominate at Ready To Run Sale

Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

At A Glance

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The top price on day two was NZ$775,000 paid for Lot 288, a Churchill (Ire) colt bought by Patella Bloodstock.

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Hong Kong buyers accounted for 45 per cent of the total spend across the two days, buying 75 horses for NZ$17 million.

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With 250 horses sold across the two days, the aggregate was NZ$38.1 million, which compared well to 2023 where 225 horses sold for NZ$35.1 million.

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The average on the second day struggled without the same number of high priced lots coming in at NZ$147,449, compared to NZ$175,590 for day one.

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Overall this impacted the average for the sale, which was NZ$153,147 for the two days, which was slightly down on 2023’s average of NZ$156,031.

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There was no change in the median, as both the whole sale and day two recorded a median of NZ$90,000, the same as in 2023.

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The clearance rate of 78 per cent was an improvement on 2023’s clearance rate of 73 per cent.

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The number of lots who sold for over NZ$500,000 was down in 2024 with eight compared to 12 in 2023.

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I Am Invincible lead on aggregate and average with four sold for NZ$675,000, while Toronado (Ire) was popular with Hong Kong buyers.

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The leading vendor by sales was Riversley Park with 35 horses sold for NZ$6.9 million, while the leading buyer was Hong Kong’s KM Yeung who purchased 24 horses for just under NZ$5 million.

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Hong Kong buyers to the forefront

Hong Kong buyers spent NZ$7.3 million on 33 horses on day one, and the spending continued on day two with 41 horses bought for NZ$9.7 million. All up, over the two days, Hong Kong were responsible for 75 horses costing NZ$17 million which was 45 per cent of the total aggregate for the sale.

“It’s hard to compete with Hong Kong. There’s a lot of Hong Kong buyers here. There’s a lot of geldings here and for us, it’s hard to pay big money for a gelding. We still want the colt dream still alive particularly if they are those sharper sprinter types,” Annabel Neasham told nzb.co.nz.

“There’s a lot of lovely horses here, colts, fillies and geldings. … (we’ve been) amazed at the quality. A lot of nice horses and a variety of staying types and sprinters.”

Table: Top lots purchased by Hong Kong-based buyers

KM Leung, owner of Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) purchased 24 horses to be the sale's leading buyer on aggregate for just under NZ$5 million at an average of NZ$208,125. Agent Willie Leung bought on his behalf and spoke to NZB. “The New Zealand Bloodstock breeze up sale produces a lot of good horses for Hong Kong. Mr Yeung bought a Super Seth last year and he tasted a good result, and that’s why he’s come back this year,” said Leung. The Super Seth in question is 3-year-old gelding Patch Of Cosmo (NZ) who has won two of his six starts in Hong Kong.

“He’s very happy with the quality provided here. We will try to get the best ones to Hong Kong, but we still need the numbers so we will see when they are ready and then they will go to Hong Kong as a 2-year-old or 3-year-old in the future.

“Most will stay in New Zealand for their education and preparation and then we will see if they race here, or go direct to Hong Kong.”

Leung also buys as Magus Equine. “I also represent Francis Liu. For Francis, we’ve had a good result in the past with Golden Sixty and this year is the first time he’s come back since COVID. Hopefully we get another Golden Sixty.”

Willie Leung was enthusiastic about New Zealand. “It’s a beautiful place. I always love coming here to buy horses and go to see my horses in Cambridge and Matamata. And the city is beautiful, just a little bit of traffic, but it’s a nice place with nice seafood here also.”

Table: Top lots

Massive result for Riverrock with Churchill colt

Mike Kneebone’s Patella Bloodstock was quiet on day one, but began the second day with a strong pair, buying Lot 243, a Toronado (Ire) gelding for NZ$110,000 and then splashing out NZ$775,000 for Ukinno (Churchill {Ire}).

Ukinno, a colt, was purchased by Riverrock Farm at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $25,000 from Twin Hills Stud, and they took the risk of taking him to the trials before the sale and it paid off in spades with Ukinno winning over 850 metres on October 1st.

“The trial probably made a bit of a difference but the breeze up is the main focus for these buyers. He sold himself, basically on his physicality, his nature and his presence,” said Riverrock Farm’s Chad Ormsby. Ukinno breezed in 10.42s.

“You always need a little bit of luck, and if you get one that goes well in Hong Kong that helps too. We’re over the moon and he’s got good people around him from now on in.” The good one in Hong Kong that Ormsby referred to is Churchill ’s son Encountered (Ire) who was a group winner in Hong Kong recently.

Ukinno is the third foal of Bagitol (Pierro) who is an unraced daughter of Listed Mode Plate winner Caliente (Sequalo). Further back, this is the family of Group 1 winners Duporth and Excites. Bagitol’s first runner, Pano’s Pride (Pride Of Dubai) was a winner on November 5, and Caliente is the dam of Falcon Court (Deep Field) who placed a couple of times in Hong Kong last season for David Hayes.

Toronado popular with Hong Kong buyers

With six lots entered, Toronado (Ire) has been popular with Hong Kong buyers with four going that way, led by Lot 283, a colt who sold on the second day to Ms B Yim for NZ$625,000. Consigned by BMD Bloodstock, the colt was bought by S. McGrath as a yearling from Newhaven Park for $97,500 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

“I rated that colt one of the best horses in the sale. Toronado is going very well in Hong Kong, and it’s great to secure such a high-quality son of that stallion for Francis (Lui, trainer). The type of horse that he is, the dream is a race like the Hong Kong Derby (2000 metres),” agent Willie Leung told Loveracing.nz.

“He’ll probably stay here in New Zealand through until the end of next winter, and then we’ll take things from there. Francis and I have had some great luck at this sale in the past with horses like Golden Sixty, so let’s hope for some more.”

His dam, Attractive (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) is well-related being a half-sister to Group 1 winner Velocitea (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), Listed winner Weaponry (NZ) (Declaration Of War {USA}) and Group-placed winner Maastricht (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Maastricht, a $2.25 million purchase by Coolmore and James Bester Bloodstock at the 2019 Inglis Chairman’s Sale, is best known as the dam of dual Group 1 winner Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible).

Attractive is the dam of one winner, Undefeated (Shamus Award) who was a winner in Hong Kong from only three starts.

“It’s been a strong sale,” Leung said. “There are some very good quality horses here, and you have to be prepared to pay quite a bit of money to get the ones that you want.”

On the first day Pierre Ng purchased Lot 71 for NZ$250,000. Lot 71, who breezed in 10.97, is the first foal of G3 WA Oaks-placed Miss Dominican (Blackfriars).

Patella Bloodstock purchased Lot 243 on day two for NZ$110,000. This Toronado colt breezed n 10.55 and is out of unraced mare We’ll Never Know (Starspangledbanner) who is half-sister to Group 3 winner in South Africa, Fish River (Canford Cliffs {Ire}). We’ll Never Know’s first two foals are winners being 4-year-old mare Enigmatise (Toronado {Ire}) and 3-year-old gelding The Heir (Rich Enuff) who won as a July 2-year-old last season.

Toronado colt, Lot 357, was bought by Raymond Chow for NZ$200,000. Offered by Ohukia Lodge, he breezed in 10.74 and is out of proven broodmare Enchanted Dawn (USA) (War Front {USA}) who has produced four winners with her 3-year-old filly Bewitchery (Blue Point {Ire}) placed at her third start at the start of this month. Enchanted Dawn is a full sister to Group 3 winner Intelligence Cross (USA) and Listed winner Sweet Orange (USA).

Vinnie leads the way

With the top lot of the sale at NZ$1.65 million on the first day, it wasn’t a surprise to see I Am Invincible top the sale on both aggregate and average. Four of his five catalogued lots sold for an aggregate of N$2.7 million at an average of NZ$675,000.

Toronado, covered above, was second on aggregate with six lots sold at 100 per cent clearance for NZ$1.725 million at an average of NZ$287,500.

Table: Top sires by aggregate

Among those sires with impressive averages, it was Churchill (Ire) who came second to I Am Invincible with two of his three lots selling for an average of NZ$575,000, led by his day two sale's topper.

Ghaiyyath (Ire) was the only first season sire to make the top 10 on average with two lots selling for an average of NZ$292,500.

Table: Top sires by average

The depth of the buying bench was a success

New Zealand Bloodstock continue to be the premier sale at this format and NZB’s Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones saw the results compared to last year as a solid indication of the middle of the market.

“It was a particularly buoyant day of trade. One thing I was thrilled to see was that the clearance rate rose to 78 per cent overall. It’s testament to vendors, buyers, and our team working behind the scenes. The average was solid, and we saw strong spirited competition for those quality horses through the ring."

Table: Top buyers by aggregate

“The international buying bench was strong, and it was also good to see local trainers here. The locals were certainly led by Te Akau Racing with their big spend, and headlined by the Vinnie colt who, I hear, was on-sold within hours. It’s a testament to their operation and clients too.”

The sale broke the Southern Hemisphere record for a 2-year-old with the NZ$1.65 million sale of an I Am Invincible colt to Te Akau Racing.

“It was a massive thrill for us at the company to sell such a horse, and more so for the vendors, Mark and Lorraine from Kiltannon Stables. They do a great job and are hard working people. And also a big moment for Christopher and Susannah Grace who’ve been breeding for decades and are wonderful lovely people. It was a real mixture of emotions, pride and joy, and really special to smash the record for Australasia for a 2-year-old in training.”

Table: Top buyers by average

Malaysia’s spend takes up a new space

With many vendors worried about the impact of Singapore closing, Malaysian buyers bought 32 horses for NZ$1.53 million, filling a much needed space in the middle and lower end of the market.

“There was a spread of buyers at every level. It wasn’t just a concentration at the top and I felt the sale had a good spread of horses and buyers for them,” said Jones. “I was thrilled to see a big number of horses sell to Hong Kong who have shown tremendous support for this sale, but was equally as thrilled to see Malaysian buyers step into the ring and buy a big number of horses. It’s a great credit to the team here who have worked on expanding our markets.”

The top priced horse sold to Malaysia was Lot 329 at NZ$120,000. The Star Turn colt breezed up in 10.77 and is the second foal of a winning granddaughter of Group 2 winner Danceabout (GB) (Shareef Dancer {USA}).

Table: Top lots purchased by Malaysia-based buyers