Dubawi colt stands out
at Karaka Select Sale

SOLID trade continued on day two of New Zealand Bloodstock's Select Sale at Karaka with figures holding up strongly against last year.

With the average price NZ$44,690 (£23,360/€28,178) after two days of the three-day Select session, at a clearance rate of 77 per cent, the figures are stacking up well against last year which saw a final Select Sale average of NZ$45,711 and a clearance rate of 73 per cent.

The aggregate is currently NZ$13,049,500 with 206 lots remaining to be offered on Friday.

The highlights of the day saw two yearlings sell for NZ$200,000 (£105,093/€126,758) apiece.

The first came when the No Excuse Needed filly was purchased by Palmerston North trainer Lisa Latta.

From the five-time winning O'Reilly mare Miracle Miss, the filly was offered by Waikato Stud, home of both No Excuse Needed and O'Reilly.

"I loved her right from the first minute," commented a delighted Latta.

"I looked at both Premier and Select and while we did miss out on a few fillies in the Premier Sale I thought she was the pick of the Select fillies and am very happy to have got her.

"I have nominated her for the Karaka Million, however she was selected on pedigree and residual value so that is not a priority.

"The nice horses are reaching their value but I am happy with the way the Sale has gone for me so far."

The top price was matched by the sole Dubawi colt in the Select Sale, from the Danasinga mare Mlada offered by Lyndhurst Farm and bought by Willie Leung's Magus Equine of Hong Kong.

"Dubawi is doing so well in Hong Kong, Europe and the southern hemisphere which is why we wanted to get one," commented Leung.

"This is probably the last Dubawi crop in the southern hemisphere and this colt looks good, strong and athletic and is from a good family so we were prepared to pay a bit more.

"This year we looked for quality horses which is why I have purchased the horses I have so far."

The second top price of the day was hit three times, with two colts and a filly fetching NZ$160,000 each.

The early highlight came at Lot 785 with the O'Reilly filly from Stravinsky mare Holiday in Goa being knocked down to New Zealand trainer Roger James.

Currently sitting second on the NZ Sires Table, O'Reilly's most recent black type successes came with a sizzling win by two-year-old Pussy Willow in the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes less than a fortnight ago and a similar dazzling display by Roger James' exciting filly Silent Achiever in the G2 Championship Stakes on New Year's Day.

Silent Achiever - who lines up in the Group 3 Waikato Guineas on Saturday - is raced by Kevin Hickman of Valachi Downs, who will be adding this new filly to his racing string.

The Darci Brahma colt offered by Phoenix Park from six-time winning Stravinsky mare Lady Classique was secured by Andy Williams' Worldwide Bloodstock for NZ$160,000.

The third NZ$160,000 lot was The Oaks Stud's colt by first season sire Sakhee's Secret bought by Aquanita Racing of Victoria.

This sale contributed to Dick Karreman's The Oaks Stud ending the day as the leading Select Sale vendor thus far, with 18 entries sold for NZ$922,000 at an average of NZ$51,222.

The leading buyer for the day was Paul Moroney Bloodstock with seven purchases, including a top price of $80,000 paid for the Don Eduardo colt.

Moroney has made eight purchases in total at the Select Sale so far in additionto four purchases at the Premier Sale earlier in the week.

Dubawi heads the sires table by average with his three entries all sold for an average of NZ$88,333.

The Sales Series will resume at Karaka on Sunday with the one-day Festival Sale.