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• February 03, 2023
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A mixed day of selling opened New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 session of Karaka 2023, and it was international buyers that were to the fore, with the Australian and Asian markets making their presence felt. 

Offshore buyers favoured both proven and emerging New Zealand sires on Day One of Book 2, with the likes of Proisir, Per Incanto, Reliable Man, Shocking, Belardo, Ribchester and Time Test all featuring prominently in the top purchases list.

NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook commented on the day’s events.

“Whilst it was thought kiwi buyers would come to the fore in the opening of Book 2, it was the internationals that purchased seven of the top 10 lots,” Seabrook said.

 “It wasn’t easy in the ring today, however nice colts and fillies were still in demand.

“We have seen the clearance rate climb since the end of selling, with our team working hard to move horses on the ground.

“Like last year’s Book 2 Sale, we are expecting things to heat up over the next two days.

A last-minute rush saw highlight purchases made late in the day, with Australian raider Brad Widdup scoring the top lot of the session.

Widdup purchased Lot 789, a Proisir colt out of Reliable Man mare Harriet Wilson (NZ), for $180,000.

“I’m back in Sydney and I thought he would be up around that mark and $200,000 would probably have pulled me up for sure so I’m pretty happy to get him,” Widdup said.

“I thought he was a bloody nice horse and I didn’t care what sale he was out of. I try to not think too hard about pedigrees, but I obviously really like the sire.

“He is a spec horse and I don’t think I’ll have any problem with him, plus the prizemoney here in Australia is through the roof.

“I like the New Zealand horses and he looks the type to go from 1200 metres onwards, he’s got a bit of strength about him and hopefully he can be just like his Dad,” he said.

The colt was purchased from Rich Hill Stud’s draft, who stand Proisir that is currently top of the New Zealand sires’ premiership this season.

Studmaster John Thompson was pleased with the positive reception Proisir has had at Karaka so far.

“This colt is just another one of the Proisirs heading off to Australia. He was a well-inspected horse with plenty of under bidders.”

“Brad Widdup, who as we all know is one of the up-and-coming Sydney trainers, also purchased a filly off us in Book 1 and inspected this colt while he was over here.

“He jumped on a plane and purchased him using NZB’s online bidding platform and I am thrilled for him and his clients.

“In Book 1 Proisir had a 100 percent clearance rate and averaged $189,000. These yearlings were conceived off a $9,000 service fee, so it is marvellous return for our clients that have supported him.”

The second highlight of the day went to Paul Chow of Tartan Meadow Bloodstock, who outlaid $160,000 to secure Lot 800. 

The colt is by Little Avondale Stud sire Per Incanto out of High Lady (NZ). The Wairarapa-based stallion has been the most prolific source of individual winners in Hong Kong for the past two seasons.

When asked what he liked about the colt, Chow simply said “because it’s a Per Incanto.”

The agent commented, “we buy all of our own yearlings here at Karaka. We train them up, then trial them and sell them on. We need to think about the future of our sales and Per Incantos are a relatively easy sale for us.”