The first of the three-part New Zealand Bloodstock major yearling sale, the Karaka Premier, concluded on Tuesday with a clear resurgence in the Australasian market, enjoying a 26% increase in average when compared with last year's figures.
Darley's G1 Blue Diamond winner Nadeem had seven yearlings catalogued, and the young stallion recorded a handsome average of NZ$92,500.
Early on day two lot 324, a bay colt out of the seven-time winner and G1-performed Tale Of The Cat mare Catscan was knocked down to Cambridge-based outfit Barry Lee Bloodstock for NZ$160,000. From one of New Zealand's best families, the colt shares a pedigree with G1 winners Soliloquy, Solveig, Gallic and Culminate.
Another of Nadeem's top lots saw Mr F S Ritchie part with NZ$100,000 for lot 423, an Australian-bred half-brother to the Stakes-performed daughter of Fraar, Seattle Lass.
Currently leading the Australian general sires' table on individual winners, Commands was also in the spotlight with his three yearlings selling for an average just shy of NZ $160,000. Highlighted by the Hallmark Stud-consigned lot 378, the colt was purchased by Patinack Farm for NZ$220,000. Hailing from the family of G1 Golden Slipper winner and successful sire Catbird, the colt is out of the Octagonal mare Donating.
Like Commands, Lonhro was represented by three yearlings, all fillies, with Western Australian-based John Chalmers Bloodstock purchasing lot 169 for NZ$175,000. Out of the O'Reilly mare Siuya, herself a half-sister to the G1-performed Scardee Cat, the filly is set to find her way back to Australia to race.
Off the back of the recent success of Reset filly Set For Fame, trainer Peter Moody was showing his support for the progeny of Zabeel's unbeaten G1-winner by signing for lot 305, a half-brother to G1 AJC Oaks winner Rena's Lady. Averaging $NZ115,000 for his two yearlings sold, Reset has a further five yearlings on offer during the Select session of the sale which commences on February 3, backing that up with seven yearlings at the Inglis Premier yearling sale which is set to kick off on March 1 in Melbourne.
Earlier in the session, Peter Moody had also been in the thick of things, this time with the progeny of Champion Sprinter Exceed And Excel. Moody knows all too well about selecting a quality yearling by the son of Danehill; having acquired G1 Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort from the Inglis Premier yearling sale two years back.
Lot 200, a three-quarter brother to dual G1 winning two-year-old Juanmo, was knocked down to Moody for $180,000, while on day two Moody was seen consulting with long-time client Stuart Ramsey who purchased Lot 314, a filly from the G1-winning Canny Lad mare Cannsea.
The sale continues with the Select session starting on Wednesday, followed by the Festival session commencing February 7. The progeny of the Darley stallions will be well represented over the reaming sessions of the sale with Ad Valorem, Canny Lad, Domesday and Gonski joining the above-mentioned stallions with yearlings on offer.
