Million Dollar Day at Karaka

The Informant reports:

An action-packed day two on Monday at Karaka 2018 saw leading local buyer David Ellis provide the fireworks with a sale-topping bid of $1,025,000 to acquire Cambridge Stud's striking Savabeel at Lot 301.

The colt is a son of New Zealand champion three-year-old Katie Lee, whose stellar career was highlighted with victories in both the Gr. 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas 2000 Guineas, herself the progeny of Group winner Miss Jessie Jay.

Ellis, who sees the yearling as a horse that could win a Sires' Produce and 2000 Guineas, was thrilled with his new addition to the Te Akau stable.

“He's just one of those colts I had to have - he's a beautiful example of equine excellence," he said.

“I can see him winning a Group One like the Sires' Produce and then heading to Australia to win a good two-year-old race, but our goal will be the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.”

The son of Savabeel was one of two seven-figure yearlings today, the other coming earlier in the day at Lot 156, a colt by Fastnet Rock knocked down to Mark Pilkington Bloodstock in conjunction with Lindsay Park Racing. The pair also secured a Fastnet Rock filly (Lot 25) yesterday out of Curraghmore's draft for $360,000.

At the end of day two, Ellis is on track to retain the leading buyer title for his 13th consecutive year, having secured 17 yearlings for $4.6 million, and two of his highest-priced yearlings came from the final draft presented by Sir Patrick Hogan under his Cambridge Stud banner.

A broad international buying bench has fuelled much of the action today, with eight countries accounting for the sale of 158 yearlings and $26.5 million in turnover so far. But domestic buyers have held their own against the international company, securing five of the top 10 lots.

In terms of sire power, Tavistock and Savabeel continued to feature prominently, with Waikato Stud also to the fore with their first-season sire Sacred Falls.

Leading the freshman sires' list by average with 15 yearlings sold for $2.19 million, Sacred Falls' highest price yet came when Lot 95 was purchased for $275,000 by Waikato Bloodstock for their Hong Kong client.

With 320 lots having been offered over the first two days, the sale is tracking ahead of all expectations. The clearance has remained strong at 77%, representing 232 lots sold so far for $38.3 million, at an impressive average of $165,119
Selling continues today Tuesday from 11am with Lot 321 to Lot 540 going under the hammer.
Main picture from left (at Karaka on Monday) - David with Hon Steven Joyce, Sir Patrick Hogan & Hon David Bennett