Top types that were sound and right by commercial sires from good families had the market heating up on day 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock Sale. However buyers sidestepped yearlings that were anything less than premium lots. That resulted in a slip in the average by 17% from $174,000 to $145,000 and the clearance rate drop from 81% to 70% off the 2011 figures.
However it's the same at every sale, astute buyers are on the same lots and the prices climb due to competition. Similar to Day 1 at the Gold Coast, Team Dynamic were competitive on numerous lots however walked away empty handed such was the competition for these premium yearlings.
The day of frustration kicked kicked off when we thought we would be more than competitive with $200,000 NZD for a colt by High Chaparral colt but we were well off the pace with this colt selling for $300,000. A handful of lots later we had $200,000 for a terrific Encosta De Lago colt but again we were well away with it going to Hong Kong for $350,000.
One Hundred lots later we got into the action again on another Encosta colt from Divine Secret. We purchased the full sister last year and she is showing us plenty of ability and we feel we have something very promising and it would be strategic to buy the full brother. However we paid $125,000 for our filly and were not going to chase a colt for much more. We went to $150,000 and dropped out of the battle to see him knocked down for $180,000. We considered that was too much especially since it had been a $65,000 pin hook from Sydney in 2011.
Next we went to $130,000 NZD ($100,000 AUD) for a Danehill Dancer colt to be outbid at $150,000 to see him head to Singapore. Next we tried to get an Exceed And Excel colt which we valued go $150,000NZD ($125,000 landed back in Australia) and that was enough. After a bidding duel we got to $150,000 to be countered at a bid of $155,000.
That was a cruel blow but we have to know when to stop and the horse went elsewhere on that bid. Finally we had one more throw at the stumps, however again we were the underbidders on another Exceed And Excel Colt. Yet again we missed out by just a single bid.
In the wash up we had a go at 6 quality yearlings but missed out. Oh well that's the game! The result is simple enough to accept. We have our powder dry to get amongst them on Day 2 where we have 5 lots to bid upon that passed our strict sales selection criteria.
If we score that's terrific ! If we miss out that's life ! The Melbourne sale is on in a few weeks time. Stay tuned!