NEW Zealand Bloodstock’s Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka has maintained the record levels of 12 months earlier to close out their two-day Premier sale on Tuesday with an aggregate of NZ$58,407,500.

The 338 yearlings sold averaged $172,803, down 2%, with the median matching last year’s $140,000, as per the clearance rate at 78%.

“While we couldn’t match last year’s record average, the more important median has stuck firm at $140,000 and turnover is up,” said managing director Andrew Seabrook. “We’ve offered more Premier Sale horses this year and had a buying bench with enough extra depth to compete for them. The sale clashing with Chinese New Year wasn’t ideal, however increased participation from Dubai countered its effect.”

The top lot of the sale went early in the first session with a group involving China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and Alan Bell Racing paying $825,000 for the O’Reilly full-brother to the Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress, who himself was the leading first season sire at the sale with five yearlings sold for an average of $178,000.

“He’s a colt of exceptional quality with great core strength and balance,” said China Horse Club racing and bloodstock manager Michael Wallace of the colt from the final crop of O’Reilly to grace the ring. “We felt he was a rare type of colt that we haven’t seen on offer here for a while. Alan (Bell) shared the same views so a partnership was formed to take a shot at him.”

Ten yearlings sold for $500,000 or greater including four Savabeels - three fillies and a colt - the top colt by O’Reilly, colts by Fastnet Rock, Exceed And Excel, Snitzel and Shamexpress, and the top-priced filly by High Chaparral.

Bought by Tim Stakemire on behalf Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, the High Chaparral filly went for $800,000 and is out of the Danehill mare Diamond Like from Cambridge Stud’s iconic Eight Carat family.

“We have been trying for 10 to 15 years to get into this family and they don’t come on the market very often,” said Stakemire. “It was well-documented that Sir Patrick (Hogan) was selling exclusively here and not holding anything back and we are happy to be supporting the sale.”

Making his Karaka debut was Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with John Ferguson on the ground signing for three Savabeel fillies.

“There are some great pedigrees down here and it makes sense for us to really understand and work with the New Zealand bloodstock industry. I was here to buy a couple of New Zealand-breds and we got three lovely fillies,” said Ferguson, who indicated Godolphin could target some races in New Zealand.

“We would love to have runners here from our Newmarket stables. We are serious about it and as a result of this trip I will be talking to Sheikh Mohammed when I get back.”

The sale continues with the select and festival sales, results are at nzb.co.nz.