New Zealand Bloodstock’s first-ever National Weanling Sale, conducted online via Gavelhouse Plus, resulted in 60 lots selling for a total turnover of $1,044,051.
The average reached $17,401 while the median closed at $8,250 with a clearance rate of 75 percent.
Running on the enhanced online platform, the sale drew an international buying bench with the top lot, aweanling colt by Proisir out of Pennacchio (Lot 19), secured by Sydney-based trainer Anthony Cummings for $107,500.
Bred by Greg Tomlinson's Nearco Stud, whom Cummings also purchased Hong Kong Champion Beauty Generation from, the Curraghmore-consigned colt surpassed last year’s top priced weanling at the Karaka May Sale of $95,000.
Cummings has an insight into the quality of the family, with the colt a half-brother to the Cummings-trained last-start winner Clever Man, in addition to Hong Kong Group Three winner Full Of Beauty.
“I’m very happy to secure this colt,” Cummings said. “I know the potential of this particular cross and I have confidence in the horse as an individual,” Cummings said.
“He is by Proisir, leading second season sire in New Zealand and he has a great pedigree and physical type, and how these things merge together in the family make it very easy to walk into a sale situation and purchase a horse like him.”
Cummings was also enthusiastic about the online sale experience.
“I really liked the idea of an online sale and I think it works well from both a buying and selling perspective.
“Buyers get extensive information and there are plenty of people to talk to, making it easy to do your homework,” he said.
Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham was pleased with the sale.
“He’s a good colt from a well-performed mare who has already left a very good horse in Hong Kong, and he is by an emerging sire,” Cunningham said.
“He made a good price that justified our decision to offer him online.
“Vendors made a very good effort and took the sale seriously and I hope they were rewarded.”
New Zealand Bloodstock Sales Manager Danny Rolston was complimentary of vendor’s efforts resulting in a pleasing day of trade.
“We entered new territory and vendors had to pivot and be versatile,” Rolston said.
“The way they embraced the format and lifted the game of digital presentations was reflected in the results.
“There was a broad, international buying bench and considering the circumstances, we are thrilled with the outcome.” - NZ Racing Desk.
To view the full 2020 National Weanling Sale results click here.
2020 National Weanling Sale Statistics
| Aggregate | $1,044,051 |
| Average | $17,401 |
| Median | $8,250 |
| Clearance | 75% |
| Catalogued | 82 |
| Sold | 60 |
| Top Lot | Lot 19, Proisir x Pennacchio $107,500 |
Curraghmore's 2020 Weanling Sale results
| Lot | Breeding | Price | Buyer |
| 11 | Vadamos x Mill Duckie b.f. | $23,000 | JJJ |
| 19 | Proisir x Pennacchio ch.c. | $107,500 | Plap21 |
| 50 | Sacred Falls x Akris b.f. | $7,000 | Naki |
| 73 | Iffraaj x Genealogy ch.f. | $21,000 | KDavidson |
| 75 | Tarzino x Gevuina b.c. | $3,000 | Upstage |
| 80 | Tarzino x Invisible Coin b.c. | $4,300 | Flynn |
