Orchestral’s Sister Sets New Record of NZ$2.4m at Karaka

[Wandering Eyes]

by Renee Geelen/Tom Baddock/TTR AusNZ

The spotlight on Day 2 at Karaka 2025 was firmly on lot 345, a magnificent filly by champion sire Savabeel (Aus). As a full-sister to star mare Orchestral (NZ), she captured the attention of all the big hitters and ultimately fetched a jaw-dropping NZ$2.4 million, breaking the record for the highest-priced filly in the history of the sale.

Lot 345 – Savabeel (Aus) x Symphonic (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), filly, NZ$2,400,000

After an intense bidding war, Guy Mulcaster and Chris Waller were compelled to stretch their budget considerably to secure lot 345, ultimately paying NZ$2.4 million for the full-sister of champion filly and dual Group 1 winner Orchestral.

The beautiful brown filly is the third foal from Group 3-placed mare Symphonic, by champion sire Savabeel, making her a full sister to G1 New Zealand Derby and G1 Vinery Stud Stakes winner Orchestral, who increased her prize-money to almost NZ$2.5m with victory in the NZ$1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1,600 metres) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

It was too good an opportunity to pass up for a loyal client of Guy Mulcaster's, Glenn Ritchie, who was forced to dig deep to secure the blue blood.

“She's a beautiful filly and her sister winning on Saturday night really helped,” Mulcaster said.

“We're very lucky we have a very good client who supported us. We went way past what we wanted to go but it's an auction. We'll give her time, take her back to Australia, and see where she ends up.

“She's very athletic which is typical of the Savabeel stock and her sister has been so good, so it all looks really good for us.”

Bred by Barneswood Farm and offered by Haunui Farm, the filly boats a pedigree page littered with black-type including Group 1 winners Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike), Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) and Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}).

Symphonic had another filly by Savabeel in October, who stands at Waikato Stud at a fee of NZ$100,000 plus GST.

 

RECORD HIGHLIGHT LOT @HaunuiFarm's Lot 345, a full sister to #Orchestral, makes $2.4 million to the bid of @cwallerracing & Guy @MulcasterBS , breaking records for the most expensive filly ever purchased out of Karaka and the highest priced yearling to sell in 25 years… pic.twitter.com/TRXQ6jV3QP

— New Zealand Bloodstock (@KarakaChat) January 27, 2025

 

At A Glance

• The aggregate after two days is NZ$56,830,000 for 331 lots sold which is lower than the NZ$58,903,500 reached at the same point in 2024. Both this year and last are far superior to the same time in 2023 (NZ$46,425,000) and 2022 (NZ$$41,142,500).
• The average finished up at NZ$171,692 comparable to NZ$176,893 at the same point in 2024. “The general consensus was that the second day of Book 1 was a superior day to the first day and that was reflected in the results, so we're delighted that the figures, after two days, are on par with last year,” said NZB's Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.
• The median dropped to NZ$120,000, down from 2024's NZ$140,000 at the same point. However, the clearance rate has stayed strong at 77 per cent, which is the same as 2024 at the same point.
• The top-seller on Day 2 was lot 345, a Savabeel filly from Symphonic (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) who is the full sister to dual Group 1 winner Orchestral (NZ). Offered by Haunui Farm, she was secured by Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller for NZ$2.4 million.
• Leading the way in terms of vendors by aggregate is Haunui Farm, who have sold 18 yearlings for a combined NZ$5.6 million. They also lead on average (two or more sold) with an average price of NZ$313,000.
• Savabeel is the leading sire by aggregate, with 23 lots sold for a total of NZ$7.45 million. Wootton Bassett (GB) heads the sires' list by average. He has had seven yearlings average NZ$433,500.
• Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller Racing have toppled David Ellis from the top of the leaderboard, and the Aussie trainer and his agent have spent NZ$4.1 million on nine yearlings.
• Hong Kong's Tartan Meadow Bloodstock leads the buyers by average (two or more bought), buying three yearlings at an average of NZ$475,000 each.

Lot 335 – Proisir (Aus) x Strada Cavallo (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), filly, NZ$700,000

John Sargent, in conjunction with Spicer Thoroughbreds and Duncan Ramage, hold great expectations for this filly by Proisir. The group invested NZ$700,000 to secure lot 335, who is a half-sister to Sargent's exciting Group 1 performer Powers Of Opal (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

Sargent is prepared to give the filly some time to mature, especially given the close resemblance she has to Powers of Opal (NZ) who he expects to have a big Autumn carnival after placing in the G2 Wakeful Stakes (2,000 metres) before finishing runner-up in G1 Crown Oaks (2,500 metres) last preparation.

“She is identical to Powers Of Opal,” Sargent said.

“She will probably take a little bit more time looking at her, she is a late foal. But Powers Of Opal will hopefully have a very good Autumn and put some more value into this filly.

“She will now go to Curraghmore for a couple of months, just to get over it, then she will be broken in and come over to Australia.”

Ramage, who purchased under his banner of DGR Thoroughbred Services, has had great success buying from Karaka over many years, namely purchasing Group 1 winners Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}), First Seal (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and champion racehorse and sire So You Think (NZ).

“We know through Powers Of Opal we have already got residual value in this filly and I'll say for the record the last time we bought a filly here for $700,000 it ended up being First Seal so we are hoping she can follow in her footsteps,” Ramage said.

First Seal, who was trained by John Thompson, finished her racing career with six victories, five of which were at stakes level, the most prominent being the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1,600 metres) where she defeated the almighty Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) by three lengths.

Lot 335 is the sixth foal of the Group 1-placed Strada Cavallo, who has had three foals to race for three winners. It is also the family of the stakes-placed Il Affare (Aus) (Dundeel {NZ}), whose yearling by Wootton Bassett (GB) topped Day 1 of the sale at NZ$725,000.

 

Karaka 2025 – Highlight Lot

Lot 335, a Proisir filly out of Strada Cavallo from @CurraghmoreNZ's draft sold for $700,000 to the @DGRTBS / @jsargentracing / @SpicerTbreds combination.#Karaka2025 pic.twitter.com/YEg0QMJOav

— New Zealand Bloodstock (@KarakaChat) January 27, 2025

 

Lot 457 – Wootton Bassett (GB) x Aspen Colorado (NZ) (Proisir {Aus}), colt, NZ$600,000

Yet another Wootton Bassett made it's way into the 'sale toppers' on Day 2 at Karaka 2025, with a powerfully built colt from G1 New Zealand Oaks placegetter Aspen Colorado being knocked down to Tartan Meadow Bloodstock for NZ$600,000, who was able to fend off spirited bidding from underbidder Guy Mulcaster.

Offered by Blandford Lodge, lot 457 is the first foal from Aspen Colorado, who is a half-sister to the Group 2-placed Canuhandleajandal (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}). He also hails from the family of Group 1-winning mares Danzdanzdance (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}).

Founder of Tartan Meadow Bloodstock, Paul Chow thought the colt was a little “overpriced”, considering it was the mare's first foal, but recognised the boom on Wootton Bassett at present meant his client had to pay a little more than desired to secure him. Chow will break him in and pre-train the colt before he is exported to Hong Kong to race.

Wootton Bassett had another two lots through the ring this session who sold for NZ$250,000 and NZ $200,000, respectively. This takes his average for the sale to a little over NZ$433,000.

 

Karaka 2025 – Highlight Lot @BlandfordLodge's Lot 457, a Wootton Bassett colt out of Aspen Colorado sells for $600,000 to the bid of Paul Chow's @tartan_meadow.#Karaka2025 pic.twitter.com/FdIZjQdCZ6

— New Zealand Bloodstock (@KarakaChat) January 27, 2025

 

Lot 440 – Proisir (Aus) x All Can Party (Aus) (All American {Aus}), filly, NZ$560,000

After taking home the top lot yesterday, Aquis Farm's Tony Fung, Michael Freedman and Michael Wallace combined once again to secure the full-sister of G1 Tarzino Trophy winner Dark Destroyer (NZ) for NZ$560,000.

Bred by Warwick Jeffries and offered by Highline Thoroughbreds, lot 440 is the fifth living foal from All Can Party, who has already produced Group 1 winner Dark Destroyer from two foals to race. It's a deep pedigree page, boasting at least seven Group 1 winners, including Masked Party (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}), Festal (Aus) (Vain {Aus}), Inspiration (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}), Wandjina (Aus), Dracula (Aus) and Complacent (Aus).

Cam Heron from Highline Thoroughbreds was stoked with the result and believes the fillies syndicate have made an astute purchase.

“She's a quality filly and we knew she'd turn heads once she got to Karaka,” Herron said.

“She came out every day, put in the work, and handled her parades effortlessly. Her temperament is just amazing and she kept pushing through. It was really rewarding to see such a great result for our loyal clients.”

All Can Party was due a foal by Proisir once again last spring, who stands at Rich Hill Stud for NZ$80,000 plus GST.

The post Orchestral’s Sister Sets New Record of NZ$2.4m at Karaka appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article