Toowoomba stable buys top Lot to open Karaka’s Book 2 Sale

Following a record-breaking Book 1, a quickfire day of selling saw 118 lots go under the hammer at the opening session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka 2024 Book 2 Sale.

Book 2 has been a happy hunting ground for Karaka Millions contenders over the years, highlighted by this year’s $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO runner-up Pendragon, who was a $110,000 purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables at Karaka 2022.

Fittingly, the top lot of today’s session was Lot 790, a half-brother to the Karaka Millions performer by Time Test from the young Pour Moi mare Kerre, also knocked down to Moroney in conjunction with Catheryne Bruggeman and Toowoomba trainers Tony and Maddysen Sears for $220,000.

Purchased from the Leanach Lodge draft, Maddysen Sears was elated to secure her ‘pick of the sale’.

“We’ve had a lot of luck out of Book 2. We had this colt highlighted from the moment we saw him,” she said.

“We just looked at the athlete in front of us, he looks like a runner and he oozes class.

“Hopefully you’ll see him line up for a Karaka Millions in the future.”

Established Ready to Run Sale vendors Lilywhites Lodge went to $155,000 to secure Lot 795, a son of emerging sire Ardrossan, offered by Landsdowne Park.

Sophia Nolan said the plan is to return him to the Karaka sales ring in November.

“That’s the plan, he’s a lovely type for it,” she said.

“He will suit many overseas buyers and fit well into the draft we are putting together for the upcoming NZB Ready to Run Sale.”

Fifty-nine Lots were sold on Wednesday for a total of $2.65 million at an average of $44,949.

Selling continues on Thursday where lots 801 to 970 get underway from 11am (NZT).