Yesterday's South Island thoroughbred sale delivered mixed results to vendors.
Only 63 of 121 catalogued lots were knocked down to buyers, equating to a clearance rate of 52%.
The top end of the market showed buyers are still willing to dig deep into their pockets for good southern stock.
The Dennis Brothers’ Ravelston Stud, of Woodlands, produced the top-selling lot with their Per Incanto colt from O’Reilly mare The Drew Drop.
The sales-topper was knocked down for $100,000 to Garry Carvell, of Cambridge.
Ravelston Stud produced another strong result when its Charm Spirit filly from Centaine mare, The Dazzler, was sold for $50,000.
North Taieri Stud White Robe Lodge produced the second-highest lot yesterday with a Ghibellines colt from Lake Coniston mare Stage Flash.
For the third consecutive year, White Robe Lodge topped the vendors’ list by aggregate, its nine lots selling for a total of $165,500.
Southern buyers were active at the sale, with seven lots going south of the Waitaki.
A Ghibellines colt from Encosta De Lago mare Swapping was the most expensive of those.
The White Robe Lodge product ended up in familiar hands when knocked down to Ian Nichol, who races Tommy Tucker from the stable of the North Taieri establishment.
The South Island Sale’s average and median results were well down on the previous two years.
This year’s horses sold at an average of $13,869 compared to $17,541 in 2017 and $17,435 in 2016.
This year’s figure is still well ahead of the $10,401 average of 2015.
South Island sale
Top lots
Stud Ltd, Per Incanto-The Dewdrop, $100,000, Hiwi Bloodstock, Cambridge.
Robe Lodge, Ghibellines-Stage Flash, $55,000, The Robt Dawe Agency, Auckland.
Stud Ltd, Charm Spirit-The Dazzler, $50,000, Chris Rutten Bloodstock/B Gray, Auckland.
Stud, Reliable Man-Sharp Gal, $47,000, Enigma Farm & Armocroft Stables, Waikato.
Tree Farm Agistment Ltd, Proisir- Joan’s Girl, $41,000, Mr DC Ellis, Te Akau.
