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Haunui Farm leading the way at Karaka
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • January 29th, 2025 12:00 pm
Photo: Angelique Bridson
Haunui Farm have been crowned leading vendor of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Yearling Sale at Karaka for the first time this week following a pleasing set of results, led by the $2.4 million sale of the full-sister to glamour mare Orchestral.
The Karaka farm sold 24 of its 30 yearlings, for an aggregate of $6.74 million, nearly $900,000 more than its closest rival in Waikato Stud with $5.88 million, and their average of $280,883 was second only to Curraghmore with $322,222.
“It was a special result,” Haunui Farm managing director Mark Chitty said. “I am never thinking anything like that (leading vendor) coming into the sale.
“You are entrusted with a lot of horses and people give you the responsibility of taking the horses through to the market, and they were very well received.
“We sold 18 horses for over six-figures or better out of 30, which is what you are trying to achieve.”
The $2.4 million sale of lot 345, the Savabeel full-sister to multiple Group One winner Orchestral, to bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster and trainer Chris Waller was the clear highlight, and Chitty said he was rapt to get the result for their client Barneswood Farm.
“You are always hopeful that they are going to sell extremely well, she is a rare commodity,” Chitty said.
“Given around the world what those elite yearlings have been making, I always thought she could make seven-figures, but no way in my wildest dreams did I think she would make the money that she eventually did.
“That is full credit to New Zealand Bloodstock for getting the buying bench here and getting them to participate. She was an absolute queen from a long way out.
“They (Barneswood Farm) have put a lot of money into the game. They have been regular buyers of horses and it’s nice to see them justly rewarded when they put a quality filly like that in the sales ring.”
While Haunui had a number of other high-priced sales, Chitty said a sentimental result for him personally was the sale of lot 530, the Proisir filly out of a half-sister to Group One performers Babylon Berlin and Darci Be Good, to Star Thoroughbred and Randwick Bloodstock Agency for $360,000.
“She was out of a mare who came to me having not had a foal for three years,” Chitty said. “I am a veterinarian by trade, and I learned under one of the best reproductive veterinarians in New Zealand, the late Dr Charlie Roberts. Through some of what he taught me we were able to get that mare in-foal, and that was the resulting progeny.
“There is some professional satisfaction out of getting a result for that filly for some great Australian clients of mine.”
Haunui now head into the Book 2 session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale where they will offer 19 yearlings.
“I have got a nice draft of horses by a variety of stallions, and we’ll let the buying bench be the judge,” Chitty said
