Horse racing: Elias again king of Karaka

David Ellis was at the top of Karaka’s buyer’s list again this year, but this time it was filled.

Te Akau to the principal

$1 million to purchase lot 586, Fastnet Rock fill out the stakes World Test winner.

Elias Karaka paid this high price for satisfaction, for sure.

“I also had a good chat with Karyn.” [Fenton-Ellis, wife] and I said this is pretty much the best since I saw this land in 1988. This complex opened in 1988 and I have never seen it better,” Elias said.

It’s a big name from Ellis, who has been the leading buyer of the New Zealand National Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for 18 consecutive years, since

His filly purchase includes the likes of 14-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle and nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage, another daughter of Fastnet Rock who later sold on gavelhouse.com for an online world record of $4.1 million.

But Ellis found a nearly perfect diamond from the Curraghmore type.

“She was just perfect. She has a beautiful pedigree and the mare had a lot of speed,” he said.

“I saw the foal of the mare at Coolmore Stud in December and it was a blast. This is just so much fun, and I can’t wait to play it.

“I think he’ll do two years, sure sires produce” [Group 1, 1400m] filly and is a filly we like to Melbourne to take in three years old and have a crack at these big races.

“Well, the thing about this is that there are two $1 million races that are restricted to horses coming out of this sale.”

Baehrens said Satyar has a lot in common with Avantage.

“The same father benefited. Both Fastnet Rock’s fastest, Elias said.

“This is one of the Testa Rossa mare that has a lot of speed, I think, considering. This filly’s mother fills up very quickly and I think she will be a really good scaly.

“When you buy one from Coolmore Stud, you know you’ve got a great chance that they’ve been bred in such an environment.”

Ellis’ $1m purchase was his 27th and final sale, and extends his long-standing title of leading buyer at Karaka.

“I think the sale was made very successfully,” Elias said.

“There was a lot of crossing because people couldn’t come.”

The weather, I think, has done an incredible job of promoting the sale of New Zealand Bloodstock.

“I think the price overall was strong and it was a good week.”

-NZ Racing Desk