Cambridge Stud's shuttler Chaldean has been very well received on his first trip to the Southern Hemisphere, and that positive reception is being replicated by his sales prices on both sides of the Tasman, with a colt by the classic-winning stallion selling for a top-priced NZ$250,000 (US$141,228, NZ$1=US$0.56) during the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale June 25.
Sent through the ring by Haunui Farm, Lot 3 kicked off the sale in explosive fashion as he was knocked down to Mike Fleming's Bhima Thoroughbreds, Blue Gum Farm, and Suman Hedge Bloodstock.
"I bought a couple here a few years ago, and I'm always happy to come over for the right horse that's forward and well-moving," Australian-based Fleming said.
He is just the second offspring of 2023 Two Thousand Guineas Stakes (G1) hero Chaldean to be sold at auction in the Southern Hemisphere, following on from a filly that made AU$180,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale earlier this month.
All of the sale's key metrics increased, with a total aggregate of NZ$3,593,000 (US$2,029,668) for the 102 weanlings sold at Karaka, marking an increase of 49%.
The compact 143-lot catalog also witnessed an increased average of NZ$35,255 (US$19,915), up 23%, an impressive 89% clearance rate, and a strong buying bench from Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, and Japan.
"The results today are very encouraging for the season ahead for both the Ready to Run and National Yearling Sale," NZB managing director Andrew Seabrook said.
