A quality draft of 20 Pencarrow Stud yearlings was enthusiastically received by buyers during the Book 1 session of Karaka 2023 this week.

The esteemed nursery offered 13 colts and seven fillies during the three-day Sale and achieved strong results across the board.

Pencarrow sold 16 of those yearlings for a total of $2,430,000, with an average price of $151,875 and a very healthy median of $157,500. They found homes with a number of New Zealand and Australia’s leading stables.

The highest-priced purchase from Pencarrow’s class of 2023 was Lot 253 – a filly by first-season sire Super Seth out of multiple black-type performer Irion (NZ) (Danroad). She was bought by Shaune Ritchie Racing for $260,000.

It is hardly surprising that this filly caught the eye of Ritchie and his co-trainer Colm Murray. The Cambridge pair also train her exciting half-sister Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock), who is now undefeated in three impressive racetrack appearances.

“Now this could get exciting,” the Ritchie stable posted on Facebook. “A half-sister to Pearl Of Alsace, who has won three from three. Get in quick.”

Super Seth was also the sire of the second highest-priced lot of Pencarrow’s draft – Lot 112, a colt out of stakes-winning mare Cote d’Or (NZ) (Makfi) and from the exceptional family of the likes of Grand Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel), Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill) and Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm). He was sold to prominent Kiwi syndicators Go Racing for $250,000.

“An outstanding colt with great action and a magnificent pedigree,” Go Racing tweeted. “He will be trained by John O’Shea.”

Chris Waller and bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster paid $230,000 for Lot 495, a colt by Savabeel out of Group Three winner and Group One-placed Scintillula (Galileo). All three of Scintillula’s foals to race have been winners, including the Group Two-placed Butter Chicken (NZ) (Savabeel).

Bruce Perry also went to $230,000 to secure Lot 567 – a filly by U S Navy Flag. A daughter of the Group Two winner and Group One-placed Supera (NZ) (Savabeel), this filly is closely related to the Listed winner and recent $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) runner-up Ethereal Star (Snitzel).

Other notable purchases from the Pencarrow draft include:

• Lot 58, an Exceed and Excel colt out of Barbadine (Giant’s Causeway), bought by Carlaw Park for $200,000.
• Lot 75, a colt by Pierro out of Breeze (Sea The Stars), knocked down to Riversley Park for $200,000.
• Lot 526, a Super Seth filly out of the stakes winner Sleeping Beauty (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), secured by Allan Sharrock for $180,000.
• Lot 145, a colt by Written Tycoon out of Group Two-winning mare Dolmabache (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), sold to KPW Bloodstock for $175,000.

Other yearlings in Pencarrow’s draft were snapped up by DGR Thoroughbred Services and Mick Price Racing, Archer Equine Investments, Pertab Racing, Ciaron Maher Racing, Tricolours Racing and Syndications, Robert Priscott, Newlands Thoroughbreds and Patella Bloodstock.

To enquire about Passed Lots, contact Leon Casey on +64274901325.

View Pencarrow’s full Karaka 2023 results here.