ElusiveCity all the rage at Karaka Festival Sale

SHUTTLER Elusive City was once again all the rage at the Karaka Festival Yearling Sale in New Zealand, siring two six-figure yearlings during the second session on Monday.

Both colts surpassed the NZ$80,000 sale record which was set on Sunday by another son of Elusive City.

Taking top honours was a colt out of the winning Sir Tristram mare Wishing Belle, who was knocked down for NZ$110,000 (£48,507/€55,339) to New Zealand Bloodstock on behalf of Cambridge-based clients. Haunui Farm, who stands Elusive City during the southern hemisphere season, consigned the colt.

Elusive City was also on the mark courtesy of a NZ$100,000 (£44,111/€50,324) colt, who was sold to International Bloodstock Consultants.

Unsurprisingly, the stallion ended the two-day sale as leading sire with an average of NZ$43,583.

In keeping with last week's Karaka Premier and Select Yearling Sales, the Festival auction ended with gains in aggregate and average.

The aggregate leapt nine per cent to NZ$4,915,600 (£2,167,454/€2,472,419) while the NZ$14,987 (£6,608/€7,538) average represented a 25 per cent increase on last year. The median of NZ$10,000 (£4,408/€5,028) remained the same and the clearance rate was 71 per cent.

In addition to the Elusive City pair, the six-figure barrier was also broken by a son of King's Chapel - a Group 1-winning son of King Of Kings - who sold to Auckland bloodstock agent Robt Dawe for NZ$100,000.