Cover image courtesy of Trish Dunell
The Waikato nursery Kaha Nui Farm, headed by husband-and-wife team Nick and Nicky White, made their Karaka debut in January this year with a draft of two yearlings.
Including a Capitalist filly, who sold for NZ$200,000 to the astute John Foote of John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) and Queensland’s premier trainer Tony Gollan. She has since been named Balance The Books. Also from the Kaha Nui Farm draft was a filly by Almanzor (Fr) who sold for NZ$160,000 to the master training partnership Roger James and Robert Wellwood.
All in all, it was a successful debut for the boutique operation. In June, Kaha Nui Farm was active at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling and Broodmare Sale, picking up four weanlings for a combined spend of NZ$300,000.
Nick and Nicky White
The most expensive of Kaha Nui Farm’s four was Lot 67, a daughter of Proisir, offered by Highline Thoroughbreds was purchased for NZ$140,000 (the second-most-expensive lot of the weanling sale).
At the time, Nicky White told The Thoroughbred Report, “She (Lot 67) is a big, beautiful filly. She was also very powerful and already looked like she’s only six months away from the racecourse.
“The filly was just so lovely every time I went back to look at her; I liked her more.
“The filly (Proisir x Jazamore) was just so lovely every time I went back to look at her (at the NZB National Weanling Sale); I liked her more.” - Nicky White
“Initially, we were looking at her as a pinhook, but now I’m not 100 per cent sure. I have just been to look at her again, and she might be one to race ourselves.”
Quality filly heads to Magics
Several months later, Kaha Nui Farm is set to tackle new frontiers and offer two yearlings at the much-anticipated 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January on the Gold Coast.
Under their Kaha Nui Farm banner, the White’s will offer two lots through Ollie Tait’s Twin Hills Stud draft. Among them is the Proisir filly, who will be offered at Lot 808 in January, while they will also have Lot 82, a colt by the sire.
Lot 808 - Proisir x Jazamour (NZ) (filly) as a weanling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Like the filly, the colt was a NZ$60,000 pinhook by Kaha Nui from the draft of Haunui Farm at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling and Broodmare Sale.
The Proisir filly is the second foal from the Azamour (Ire) mare Jazamour (NZ). She is a half-sister to the Listed winner Humbucker (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}). Jazamour is also related to the G3 Blue Diamond Preview-placed Gaelic Princess (King Of Kings {Ire}); the filly also finished fourth in the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Other relatives include the Listed winner More Than Exceed (More Than Ready {USA}) and the R. Listed Inglis Nursery and the Listed The Rosebud-placed Make It Rain (Not A Single Doubt).
Lot 82, the Proisir colt, is from Ready Steady (NZ), a daughter of Perfectly Ready. She won five races on the track and was second in the Listed Rotorua RC Lion Red Plate and fourth in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S.
Lot 82 - Proisir x Ready Steady (NZ) (colt) as a weanling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
While Ready Steady’s half-brother Ego (NZ) (E Dubai {USA}), a victor of six races including the G2 Concorde H. The talented Ready To Rip (More Than Ready {USA}), who won the G3 Bletchingly S. and was placed in the G2 Moir S., is part of the family in addition to the Listed Taj Rossi Final victress Dolphin Skin (NZ) (Telperion).
The quality yearlings could have easily stayed in New Zealand. However, Nicky White admits she is excited about the challenge and opportunity of being able to sell on the Gold Coast.
“We were really in two minds when we bought her (Lot 808) if we should keep her and race ourselves,” White told The Thoroughbred Report.
“She’s such an impressive filly, but ultimately, we have decided to send her to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January. The decision probably came down largely because she’s pretty forward and a lovely type that hopefully should suit Magics.
“We were really in two minds when we bought her (Lot 808) if we should keep her and race ourselves. She’s such an impressive filly, but ultimately, we have decided to send her to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January.” - Nicky White
“We also have a Proisir colt (Lot 82) heading across there. Kindly, Olly (Tait) has agreed to present and take them through the ring for us. So, it’s going to be an enjoyable experience.”
White will be fortunate enough to fly to Australia and watch her yearlings go through the ring at the Bundall complex. However, with the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale hot on the heels of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling, the rest of the team will continue to prepare the Karaka draft.
“I will. My husband and the rest of the team will stay at home. We’re very much a family affair, so we are sort of lean on staff on the ground and given that Karaka is right on the back of Magics, I’ll probably head over on my own for it.”
Proisir | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
Seven heading to Karaka
Kaha Nui Farm will return to Karaka in 2024 for the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale with a draft of seven yearlings. Among the seven is a strong cohort of Australian-based stallions represented such as Newgate Farm’s Capitalist (filly, Lot 282), Widden Stud’s Zoustar (filly, Lot 174), and the pensioned Deep Field (colt, Lot 630) alongside Coolmore Stud’s shuttle sire Churchill (Ire) (colt, Lot 543).
White shared that it was a strategic plan to secure progeny by Australian-based sires for their 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
“We will have seven going to Karaka. It’s a lovely draft, but I’m particularly impressed with how the Deep Field colt (Lot 630) has come along. The Zoustar filly (Lot 174) is stunning, and if you saw her run around the paddock, you’d definitely be having a go.
“It’s a really nice draft overall. I’m delighted with the way everyone’s shaping. The Churchill colt (Lot 543) is gorgeous, and the Capitalist filly is outstanding (Lot 630).
“We will have seven going to (the New Zealand Bloodstock) Karaka (Yearling Sale). It’s a really nice draft overall. I’m delighted with the way everyone’s shaping.” - Nicky White
“We’ve tried to fill a few gaps in the market with the Australian sires and hopefully create some interest. I think sometimes you need some yin and yang and try things a little bit differently.”
Kaha Nui Farm’s Proisir pair are two of only five yearlings by the Rich Hill-based sire in the 1468-lot 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale catalogue.
“Given both by Proisir look forward, particularly the filly and their beautiful types, we are hopeful they will suit buyers at the Magic Millions.”
“Given both by Proisir (Lot 808 and 82) look forward, particularly the filly and their beautiful types, we are hopeful they will suit buyers at the Magic Millions.” - Nicky White
Kaha Nui Farm to have more presence in Australia?
Kaha Nui Farm’s first foray into the Australian market is unlikely to be their last. January’s expedition will serve as an opportunity to learn and potentially, in the future, even offer yearlings under their own banner.
“I think there’s a lot of learning happening for Kaha Nui Farm and us at the moment,” White told The Thoroughbred Report.
“We are relatively new on the ground, but we’re trying to make the best possible decisions and associate with some great people. We’ve received some fantastic advice along the way, and that’s been really fun.
“We are relatively new on the ground, but we’re trying to make the best possible decisions and associate with some great people. We’ve received some fantastic advice along the way, and that’s been really fun.” - Nicky White
“This year, we wanted to stick to the proven sires as much as we could and marry that up with great types. Given the broader economic environment, we felt it best to hedge our bets a bit.
“So, it’s always an educated risk we take. But I think, ultimately, it would be fun to bring the Kaha Nui Farm brand to Australia. However, right now, we’re absorbing as much as we can and from those more experienced than us and just really enjoying the ride.”
