Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“They are tough. They are brave. And they get results. Kiwi thoroughbreds have an innate depth of quality to them – drawn from the land, from the people and from the bloodlines unique to New Zealand. They’re just built differently. Tap into the well of Kiwi talent at Karaka 2025.”
That’s the statement from New Zealand Bloodstock and it neatly sums up the way kiwi breeders continue to produce horses that excel on the world stage.
The 99th National Yearling Sales Series will take place at Karaka from Sunday 26 January to Thursday 30 January. The catalogues, which are now available to view online, contain an outstanding selection of 661 yearlings in Book 1 and another 427 in Book 2.
“Of all the sales in Australasia this year, Karaka saw the biggest increase in average, turnover and median. That was really encouraging,” said NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.
Andrew Seabrook | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“We’re incredibly proud of the New Zealand-bred and Karaka graduate results over the last twelve months.”
Duo of Group 1-winning 3-year-olds
With 10 juvenile winners already from the 2024 sale, the 2023 sale has already produced Group 1 winners Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) and Velocious (Written Tycoon).
“On the back of a wildly successful Ready To Run Sale, we are thrilled to turn our attention to the National Yearling Sale at Karaka in January. It’s a wonderful catalogue, and we are well represented with over 100 sires,” said Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones.
Kane Jones | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“During August and September we conducted all the farm inspections and we are pleased with the quality that our vendors are producing. We look forward to promoting the sale in the next few months and selling in January.
“We have had an incredible run of successful grads around the world lately, particularly in Australia, and that’s testament to the advantage these horses get being raised on New Zealand pastures.”
“We have had an incredible run of successful grads around the world lately, particularly in Australia, and that’s testament to the advantage these horses get being raised on New Zealand pastures.” - Kane Jones
The 2024 sale had 758 yearlings sell for an aggregate of NZ$92,322,500, an increase of over 12 per cent on 2023. The combined average rose from NZ$110,424 in 2023 to NZ$121,797 in 2024 and the median increased from NZ$80,000 to NZ$87,500. The combined clearance rate was on par at 77 per cent.
The 3-year-olds thriving this spring
Headlined by last season’s Champion 2YO in New Zealand Velocious and this season’s G1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner Savaglee, the current crop of 3-year-old graduates of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale include Group winners Bellatrix Star (Star Witness), Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), He’s Lucid (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth), and So Naïve (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}).
Gallery: Some of the successful graduates out of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale
The sale has also already produced Listed winners, who are currently 3-year-olds in Archaic Smile (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan), Discretion Rules (Alabama Express), Imperialist (Churchill {Ire}), Keeneland (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), Lilac (Justify {USA}), Opening Address (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}), Poetic Champion (NZ) (Super Seth), and Super Photon (NZ) (Super Seth).
Linebacker’s co-trainer John O’Shea purchased him with Suman Hedge Bloodstock in 2023 for NZ$160,000 from Haunui Farm, and Linebacker won at two on debut, then won the G3 TL Baillieu H. at his second start before finishing his juvenile season with a second to Champion 2YO Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the G1 Champagne S. This season at three, he’s run fourth in the G2 Run To The Rose and sixth in the G1 Golden Rose.
“It’s a great value sale, and New Zealand horses have a fantastic record winning major races here despite not having big numbers. We really enjoy the sale and have had good results at a reasonable value,” said O’Shea.
“Linebacker was the year of the floods. We try to buy 10-15 a year there, and he was a stand out of his year. If you end up with a Group 1 quality horse like Linebacker, then it’s been a good trip. We haven’t run a lot of the 3-year-olds (we bought) yet. There’s a nice Pierro still to come and a couple of Ocean Parks.
“If you end up with a Group 1 quality horse like Linebacker, then it’s been a good trip (to New Zealand). We haven’t run a lot of the 3-year-olds (we bought) yet. There’s a nice Pierro still to come and a couple of Ocean Parks.” - John O'Shea
“We try to buy those horses that train on at five and six with 30 or more starts. The sale isn’t really for 2-year-olds, I go there to buy sound reliable horses that will train on. If they can get to open company, they’ll earn $500-800 thousand which is great.”
Karaka Millions race day
The week opens with the TAB Karaka Millions race day at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday, January 25. The six-race card now carries total stakes of more than NZ$5 million, headed by the NZ$1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO over 1200 metres and the NZ$1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO over 1600 metres for graduates of the sales.
Velocious won the Karaka Million 2YO in 2024 before going on to add the G1 Sistema S. She had a setback this spring after running sixth in the G3 Gold Trail S.
The Karaka Millions 3YO enters it’s eighth year in 2025, with 2024's winner Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) going on to add the G1 NZ Derby and G1 Vinery Stud S.
Orchestral (NZ), winner of the Karaka Million 2YO in 2024 | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Book 1 features 95 stallions
With 661 lots catalogued for book one, which will run from Sunday 26 until Tuesday 28 January, they include 95 stallions led by Champion NZ Sire Proisir who has 53 lots entered.
| Proisir | 53 |
| Almanzor (Fr) | 47 |
| Savabeel | 46 |
| Hello Youmzain (Fr) | 43 |
| Satono Aladdin (Jpn) | 40 |
| Per Incanto (USA) | 29 |
| Super Seth | 27 |
| Sword of State | 23 |
| Noverre (NZ) | 21 |
| Home Affairs | 15 |
| Ardrossan | 15 |
| Ocean Park (NZ) | 14 |
| St Mark's Basilica (Fr) | 11 |
| Contributer (Ire) | 11 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 10 |
| Armory (Ire) | 10 |
Table: Sires with more than 10 lots in book 1
Highlighted in Book 1 are the stock of first season sires Acrobat, Amory (Ire), Captivant, Extreme Warrior, Home Affairs, Noverre (NZ), Palace Pier (GB), Pinatubo (Ire), Portland Sky, Profiteer, St. Mark’s Basilica (Fr), Stay Inside, Sword Of State, The Chosen One (NZ), Tiger Of Malay, Wild Ruler, and Wooded (Ire).
Contributer's contribution
Mapperley Stud has a draft of 16 in book one, with seven by their recently deceased resident sire Contributer (Ire).
“Of the 3-year-olds, we sold He’s Lucid and Beau Dazzler who’ve both won stakes races, but unfortunately we don’t have progeny to sell this year from their dams,” said Simms Davison. Beau Dazzler won the Listed Phelan Ready S. last season at two for Sears Racing, while He’s Lucid broke his maiden in the G3 War Decree S. after being twice stakes placed at two.
Simms Davison with Contributer (Ire) | Image courtesy of Mapperley Stud
“Contributer has been huge for us with what he’s done. He’s constantly putting out stakes horses and his fillies are running at nearly 25 per cent stakes horses to runners.
“We have a lovely draft for 2025, mainly with horses by Contributer. His biggest crop are now 3-year-olds, so they’ll keep coming up at the races leading into the sales. We’ve got some lovely horses to present by him, and it’s so unfortunate that he died this spring but that probably means that he’ll shine now.”
Contributer was a son of High Chaparral (Ire) who has, to date, produced 10 stakes winners including G1 Zabeel Classic winner Campionessa (NZ) who won on debut at three and is still racing. His other Group 1 winner, Lion’s Roar (NZ) won the G1 Randwick Guineas at three, and recently added the Listed Wyong Cup this season at seven.
“I’m really happy with our draft. The farm produces good hardy horses. The biggest attribute that horses from Mapperley have is that they tend to race on. They aren’t one hit wonders. Look at Campionessa, she’s still racing at Group 1-level at seven. Mapperley is a big farm with big rolling paddocks, and I’m a firm believer that the hills give young horses that extra strength and makes them well balanced and durable.
“I’m really happy with our draft. The farm produces good hardy horses. The biggest attribute that horses from Mapperley have is that they tend to race on... Look at Campionessa, she’s still racing at Group 1-level at seven.” - Simms Davison
“And it shows in our results with our graduates being durable horses who race over several seasons. We are selling everything at Karaka and not going anywhere else, and we have lots of trainers who like to buy from us because our horses keep going. It’s our hills that make the difference.”
Abbakiss a winner already
Carlaw Park is a relatively new outfit in New Zealand with 2025 being their eighth draft. Their 2024 draft already has a winner with 2-year-old filly Abbakiss (Microphone) winning at her second start in November for trainer Bryce Newman.
“We’ve had a couple of good weeks with a few winners,” said Nick Fairweather. “Abbakiss won at two, and her full sister Cantatrice was a winner for Te Akau earlier this spring too. Public Attention won his first start impressively for Mick Price and ran in the G1 Caulfield Guineas. The spring was probably a bit soon for him, so we’re looking forward to autumn.”
Abbakiss | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) won on debut at two, then this spring, ran second in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude and fifth in the G1 Caulfield Guineas. He was purchased from Carlaw Park by Tom Magnier for NZ$160,000.
“In Hong Kong, we sold a horse called Endued a few years ago, he won his third start in New Zealand to qualify for Hong Kong and ran fourth on his debut there this week. He’s an exciting horse for Jamie Richards who also has Courier Aladdin that won on debut in Hong Kong.” Endued (Deep Field) was bought by Jamie Richards and Andrew Williams Bloodstock for NZ$400,000. Courier Aladdin (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) was sold to Thurlow Bloodstock for NZ$210,000.
“We’ve still got some nice ones to come through too. Stephen Marsh has a Vadamos called Erin Go Bragh who won on debut and the stable has a big opinion of him.” 3-year-old gelding Erin Go Bragh (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) won on debut in October before running in the G2 James and Anne Sarten Memorial at his second start.
“In terms of Karaka itself, New Zealand Bloodstock always produce a good buying bench, particularly with Australian and Hong Kong buyers. Generally when the Ready To Run Sale goes well, the yearling sale is strong, so we are hoping it rolls on through. We have a nice mix of Australian and New Zealand bred horses including several we’ve pinhooked from Australia. We target horses there to bring back here to sell and have had good success doing that.
“In terms of Karaka itself, New Zealand Bloodstock always produce a good buying bench, particularly with Australian and Hong Kong buyers. Generally when the Ready To Run Sale goes well, the yearling sale is strong, so we are hoping it rolls on through.” - Nick Fairweather
“Savabeel always has appeal, and Lot 19 is bred on the magic Savabeel/O’Reilly cross. She’s an extremely lovely filly who is straight forward and looks like a miler or Oaks type filly. Very typical of her sire.”
“A standout on type is Lot 362. We purchased him in Sydney and he’s an exceptional type. He’s by Street Boss who is flying and there aren’t many around this year, so we are really excited to present him.”
“A lovely forward, strong type with plenty happening in the family recently is Lot 566, a Satono Aladdin colt from a half-sister to Turn Me Loose who was a multiple Group 1 winner in Australia and stands at stud here now. He’s attractive, well-conformed with a lot going for him.”
Book 2 rolled into Book 1 catalogue
With 427 horses to be presented in Book 2 of the sale, this year, both books will be printed in one physical book.
“Although they still remain separate sales, (merging the books) was a request made at a post sales vendor meeting earlier this year, so we thought it was worth doing and advantageous from a marketing perspective to have just one catalogue,” said Seabrook.
“Although they still remain separate sales, (merging the books) was a request made at a post sales vendor meeting earlier this year, so we thought it was worth doing and advantageous from a marketing perspective to have just one catalogue.” - Andrew Seabrook
“After the record-breaking Sale last week, we are looking forward to seeing that momentum roll into Karaka 2025. Our team will be busy establishing the best buying bench possible from all markets.”
Book 2 produces plenty of graduates and while including pedigrees deemed to be less commercial than in Book 1, there is still enough quality for those buyers looking for value or wanting to pinhook for the 2-year-old sales on type.
| Tarzino | 33 |
| Armory | 23 |
| Noverre | 22 |
| Ardrossan | 18 |
| Ace High | 18 |
| El Roca | 17 |
| Satono Aladdin | 17 |
| Sword of State | 13 |
| Embellish | 12 |
| Hello Youmzain | 11 |
| Shocking | 11 |
| Derryn | 11 |
| Turn Me Loose | 11 |
| Time Test | 10 |
| Circus Maximus | 10 |
| Proisir | 10 |
Table: Sires with more than 10 lots in book 2
“It’s a bit of a psychological thing. When people are on the sales grounds, if horses are in the one physical book, some of the specialist book 1 buyers may engage in the book 2 more now. So many good horses have been sold out of book 2 over the years it’s probably quite fitting to give buyers the opportunity to find them in the same place,” said Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham.
“It’ll be big but we go to Magic Millions every year and the size of their catalogue book doesn’t bother us. We have five in Book 2 including a nice Satono Aladdin filly, and 21 yearlings in Book 1 who are all homegrown horses. I think we’ve got a strong fillies draft with close relations to Kovalica, Ruthless Dame, Powers Of Opal who placed in the Victoria Oaks, a Too Darn Hot half to Archaic Smile, and five by Satono Aladdin who we have great confidence in going forward.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence that they’ll emulate the biggest horses in their pedigree.”
Gordon Cunningham | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Siblings on offer
There are siblings to superstars such as a full brother to Hong Kong champion sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), a full sister to Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), a full sister to Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), as well as Velocious’ half-sister by Per Incanto (USA), and a Tivaci half-sister to Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}).
There are also several siblings to Australian up-and-comers such as Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), Aeliana and Powers Of Opal (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
