Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
On the back of last week’s successful Ready To Run Sale, the momentum builds for the 1009 yearlings that have been catalogued to sell throughout the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale in late January.
The excitement builds for the 100th Karaka National Yearling Sale
A century of thoroughbred excellence has shaped the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, from the days of guineas to dollars, from Trentham to Karaka, and from its Wrightson's beginnings to today under the New Zealand Bloodstock banner.
Under New Zealand Bloodstock’s motto, ‘Where winning begins’, anticipation for the milestone 2026 sale is already building. New Zealand Bloodstock Managing Director Andrew Seabrook told The Thoroughbred Report, “The hundred-year anniversary of the sale has really become a discussion point. On my travels around the world over the last few months, the number of people who have said they are coming for the first time has been great.
“Buyers who used to frequent the sales at Trentham before we moved to Karaka in 1988 have also said they are coming, so it’s really building momentum, and is heading towards being something special.”
Andrew Seabrook | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Talking about being special, there are already lots of little touches that are being made in preparation, as Seabrook explained he was fond of one that appeared at his desk on Monday afternoon.
“I have a lovely branded whisky bottle that just landed at my desk this afternoon, with the 100 years and the logo on it, with Phar Lap which looks fantastic. This sale is being treated as very important and has that little point of difference this year.”
In the history of the 100 years of the National Yearling Sale, many legends of the racetrack have emerged. Among them the titans Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}), Rising Fast (NZ) (Alonzo {GB}), Tulloch (NZ), Dulcify (NZ) (Decies {GB}), Octagonal (NZ) and So You Think (NZ).
Phar Lap (NZ) | Image courtesy of Melbourne Museum
Building on the momentum of the Ready To Run Sale
Seabrook said the success of last week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale has added to the excitement and the potential build up for Karaka 2026.
“Coming off what was an incredible week for the Ready To Run Sale, there is a sense of momentum building ahead of Karaka 2026,” he said.
“The support and interest from people eager to attend in January, including those who haven’t been here in a few years, is very encouraging, and it’s a sign of how incredible the milestone of 100 National Yearling Sales is.
“The support and interest from people eager to attend in January, is very encouraging, and it’s a sign of how incredible the milestone of 100 National Yearling Sales is.” - Andrew Seabrook
“Auction houses often claim to have assembled their best yearling catalogue, but I’m confident that’s true this year given the increased vendor support, smaller numbers catalogued, and tougher selection decisions, which has naturally increased quality across the board.
“The success continues. It’s amazing, year after year, the results that New Zealand-breds and Karaka graduates achieve internationally.”
Seabrook highlighted some key standouts from the Ready To Run Sale, “The success of New Zealand stallions like Sword Of State, Armory and Hello Youmzain and others was impressive. Traditionally, Australian stallions have had a lot of success with pin-hooking, but the achievements of these local stallions were significant.
“The first-season sires represented this year were very strong. While we only have one New Zealand first-season sire in Profondo, there is good strength there. The overall stallion strength in New Zealand is as good as it’s been for a while, which is encouraging.
Profondo | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
“The Australian buyers really stepped up last week, and I think that will continue into January. The Australian buying bench has been significantly stronger for the Ready To Run Sale - their spend has gone from NZ$8 million, to NZ$10 million, to NZ$13 million over the last three years. The appetite for our horses is very pleasing, and we are hopeful that will continue into the Yearling Sale.
“A lot of people are already making bookings, and talking about the 100th anniversary, which is exciting.
A newly formatted sales series
Several changes have been made to the Yearling Sale format for 2026, aimed at building quality in Book 1. Book 1 will be condensed from three days to two, Book 2 will remain a one-day sale, and the new Karaka Summer Sale has been introduced.
Book 1 will run at Karaka on Sunday, January 25 and Monday, January 26, Book 2 will take its place on Tuesday, January 27, with a day off on Wednesday before the Summer Sale is held on Thursday, 29 January. The catalogues, now available online, feature 567 yearlings in Book 1, 281 in Book 2, and the third session has 161 catalogued in the Summer Sale.
Seabrook said the changes would help give all horses equal opportunity and maintain quality across Book 1.
“We have trimmed Book 1 by 100 lots and condensed it into two days. Like last year, Book 1 and Book 2 will be in one big catalogue, but all Book 1 and Book 2 horses will be on the ground from Day 1.
“Book 1 and Book 2 will be in one big catalogue, but all Book 1 and Book 2 horses will be on the ground from Day 1.” - Andrew Seabrook
“So they will be getting the same opportunity, and there won’t be all the movement of horses before Book 2. There will then be a day’s break on Wednesday before the Summer Sale runs on Thursday. The Summer Sale has been well supported by lots of top vendors, and we will be pushing it heavily domestically.”
The potential for quality to emerge from Book 2 and beyond was reinforced by the recent G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, where Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) triumphed. Romanov was originally purchased for just NZ$75,000 by Ballymore Stables from Haunui Farm’s Book 2 draft at last year’s Karaka National Sale.
Romanoff (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images South
“It’s amazing the graduates that can come from Book 2 and beyond, and Romanoff did just that on the weekend,” Seabrook said.
“I also think back to Bonecrusher and Kiwi, who came through Claudelands and Trentham Sales for around NZ$3250 and NZ$1000. It’s the beauty of New Zealand - good horses can come from anywhere.”
Karaka Millions raceday
The week of Karaka 2026 will kick off in style at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday, January 24 with the famous and very popular TAB Karaka Millions raceday, now boasting more than $5 million in prizemoney. The highlight races are the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200 metres) and the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO Mile for graduates.
In 2025, Te Akau-trained filly La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) won the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO Classic before claiming the G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and G1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes later in the season. Te Akau also captured the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO with Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) in a famous double in the tangerine colours.
La Dorada (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
The raceday sets the scene for the selling to come, and continues to build into a must attend event.
Proven and new: Savabeel still going strong and the Profondos hit the market
Book 1 features a strong representation of local stallions, highlighted by reigning champion sire Savabeel with 35 lots entered. The Rich Hill Stud-based Proisir and Satono Aladdin (Jpn) are strongly represented, each with 54 lots catalogued, while Super Seth has 40, Sword Of State 25, Almanzor (Fr) 24, Hello Youmzain (Fr) 24, Per Incanto (USA) 22, and Noverre (NZ) 18 among others.
| Satono Aladdin | 54 |
| Proisir | 54 |
| Super Seth | 40 |
| Profondo | 37 |
| Savabeel | 35 |
| Ardrossan | 29 |
| Sword Of State | 25 |
| Hello Youmzain | 24 |
| Almanzor | 24 |
| Per Incanto | 22 |
Table: Top 10 most represented sires in the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
The Windsor Park Stud-based Profondo interestingly is the only New Zealand first-season sire, with 37 yearlings catalogued to go under the hammer. Australian first-season sires also represented include Anamoe with 10 lots, Jacquinot with three, and Artorius, Best Of Bordeaux, Hitotsu, In The Congo, Sejardan, and State Of Rest are all represented.
In Book 1 there are 41 different vendors represented, with Cambridge Stud topping the list with 58 lots, Waikato Stud offer 55 lots, while Wentwood Grange with 35, and Windsor Park Stud with 30 lots catalogued feature prominently.
| Cambridge Stud | 58 |
| Waikato Stud | 55 |
| Wentworth Grange | 35 |
| Windsor Park Stud | 30 |
| Haunui Farm | 27 |
| Elsdon Park | 27 |
| Landsdowne Park | 25 |
| Curraghmore | 22 |
| Rich Hill Stud | 20 |
| Little Avondale Stud | 20 |
Table: Top 10 vendors with largest drafts at the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale
Siblings to stars
The catalogue is rich with siblings to Group 1 winners, including two closely related to headline performers from this year’s Melbourne spring. Among them is a Sword Of State half-brother to Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), now a four-time Group 1 winner with more than $9 million in prizemoney, and a Satono Aladdin (Jpn) half-brother to the superstar Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars).
There is also a Proisir half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Grunt (NZ), who recently sired Strictly Business to victory in the G1 Victorian Oaks, along with a Proisir half-sister to the G1 winner Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and the recent Listed Debutant Stakes winner Torture (Sword Of State).
From the Windsor Park Stud draft comes a Savabeel half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh), a colt sure to attract significant interest.
Mustang Valley (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Milan Park will offer a Super Seth colt who is a half-brother to Provence (NZ) (Savabeel), winner of both the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes and the G1 Thorndon Mile. Another half-sister in the family is Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), winner of the R. Listed NZB Kiwi and the R. Listed Karaka Millions 3YO Classic.
A Proisir full sister to Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), a dual Group 1 winner, whose two full sisters have each sold for more than a million dollars across the past two sales looks a potential headliner.
Also catalogued is a Profondo half-sister to G1 Thorndon Mile winner Stolen Dance (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), offered by Carlaw Park, as well as a Satono Aladdin half-brother to Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). Pencarrow Stud present a Proisir half-sister to G1 Queensland Derby winner Maison Louis (NZ) (Super Seth), while Landsdowne Park offer an Almanzor (Fr) half-brother to three-time Group 1 winner The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}).
Maison Louis (NZ) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Ardsley Park offer an In The Congo half sister to the G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}), and a full sister to the dual Group 1 Oaks winner Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}).
That is just a taste of some of the well bred types. The catalogue also features yearlings out of Group 1-winning mares, with sons and daughters of I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}), Guiseppina (NZ) (Johar {USA}), Fleur De Lune (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}), Artistic (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Anabandana (Anabaa {USA}), Thee Auld Floozie (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}), Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel), Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel), and Quintessential (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous) all represented among others.
