The release of New Zealand Bloodstock’s catalogues for the 95th National Yearling Sales Series has kicked off the countdown to the New Zealand thoroughbred industry’s biggest week of the year.
The eyes of the thoroughbred world will tune in to Auckland from Saturday 23 January, when a high-octane Karaka Million Twilight race meeting at Ellerslie provides a perfect entrée for the live action that follows at NZB’s Karaka Sales Centre for their Book 1 and Book 2 catalogues.
Showcasing some of New Zealand’s brightest talent, an elite selection of yearlings will go through the ring in Book 1 on January 24, 25 and 26, followed by Book 2 on January 27 and 28. Selling will commence at Karaka from 1PM (NZT) on all days. In a change from previous years, Book 3 will be an online sale on Gavelhouse Plus, closing on Wednesday 3 February.
With decades of sustained excellence, New Zealand-sourced thoroughbreds have earned an esteemed international reputation, with racetrack performances remaining as strong as ever. Despite representing just 6.9% of the racing population in Australia, a total of 31 New Zealand-sourced Group winners won 36 Group races in Australia last season.
New Zealand-sourced fillies have won six of the last seven editions of the prestigious Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick, and three-year-olds sourced from this side of the Tasman have won 33% of the Group One Derby races in Australia over the current seven seasons. There were ten New Zealand-sourced Group One winners in Australia during the 2019-20 season alone.
The yearling class of 2021 boasts the right credentials to add to those statistics. An exceptional catalogue of 579 yearlings will go under the hammer in Book 1, with another 339 quality youngsters for sale in Book 2.
Sires represented at Karaka 2021 include American Pharoah, Belardo, Capitalist, Darci Brahma (NZ), Dundeel (NZ), Fastnet Rock, I Am Invincible, No Nay Never, Ocean Park (NZ), Per Incanto, Pierro, Savabeel, Snitzel, Tavistock (NZ), Written Tycoon and Zoustar.
The catalogue also features the progeny of an exciting group of new bloodlines – first season sires Almanzor, Caravaggio, Churchill, Derryn, Hellbent, Impending, Invader, Merchant Navy, Mongolian Falcon, Pariah, Ribchester, Russian Revolution, Satono Aladdin, Spieth (NZ), Time Test, War Decree and What’s The Story (NZ).
The catalogue for Book 1 features the progeny of Group One-winning mares Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock), Prize Lady (NZ) (Prized), Rena’s Lady (Arena), Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn), Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman), Chenille (NZ) (Pentire), Fanatic (NZ) (Shocking), Guiseppina (NZ) (Johar), I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) and Insouciant (NZ) (Keeper).
There are also siblings to Group One winners Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel), Tarzino (NZ) (Tavistock), Authentic Paddy (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit), Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto), Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), Consensus (NZ) (Postponed), (The) Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux), Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock) and Marky Mark (NZ) (Makfi).
Countless others are close relatives to Group One stars and boast pedigree pages stacked with black type.
Book 1 and Book 2 catalogues are now available to be viewed online, with physical copies arriving in mailboxes.
As with the highly successful recent NZB Ready to Run Sale, online bidding services will be available for all registered buyers who are unable to physically attend Karaka 2021.
All yearlings will be available for on-farm inspections with agents available to inspect on behalf.
