There were two new Group I winners in Australasia on Saturday and one was bred in New Zealand and the other is from a New Zealand bred mare so of course there will be some family connections catalogued for Karaka, plus a young Aussie bred, but Kiwi based sire that buyers need to know more about.
The 2024 NZB National Yearling Sale Series – Books 1 and 2 - (January 28 – February 2) features the best yearlings New Zealand has to offer and we’ve gone looking for something interesting in the mix!
Four year-old Pride of Dubai gelding Desert Lightning became the fourth Group I winner for Pride of Dubai when winning the Group I TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham, read about him here.
The pedigree looks Australian, but Desert Lightning was foaled in New Zealand and for fans of the royal family tracing back to blue hen Dancing Show (USA) via the Twyla branch it does appear once at Karaka and is in hot form having also produced Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes winner Tom Kitten this spring.
Lot 513 Filly Wootton Bassett (GB) x Via Napoli – Curraghmore as agent for Fairway Thoroughbreds
Pride of Dubai has only a very small number of yearlings for 2024 and just one for Karaka.
Lot 125 Colt Pride of Dubai x Helluva Crown – Wentwood Grange
The $1million Group I WATC Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot in Perth was expected to be won by Zaaki, but he could not hold off the challenge of Dom to Shoot, read about him here.
Dom to Shoot is the second Group I winner for Shooting to Win, but is the ninth as a broodmare sire for champion sire Pins being from Kiwi bred Princess Rouge, whose grand-dam Gio is a sister to star producer Escada, dam of G1 winners Glamour Puss and Vision and Power. It’s also the family of current G1 star mare Espiona.
There are thre entries for K1 from this family.
Lot 179 Filly Ocean Park x Laura Clark – Waikato Stud
Lot 534 Colt Ocean Park x Winkelmann – Trelawney Stud
Lot 549 Filly Savabeel x Absolutely Me – Waikato Stud
With his oldest progeny just three year-olds, Redoute’s Choice son Ardrossan sired his first Australian stakes-winner when promising two year-old Beau Dazzler won the Listed BRC Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm, read about him here.
Ardrossan has had eight winners from 22 starters, but four of those winners are stakes-winners, which is why Aussie buyers should look closely at his progeny. He is an Aussie bred son of blue hen Miss Argyle, who left nine foals that were all winners, four of them stakes-winners headed by $5.7million earning Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise.
Ardrossan has 11 entries for Karaka Book 1 and eight for Book 2 including the full brother to Beau Dazzler.
Lot 907 Colt Ardrossan x Pwerfect – Landsdowne Park
Continuing NZB’s traditional sale format, Book 1 is set to commence from Sunday 28 until Tuesday 30 January from 10am (NZT) each day, while Book 2 will begin directly after from Wednesday 31 January until Friday 2 February from 11am (NZT) each day.
For any general enquiries, contact info@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055. For bloodstock enquiries, contact NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones on kane.jones@nzb.co.nz or call +64 27 274 4985.
