Hot on the heels of a record-breaking Ready to Run Sale, the cream of New Zealand’s yearling crop has been revealed for Karaka 2025.
The world-renowned week of selling in late January is the shop window for the thoroughbred talent that New Zealand produces, and that trend is set to continue with world-class catalogues unveiled.
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,” commented NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.
“We’re incredibly proud of the New Zealand-bred and Karaka graduate results over the last twelve months.”
New Zealand’s climate and pristine countryside provides a natural advantage as a breeding ground of thoroughbred excellence, and blockbuster performances by Kiwi-bred horses on major stages across Australasia and Asia in recent times have given ample reason for buyers from around the world to converge on Karaka in January.
While staying excellence has traditionally been considered New Zealand’s strength, that trend has been bucked by a series of elite sprinters and milers. Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) have been two of the brightest sprinting talents to grace Hong Kong’s turf in recent years.
In Australia’s hotly contested Melbourne and Sydney spring carnivals, there have been Group One mile victories by Kiwi-breds and Karaka graduates Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) and Antino (NZ) (Redwood) in the last few weeks.
Meanwhile, exciting new talents have emerged in the form of Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), and ten-length Queensland Derby winner Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree).
Other high-class Group One winners to come out of the National Yearling Sales Series in the last few years include Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj), Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer), Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai), and Velocious (Written Tycoon) and more.
The pedigrees contained in the catalogues for Karaka 2025 have all the right credentials for many more names to be added to that list. There are siblings to superstars such as Lucky Sweynesse, Orchestral, Prowess, Velocious, Pasadena Girl (NZ) (Savabeel), Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls) and Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock), along with Australian up-and-comers Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto), Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit), Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) and Powers Of Opal (NZ) (Ocean Park).
There are also first foals by the likes of star racemares Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux), Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel) and House Of Cartier (Alamosa), plus progeny of other Group One winners such as Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi), Jennifer Eccles (Rip Van Winkle) and more.
Over 100 sires are represented in the catalogues, from big names like Savabeel, Proisir, I Am Invincible, Frankel, Almanzor, Per Incanto, Satono Aladdin and Snitzel to a big line up of first-season stallions with New Zealand-based Sword Of State, Noverre (NZ), Armory and The Chosen One (NZ) to debut.
The week of Karaka 2025 is set to kick off in style at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 25 January with the famous TAB Karaka Millions raceday, now worth more than $5 million in prizemoney and headlined by the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) for graduates.
That will be followed by Book 1, which runs from Sunday 26 January to Tuesday 28 January with selling starting at 10am each day. The first day of Book 2 will start at 12pm on Wednesday 29 January and continues at 10am the following day on Thursday 30 January.
For the first time ever NZB has combined both Book 1 and Book 2 into one physical catalogue.
“Although they still remain separate Sales, it 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,” added 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.”
All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2025 are eligible for the Karaka Millions Series including the new NZB Mega Maiden Series which sees horses racing for an additional $1m in bonuses across 40 maiden races each season in New Zealand.
The catalogues for Karaka 2025 can be viewed online at www.nzb.co.nz, or downloaded on the Equineline app for tablets or Thoroughworks app for mobile, with physical copies set to arrive in mailboxes soon.
Online bidding is available for all prospective purchasers via bidonline.nzb.co.nz, plus an extensive online catalogue via www.nzb.co.nz that will host pedigrees, parade videos and photos, updates, and important information to assist buying decisions.
All prospective buyers are welcome to attend the on-farm parades, with the schedule to be announced soon. NZB and NZ-based agents are also available to inspect on your behalf should you require a head start on inspections and evaluations.
International buyers wishing to physically attend Karaka 2025 can enquire about accommodation options and travel assistance by emailing travel@nzb.co.nz.
To request a catalogue or for general sale information, 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.
Sale Schedule
TAB Karaka Millions Raceday
Saturday 25 January at Ellerslie Racecourse
Book 1: Lot 1 – 661
Day One: Sunday 26 January Lot 1 – 250 from 10am (NZT)
Day Two: Monday 27 January Lot 251 – 480 from 10am (NZT)
Day Three: Tuesday 28 January Lot 481 – 661 from 10am (NZT)
Book 2: Lot 661 - 1088
Day One: Wednesday 29 January Lot 662 – 860 from 12pm (NZT)
Day Two: Thursday 30 January Lot 861 – 1088 from 10am (NZT)
