By Kelsey Riley
The fact that Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) is out of a New Zealand-bred mare could be all the motivation buyers need to head to Karaka for New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale Series from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4. The truth, however, which buyers discovered for themselves long ago, is that New Zealand and Karaka itself are a rich source of worldwide Group 1 winners. Karaka graduates to win at the top level this season alone include Mighty Boss (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) and Aloisia (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}), who orchestrated a Karaka sweep when taking the G1 Caulfield Guineas and G1 Thousand Guineas in Australia in October. Other kiwis to fly the flag across the Tasman in the autumn included Group 1 winners Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}). Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock {Aus}) and Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) advertised the sale on the world stage in Hong Kong in December when taking the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, respectively. Karaka graduates have won four of the last eight Hong Kong Miles, and when it comes to Australian Group 1 3-year-old races, 25% have been won by New Zealand bred or sold horses over the past five seasons. In addition, 33% of Group 1 filly races in Australia over the past six seasons have been won by Kiwi-bred or sold fillies.
The NZB Yearling Sale Series begins on Sunday with a new format. The Karaka Million Twilight Meeting, headlined by the NZ$1-million Karaka Million for 2-year-olds, will take place Saturday evening, with the sale beginning with an evening session on Sunday that will commence Book 1 (formerly the Premier Sale), which runs through Jan. 31. Book 2, formerly the Select Sale and the source of Group 1 winners Jon Snow and Volkstok'n'barrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), runs Feb. 1 and 2. Book 3 takes place in a single session on Feb. 4.
I Am Invincible (Aus), sire of the two highest-priced lots at Magic Millions earlier this month and of three of the nine seven-figure lots at that sale, has three catalogued for Karaka. Other leading Australian sires with representation include reigning champion sire Snitzel (Aus), also sire of three millionaires on the Gold Coast. He has four, including a daughter of Group 1 winner Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar {GB}) (lot 577). Fellow champion sire Fastnet Rock (Aus) has 12 catalogued including a full-brother to Group 1 winner First Seal (Aus) (lot 188) and a daughter of seven-time Group 1 winner and New Zealand Horse of the Year Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) (lot 561). Australian champion sires Lonhro (Aus) and Redoute's Choice (Aus) each have one to sell. Written Tycoon (Aus) has three and Sebring (Aus) two. The lone representative for Not A Single Doubt (Aus) is a half-sister to last season's champion 2-year-old filly Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands {Aus}) (lot 371).
Yearlings by New Zealand's reigning champion sire Savabeel (Aus) grossed NZ$11.46-million at last year's Premier sale, and he is represented by 75 yearlings in Book 1 this year, including full siblings to Group 1 winners Costume (Aus) (lot 163) and Brambles (Aus) (lot 493). Iffraaj's stock will be in high demand after he provided both Gingernuts and Jon Snow last year, and the shuttler has 39 catalogued including a full-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Turn Me Loose (NZ) (lot 272) and a half-sister to Group 1 winner I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) (lot 619).
Cambridge Stud will offer its final consignment under the ownership of the legendary Sir Patrick Hogan and Lady Justine Hogan before being taken over by new owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay. The current star of the Cambridge stallion roster is Tavistock (NZ), and he has a whopping 96 set to sell across Books 1 and 2. Those include a full-sister to Werther (NZ) (lot 48) and half siblings to Group 1 winners Shamrocker (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) and Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) (lot 77), Kermadec (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 261) and Samantha Miss (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) (lot 382).
Deep Field (Aus), Dissident (Aus) and Charm Spirit (Ire) were the leading first-season sires with three or more sold at Magic Millions, and all three are represented at Karaka. New Zealand-based first-season sires with progeny on offer include the Group 3-winning Proisir (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), a full-brother to G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet (Aus), and Classic winner Sacred Falls (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}).
At most sales, international visitors draw plenty of interest and excitement, but it is usually the domestic contingent that is responsible for most of the outlay. Last year at Karaka, however, international buyers representing nine countries spent NZ$52-million, 63% of the aggregate. It is likely that a truly international affair, then, is in store for Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 at Karaka.
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