New Zealand is renowned as a nursery of world-beating thoroughbred talent, and the catalogues for Karaka 2024 are filled to the brim with those outstanding Kiwi bloodlines.
Even by its own high standards, Book 1 is exceptionally strong in 2024. There are 114 siblings to stakes winners, along with 109 progeny of stakes-performed mares.
There are enough highlights to fill a catalogue all by themselves, but here is just a small selection of some of the highest-profile lots.
Book 1, Day One (Sunday January 28)
- Lot 15 is by freshman Cambridge Stud stallion Hello Youmzain and from the stakes-placed Distinctive Lass (Orientate). This Curraghmore yearling is a half-sister to the Group One winner Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma), and stakes performers Kuro (NZ) (Denman), Southern Lad (Ocean Park), Distinctive Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Wairau Cove (NZ) (Darci Brahma).
- Hallmark Stud’s filly catalogued as Lot 21 is by Proisir out of Donna Marie (NZ) (Don Eduardo). That makes her a full-sister to the top-class Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), who won five races in a row last season including the $1m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and the Group One New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
- Waikato Stud’s Super Seth has made a statement with his two-year-olds this spring, and he is the sire of Lot 131. This colt is a half-brother to the Group One winner and NZB Filly of the Year Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel), and closely related to Group performers Sweet Ride (Deep Field), Japanese Emperor (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), Metal Bender (NZ) (Danasinga), North Pacific (Brazen Beau) and Missybeel (NZ) (Savabeel).
- Lot 138 is a Trelawney Stud colt by super-sire Snitzel out of the three-time Listed winner Indecision (NZ) (Per Incanto). The winner of six races, Indecision is also a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner Viadana (NZ) (Towkay).
- The colt by U S Navy Flag catalogued as Lot 139 is a half-brother to triple Group One winner and successful sire Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj).
- Pencarrow Stud will offer a Super Seth colt from one of their most exciting families as Lot 146. The colt is out of the Group Two-placed mare Irion (NZ) (Danroad), whose three foals to race are all winners and include the Group winners Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar) and Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock).
- Lot 181 on account of Ainsley Downs Stud is a colt by Darci Brahma (NZ), a half-brother to Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern) who won last season’s Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m) and Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m), plus Laure Me In (Ad Valorem) who has won eight races and more than A$750,000, headed by the Listed Scone Cup (1600m).
- A notable member of the Wentwood Grange draft is Lot 187, a colt by champion sire Proisir. The dam of this colt is Leigh Valley (NZ) (Bianconi), who won at Group Three level and has been represented by four winners including Group One winner Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman).
- Lot 210 is the only yearling in the Karaka 2024 catalogue by champion racehorse and superb Juddmonte stallion Kingman. This colt is out of a Camelot mare whose half-sister Many Colours (Green Desert) is the dam of three stakes winners including Group One 1000 Guineas (1600m) heroine Mother Earth (Zoffany).
- Highline Thoroughbreds offer Lot 224, an I Am Invincible colt who is a half-brother to the Group One winner Seabrook (NZ) (Hinchinbrook).
- Prima Park will offer Lot 229, a Contributer filly who is a full-sister to the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Lion’s Roar (NZ).
- Lot 238 is a colt by the Blue Diamond-winning freshman sire Tagaloa. This colt is the first foal out of Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Miss Sentimental (NZ) (Reliable Man).
Book 1, Day Two (Monday January 29)
- Early on Day Two, Curraghmore’s Lot 247 is a filly by Ocean Park (NZ) and is a half-sister to the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock).
- Lot 261 comes from the draft of Blandford Lodge and is by all-conquering racehorse and top sire So You Think (NZ). This colt is a half-brother to dual Group One winner Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman) and Listed winner Le Gai Soleil (NZ) (Tavistock).
- Inglewood Stud’s Lot 295 is a filly by Dundeel (NZ) out of the Snitzel mare Parmalove, making her a half-sister to New Zealand’s leading two-year-old Velocious (NZ) (Written Tycoon). From two starts, Velocious has recorded two highly impressive wins including last month’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).
- The Snitzel colt catalogued as Lot 360 from Haunui Farm is the first foal out of Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park). Herself a Group One placegetter on both sides of the Tasman, Rondinella is also a three-quarter-sister to Group Three winner Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park) and a half-sister to multiple Group winners Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Vilanova (NZ) (Commands).
- Curraghmore’s colt by Ocean Park (NZ), going through the ring as Lot 366, is a half-brother to last season’s Group One Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) winner and Group One Surround Stakes (1400m) runner-up Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock).
- Lot 399 is a colt from the first crop of multiple Group One-winning Galileo stallion Circus Maximus. This colt is being offered by Wentwood Grange and is a half-brother to Group One winner (She’s) Licketysplit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose).
- Lot 401 is a colt by Savabeel out of Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar), who won 12 races including four at Group One level. Shez Sinsational has followed up those racetrack heroics with three winners from her four foals to race so far, including the Group Two winner and Group One-placed Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma), along with the Group Three winner and Group One-placed House Of Cartier (Alamosa).
- Blandford Lodge will offer a colt by quality sire Almanzor as Lot 437. The colt is a half-brother to the triple Group One winner Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), who in turn is the dam of the Group One-placed Luella Cristina (Snitzel).
- The Proisir filly catalogued as Lot 480 is a half-sister to four black-type performers, headed by last season’s Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) and the Listed winner Steal My Kisses (I Am Invincible).
Book 1, Day Three (Tuesday January 30)
- The quality yearlings continue to come in quick succession on Book 1’s final day, including an early highlight with Lot 483. The colt will be offered by Ardsley Stud and is a half-brother to their Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) and New Zealand Oaks (2400m) heroine Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin).
- Lot 501 is a colt by Ocean Park (NZ) out of the Group Two-winning Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano), whose only foal to race so far is last season’s Group One Levin Classic (1600m) winner Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca).
- Waikato Stud offers a Savabeel filly as Lot 549, with a pedigree page soaked in high-quality black type. Close relatives include Group One winners Espiona (Extreme Choice), Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat), Vision And Power (NZ) (Carnegie) and Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer).
- Woburn Farm’s draft features Lot 553, one of only three yearlings in the catalogue by Written Tycoon. This colt is a half-brother to the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock).
- Lot 599 will be offered by Phoenix Park and is by Circus Maximus out of Bak Da Chief (NZ) (Chief Bearhart). That makes the colt a half-brother to the super-talented dual Group One winner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).
- From the draft of Ardsley Stud, Lot 637 is a full-sister to the dual Group One winner Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma).
- Wentwood Grange’s filly catalogued as Lot 654 is a full-sister to the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Manzoice (Almanzor).
- Lot 668 is a Savabeel colt from the draft of Hallmark Stud. He is a full-brother to the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) and $1m Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winner Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel).
- The Hello Youmzain filly catalogued as Lot 679 is a half-sister to the dual Group One winner Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) from Windsor Park Stud.
The enormously high standard of yearlings available during Karaka 2024 continues into the Book 2 session, which features siblings to 26 black-type winners and the progeny of 37 stakes-performed mares.
- Lot 683 is a half-sister to the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) placegetter Perfect Rhyme (Poet’s Voice).
- The Derryn colt catalogued as Lot 761 is a full-brother to last season’s Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up Mischief Managed (NZ).
- Lot 765 is a Turn Me Loose half-brother to the multiple Listed winner and Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) placegetter Helena Baby (NZ) (Guillotine).
- Lot 805 is a Derryn half-brother to the three-time Listed winner and Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m) placegetter Lightning Jack (NZ) (Per Incanto).
- A colt by Puccini (NZ) going through the ring as Lot 830 is a full-brother to the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) placegetter Le Villi (NZ).
- A filly from the Cambria Park draft, catalogued as Lot 888, is a half-sister to Group Two winner Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange), who also finished fifth and sixth in the last two runnings of the Melbourne Cup (3200m).
- Lot 949 is a half-sister to the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) placegetter Premise (NZ) (Contributer) by Eminent.
- American bloodlines are available through Lot 979, offered by Ainsley Downs Stud. The Dirty Work colt is out of the Listed-winning mare Spirited Away (Awesome Again), who is the dam of seven winners including two at stakes level in the US.
- Lot 1018 is a Redwood half-brother to the Group One-placed Trojan Warrior (NZ) (Postponed).
- Haunui Farm’s Lot 1019 is by Belardo out of Group One-placed Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky), the dam of Listed winner La Flora Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj). Tsarina Belle is also a half-sister to Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj), who is the dam of the incredible Group One-winning machine Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), along with the multiple black-type winner Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock).
- Lot 1051 is a half-brother to stakes performer Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing), the dam of the Listed winner Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel).
- Book 2 also features the progeny of the siblings to more than 30 Group One winners, including the likes of Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel), Bonham (Per Incanto), Lion Tamer (NZ) (Storming Home), Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry), Champagne (NZ) (Zabeel) and Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).
New Zealand Bloodstock’s 98th National Yearling Sale Series will take place from Sunday 28 January through to Friday 2 February at the Karaka Sales Centre. Continuing NZB’s traditional sale format, Book 1 runs from Sunday 28 January until Tuesday 30 January from 10am (NZT) each day, followed by Book 2 between Wednesday 31 January and Friday 2 February from 11am (NZT) each day.
The stage is set for a week-long thoroughbred extravaganza in Auckland, kicking off with an extraordinary TAB Karaka Millions race day at the new and improved Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 27 January. The six-race card now carries total stakes of $4.45m, headed by the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the all-new $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) for four-year-olds. All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2024 are eligible for the Karaka Millions Series.
