A Century of National Yearling Sales Success: New Zealand Derby

The Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) is perhaps the most prestigious and coveted prize in New Zealand racing, and its illustrious history is littered with top-class winners sourced from the National Yearling Sales.

NZB will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Yearling Sales at Karaka next January. That century of sales has produced a long line of horses with the stamina and class needed for Derby glory.

The modern-day New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie was first run in 1973, following the amalgamation of the New Zealand Derby at Riccarton and the Great Northern Derby at Ellerslie. Prior to this, the National Yearling Sales produced more than half a dozen winners of each of those two pre-existing classics.

Since 1973, no fewer than 18 graduates of the National Yearling Sales have triumphed in the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie. Their purchase prices range from just $15,000 for the 1995 winner Roysyn (NZ) (Bakharoff) up to $1m for the blue-blooded 2002 winner St Reims (NZ) (Zabeel).

Among those 18 graduates of the National Yearling Sales are some of the most famous names on the New Zealand Derby roll of honour.

 

1992: THE PHANTOM CHANCE

The 1992 edition of the Ellerslie classic was won by THE PHANTOM CHANCE (NZ) (Noble Bijou), who was bought by master trainer Colin Jillings for $50,000 at Karaka in 1991. The Phantom Chance went on to make his name on both sides of the Tasman in a 44-start career that produced 11 wins, seven placings and $2.18m in stakes.

The New Zealand Derby was the first Group One victory for The Phantom Chance, who went on to add the Waikato International Stakes (2000m) and the Cox Plate (2040m), along with the Group Two (now Group One) Turnbull Stakes (2000m). He also placed in the Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) and the Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

 

1993: POPSY

The 1993 edition of the New Zealand Derby was won by POPSY (NZ) (Sir Tristram) – one of only six fillies to win the race since the establishment of the modern-day New Zealand Derby in 1973.

Popsy was bought by Sam Kelt for $135,000 at Karaka in 1992. She earned over $300,000 from an 18-start, six-win career, and she later made her name as a broodmare with no fewer than eight winners. They include the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner and sire Rock ‘N’ Pop (Fastnet Rock), who was a $1m yearling purchase at Karaka in 2010, along with the Listed winner and Group Two-placed Lilakyn (NZ) (Danehill).

 

1998: SO CASUAL

The record time for the New Zealand Derby, and for any 2400-metre race at Ellerslie, was set by SO CASUAL (NZ) (Casual Lies) in 1998. He clocked 2:24.8. So Casual was a $33,000 yearling purchase at Karaka and earned $448,375 in prize-money.

 

2004: XCELLENT

The 2004 Derby produced a stunning come-from-behind win by XCELLENT (NZ) (Pentire), who was having only the third start of his career and his first at stakes level.

Xcellent was bought by bloodstock agent Paul Moroney for $45,000 from the 2003 Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka and was trained by his late brother Mike. In a career cut short by injury, Xcellent had 13 starts for eight spectacular wins, two placings and $1.64m in stakes.

Xcellent followed up his Derby heroics with further Group One successes in the New Zealand Stakes (2000m), Mudgway Stakes (1400m) and Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m), and he charged home from the back of the field to run a gallant third in the 2005 Melbourne Cup (3200m) won by the great Makybe Diva (Desert King).

Mike Moroney long considered Xcellent the best of a long line of Group One winners to come through his Matamata and Flemington stables. Moroney trained three New Zealand Derby winners, two of them bought from Karaka – Xcellent and the 1996 winner Great Command (NZ) (Marscay).

 

2015: MONGOLIAN KHAN

Only one horse in history has ever won the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m), Australian Derby (2400m) and Caulfield Cup (2400m) in the same year – MONGOLIAN KHAN (Holy Roman Emperor).

A half-brother to the Group One Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Young Centaur (Jeune), Mongolian Khan was a $140,000 purchase from the 2013 Select Sale and subsequently fetched $220,000 at that year’s Ready to Run Sale.

Mongolian Khan won eight of his 17 starts and more than $4m in prize-money, headed by his unprecedented Group One treble in 2015. He also won the Group Two Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Avondale Guineas (2100m) and placed in the Group One Caulfield Stakes (2000m). He was trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

Mongolian Khan was a two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year and later stood at Windsor Park Stud.

 

2023: SHARP ‘N’ SMART

The 2023 edition of the New Zealand Derby was unlike any other, with major renovation work at Ellerslie forcing a one-off relocation to Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton. But the cream still rose to the crop in that unusual left-handed running of the classic, with the winner being that season’s New Zealand Horse of the Year SHARP ‘N’ SMART (NZ) (Redwood).

Sharp ‘N’ Smart was offered during Book 2 of Karaka 2021, where Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson bought him for $55,000. Sharp ‘N’ Smart has so far banked more than $3.2m, with Group One successes in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Sydney and Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa alongside his Derby heroics. He has also placed in the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) and Thorndon Mile (1600m).

 

2024: ORCHESTRAL

The latest of the six fillies to win the post-1973 New Zealand Derby is the high-class ORCHESTRAL (NZ) (Savabeel), who joined that club with a spectacular come-from-behind performance 12 months ago.

Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood paid $625,000 to buy Orchestral from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. She has had 16 starts to date for seven wins, four placings and $2.7m in stakes.

Orchestral swept through the summer three-year-old features at Ellerslie last season, charging home from well off the pace to win the $1.5m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) by three and a half lengths, the Group Two Avondale Guineas (2100m) by four lengths and the Derby by three and three-quarter lengths. She then headed to Sydney and added a win in the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and a placing in the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m).

Orchestral’s four-year-old season has seen her add a victory in the $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic 4YO (1600m) and a strong-finishing third in the Group One Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m).

Orchestral’s influence has continued to be felt in the Karaka sale ring. Earlier this year, her full-sister topped Book 1 with a purchase price of $2.4m – the highest price ever paid for a filly at Karaka. She was bought by Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller Racing.

Orchestral was the latest of six New Zealand Derby victories for James, with 1995 winner Roysyn and 1999 winner Hades (NZ) (Zabeel) also coming from the National Yearling Sales.

 

GOOSMAN’S GRADUATES

The most successful owner of Derby winners purchased from the National Yearling Sales is Sir Stanley Goosman. The sharemilker, contractor and parliamentarian was a 10-time leading owner in New Zealand and purchased the following Derby winners:

• 1944 Great Northern Derby winner Expanse (NZ) (Bulandshar), who was bought for a sale-topping 1050 guineas in 1942.
• 1945 Great Northern Derby winner Coronaire (NZ) (Coronach), who was an 825-guinea purchase.
• 1949 Great Northern Derby winner and subsequent Fairdale Stud stallion Tauloch (NZ) (Balloch), who cost 1050 guineas at the 1947 National Yearling Sale.
• 1950 New Zealand Derby winner The Unicorn (NZ) (Gold Nib), who was bought for 2250 guineas in 1949.
• 1952 New Zealand Derby and 1953 Great Northern Derby winner Programme (NZ) (Balloch), who was a 1500-guinea purchase.

 

THE CLASS OF 2025

Another talented field of three-year-olds will clash at Ellerslie on Saturday in the $1.25m Trackside New Zealand Derby. It will be one of four Group One races on a star-studded Champions Day card, which will also feature the inaugural $3.5m NZB Kiwi (1500m).

Karaka yearling graduates in contention for the 2025 New Zealand Derby include:

• Last-start Group Two Waikato Guineas (2000m) winner Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci), who was bought for $70,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He has had five starts for three wins, two placings and $465,785 in stakes.
• Bourbon Proof (Justify), who has turned his $130,000 purchase price in Book 1 of Karaka 2023 into $196,975 in stakes. His eight starts have produced a win and five placings, including seconds in the Group Two Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Waikato Guineas. He also ran fourth in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).
• The $75,000 Karaka 2023 Book 1 purchase Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino), who has won three of his five starts and has spent most of the summer as the Derby favourite.
• Group Three War Decree Stakes (1600m) winner He’s Lucid (NZ) (Contributer), who was a $40,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2023. He has earned $125,135 from his 11-start career.
• Hakkinen (NZ) (Savabeel), bought for $250,000 by perennial leading buyer David Ellis during Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He has had four starts for a win, a second and fourth placings in the Avondale Guineas and Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m).
• Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer), a $240,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He has so far earned $96,100, having finished third in the Group Three War Decree Stakes (1600m), fourth in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and fifth in the Karaka Millions 3YO.
• Book 2 graduate Ridefromtheashes (NZ) (Wrote), who failed to meet his $60,000 reserve. His six-start career has produced a win, three placings, a fifth in the Group Two Levin Classic (1400m) and a sixth in the Avondale Guineas.
• Golden Century (NZ) (Pierro), who was a $200,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He has placed in four of his six starts, including a close second in the Gingernuts Salver. He also ran fourth in the Waikato Guineas.
• Casemiro (NZ) (Contributer), who cost $30,000 in Book 2 of Karaka 2023. He finished third in the Gingernuts Salver in January.
• Grey Area (NZ) (Pierro), who was passed in with an $80,000 reserve when offered in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He has won once in a three-start career.
• Interplanetary (NZ) (Time Test), who fetched $60,000 in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He has had a win and a placing in an eight-start career that also produced a strong-finishing fifth in the Gingernuts Salver.