Boutique Drafts Equipped to Impress

Gearing up for another busy Karaka are a host of returning vendors who continue to present strong drafts by proven and up-and-coming sires.

The 2017 Yearling Sales delivered for Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park selling 16 youngsters for over $1.8 million with the likes of Australian-based DGR Thoroughbreds outlaying $400,000 for their Savabeel colt out of dual Group 1-winning mare The Jewel (Lot 447).

Forming another draft of yearlings from well-known families, Phoenix Park will offer an 18-strong Book 1 draft at Karaka 2018 including:

• Lot 256 a colt by first season sire Sacred Falls and a descendant of Eight Carat’s Group 1 daughter Marquise (NZ) (Gold and Ivory).

Lyndhurst Farm, who have featured amongst the leading consignors at Karaka’s Ready to Run Sale of 2YO’s, have put together a boutique draft aimed at Book 1 with 13 yearlings set to step in the ring and a trio of yearlings by first crop sires amongst their draft. Their Fastnet Rock – Il Quello Veloce filly (Lot 429) topped the Yearling Sale in 2015 falling to the bid of Te Akau Racing for $800,000.

With 13 yearlings sold at the Sale last year for more than $1.4 million, their 2018 draft includes:

• Lot 189 a son of I Am Invincible and first foal out of winning O’Reilly mare Etain who is a half-sister to stakes winner Ritzy Lady (NZ) (Zabeel).

Although offering drafts on the smaller size, Beltana Stud certainly know how to enjoy outstanding results at Karaka and 2017 saw their O’Reilly – Volkrose colt (Lot 10) fetch the highest price of the Sale with AR Bell Racing, China Horse Club and Newgate placing the final bid at $825,000.

This year their two-horse draft will offer fillies by Savabeel (Lot 452) and Shamexpress (Lot 133).

Inglewood Stud’s 75 years of history flows through three generations and is currently under the management of Gus Wigley. Expanding their operation, they imported the young Dansili sire Zacinto to stand at stud and will offer one of his youngsters in their draft of nine yearlings this year.

Selling all six of their yearlings in 2017 for $538,000 in receipts their highest priced lot came at Lot 533 with Waikato Bloodstock and Kangyu International Racing joining to secure the Zacinto colt for $180,000. This year’s draft includes:

• Lot 425 a colt by Shooting to Win out of the stakes performed Mystique who has produced two winners from three foals to race. He is a half-brother to the stakes-winning juvenile Replique (NZ) (Darci Brahma).

Current Group 1 Hong Kong Mile winner Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock) is one of many of the impressive graduates that have emerged from the pastures of Highden Park in recent times. Their top priced lot last year came when Paul Moroney secured their Reliable Man colt (Lot 70) for $150,000 rounding the number of lots sold up to five, and over $330,000 in total receipts.

Offering a similar sized draft, they will have 10 yearlings at Karaka 2018 including:

• Lot 48 a Tavistock filly out of New Zealand broodmare of the year Bagalollies who has had only two foals to race and both Group winners. Hong Kong Horse of the Year in 2015-16 Werther (NZ) and recent Group winner Gobstopper (NZ) are both full siblings.

Through Group 1 wins on both sides of the Tasman, Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj) helped Goodwood Stud make headlines and became the recipient of the New Zealand Breeder of the Year award. Having bred and sold the chestnut gelding as well as Group winner Nicoletta (NZ) (Savabeel) at NZB Sales they have had considerable success over the years.

This year they have consigned five yearlings in Book 1 including:

• Lot 97 a filly by Tavistock out of stakes winning mare Celtic Crown. This filly is a half-sister to last season’s Group winner Nicoletta.

The Masterton-based Ardsley Stud was founded by the late Jim Wallace in 1973 and over the years Group 1 winners in New Zealand and across the Tasman emerged from the farm. While many of the yearlings went straight to the racing stables they also came to the Sale, and last year saw seven youngsters sell for an aggregate of $525,000.

Making the trip up to Karaka again this year, they will offer 15 yearlings in their Book 1 and Book 2 drafts with popular sires featuring throughout. Their Book 1 draft includes:

• Lot 169 is a daughter of first season sire Sacred Falls out of Double Babu. She is a three-quarter sister to the dual Group 1 winner and Ardsley Stud-bred Maco’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reily).

With the acquisition of new sire Ghibellines, the Otago stud farm White Robe Lodge will offer his first crop of yearlings at Karaka 2018. Having earned the leading vendor honours in four of the last five years at the South Island session of the National Yearling Sales they will again make the journey to Karaka with a draft of five of Ghibellines’ progeny and a Savabeel filly in Book 1 and Book 2.

Their first yearling to go through the ring will be Lot 179 by Ghibellines out of Ears Carol who has produced five winners from five foals to race including the White Robe Lodge-bred Group 1 winner Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital).

NZB’s revamped National Yearling Sales Series will take place from Sunday 28 January – Sunday 4 February. Catalogues can be collected from the Karaka Sales Centre or viewed online at www.nzb.co.nz.