Elite Quality and Value Among Karaka Yearlings

NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series has a richly deserved reputation as a gold mine for Group One-calibre racehorses, with many of them coming from the lower end of the price range.

Between Karaka 2018 and Karaka 2023, no fewer than 47 individual Group One winners have come out of NZB’s flagship yearling sale. Between them, those 47 horses have racked up 65 Group One victories across New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong.

The average price for those Group One graduates is $174,069, with 22 of them selling for $100,000 or less (or passed in with reserves in that range).

Below is a breakdown of Karaka’s elite-level alumni since 2018, grouped by price range.

 

$50,000 and below

Book 2 of Karaka 2020 featured Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino), who was offered by Curraghmore with a reserve of only $20,000. She was passed in. She went on to win six of her 10 starts and more than A$1.9m, including victories in the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) and Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2100m). She also placed in the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m), Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and A$10m Golden Eagle (1500m).

Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote) was a $32,500 purchase by Chad Ormsby’s Riverrock Farm during Book 2 of Karaka 2022. She won last season’s Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Group Two Lowland Stakes (2000m), earning $389,205 before being sold across the Tasman to clients of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.

Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) was offered with a $30,000 reserve in Book 2 of Karaka 2020 and was passed in. He has had 24 starts for five wins, three placings and $622,445 in stakes. He won the Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings in the spring of 2022, along with Group Three victories on both sides of the Tasman.

A mere $40,000 would have been enough to buy Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto) from Little Avondale Stud’s draft during Book 2 of Karaka 2018. But she was passed in and retained to race in the Little Avondale colours, earning more than $3m. She scored scintillating victories in Flemington’s Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Champions Sprint (1200m), and she placed in the Group One Telegraph (1200m) and William Reid Stakes (1200m).

Respected horseman Bill Thurlow paid $40,000 to buy No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) from Book 1 of Karaka 2018. He has had 50 starts for seven wins, 16 placings and more than $1.3m, including a win in the Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick in October of 2022. He has also placed in the Group One Zabeel Classic (2050m) and Group One Livamol Classic (2040m).

Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel) was bought by Steven Ramsay for $40,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021. Subsequently resold for $100,000 at the Ready to Run Sale, the gelding has won eight of his 13 starts and A$858,625 in stakes, headed by the Group One South Australian Derby (2500m) in May of 2023.

Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis secured Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca) for $50,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021. Her 19-race career produced five wins, seven placings and $372,230, headed by a Group One victory in the Levin Classic (1600m). She was later sold for $300,000 as a broodmare prospect on Gavelhouse Plus.

Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock) was a $50,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He earned more than A$1.2m on the racetrack, including a Group One triumph in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.

 

$50,001 to $100,000

Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) was offered by White Robe Lodge during Book 1 of Karaka 2018, where he was bought for $52,500. He has gone on to earn more than A$2.1m from a 42-race career, with 10 wins including the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in the spring of 2022.

Hall of Fame horseman Graeme Rogerson paid $55,000 to buy Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) from Book 2 of Karaka 2021. Sharp ‘N’ Smart went on to become one of that iconic stable’s best horses of the 21st century and was crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year in 2023. He has had 24 starts for six wins, eight placings and more than A$3.2m. He was a triple Group One winner as a three-year-old, taking out the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Sydney and the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and New Zealand Derby (2400m) on home soil.

Despite being a half-brother to Group One winner Ladies First (NZ) (Dylan Thomas), trainer Allan Sharrock had to pay only $60,000 to buy Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed) from Book 2 of Karaka 2019. That purchase has been rewarded with $921,656 in stakes from a 32-start career, including Group One wins in the Livamol Classic (2040m) and last month’s TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m).

Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) hero Lion’s Roar (NZ) has been a headline performer in the sadly short-lived career of highly successful Mapperley Stud sire Contributer. Lion’s Roar was a $65,000 purchase by Champion Thoroughbreds from Book 2 of Karaka 2019, and the durable gelding has so far earned A$2.39m.

Contributer is also the sire of Te Akau Racing’s quality mare Campionessa (NZ), who was passed in with a $70,000 reserve during Book 1 of Karaka 2019. She has won 11 of her 39 starts and more than $1.38m, with five Group victories including the Group One Zabeel Classic (2050m) and Caulfield’s Group Two Peter Young Stakes (1800m).

He’s A Doozy (NZ) (Zacinto) was bought by trainer Lisa Latta for $70,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He has earned $597,075 from a 39-start career, with 10 wins headed by the Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m).

One of the most breathtaking three-year-old performances anywhere in Australasia last season came from Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree), who blew his opposition off the track by 10 lengths in the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m). He was a $75,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2022 and subsequently resold for $165,000 at the Ready to Run Sale. Warmonger has had 12 starts for three wins, three placings and A$1.08m, with his Queensland Derby heroics backed up by a second in the Group One South Australian Derby (2500m) and a fourth in this season’s Group One Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern) was bought for $75,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021 and returned more than A$386,000 in prize-money. She won the Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in April of 2023.

Another star performer in South Australia was Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino), who cost $75,000 in Book 1 of Karaka 2020. He won the Group One South Australian Derby (2500m) and more than A$500,000 in stakes in Australia, then went on to be a winner in Hong Kong.

Ancroft Stud’s purchase of Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) for $90,000 turned out to be one of the biggest bargains at Karaka in the last decade. The Karaka 2021 Book 2 graduate has so far earned $1.95m from just 15 starts, including a trans-Tasman Group One double as a three-year-old in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Australian Guineas (1600m). As a four-year-old, she added the Group One Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) to her CV, along with strong-finishing seconds in the Group One New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and the inaugural $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic 4YO (1500m).

That same $90,000 purchase price was enough to secure Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock) from Book 1 of Kararaka 2021. She has earned more than A$1.27m from a 16-race career, with three wins and four placings. Her career highlight came in the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) in April 2023, where she scored an impressive victory against older mares during her three-year-old season.

On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) was bought by Te Akau’s David Ellis for $90,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2020. He won seven times in a 23-start career, earning $953,580. He won the $1m Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), and he picked up Group One placings in the Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Levin Classic (1600m).

Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) was a $100,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He went on to win the Group One Australian Derby (2400m), South Australian Derby (2500m) and Sydney Cup (3200m), earning more than A$3.19m.

Astute buyer Chris Rutten paid $100,000 to buy Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel) from Book 1 of Karaka 2018. He won the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in a championship two-year-old season that earned $375,600.

 

$100,001 to $250,000

Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park) was bought for $110,000 by Mulcaster Bloodstock from Book 1 of Karaka 2021. The Chris Waller-trained gelding has had 25 starts for six wins, six placings and more than A$3.3m, including a Group One victory in the Queensland Derby (2400m). He has also placed in the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Doomben Cup (2000m).

O’Brien Thoroughbreds paid $120,000 to buy Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man) from Book 1 of Karaka 2018. She earned more than A$1.8m on the racetrack, with five wins including the Group One VRC Oaks (2500m).

One of the superstars of the current New Zealand season is Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj), who was bought by Kakapo Lodge for $130,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. Her only two appearances as a four-year-old have produced dazzling wins in the Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and last Saturday’s Group One Telegraph (1200m). She has had 11 starts for four wins, four placings and $729,715.

Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder) was a $130,000 purchase by Mulcaster Bloodstock from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He won five races and A$1.07m, most notably the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) in May of 2021.

Respected trainers Peter and Dawn Williams, who retired last year, enjoyed a late-career highlight with Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai). He was bought by the pair for $150,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021, and he went on to win the Group One TAB Classic (1600m), the Group Two Avondale Guineas (2100m) and the inaugural $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic 4YO (1600m). Desert Lightning was subsequently transferred across the Tasman, where he won the Group Three Sandown Stakes (1500m) and finished fourth in the Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m). His earnings stand at A$1.27m.

Last season’s NZB Filly of the Year was Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High), who was a $150,000 purchase by Wexford Stables from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. She won the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), earning more than $610,000.

Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) was another $150,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. She won the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Group Three Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) in a two-year-old season that amassed $303,125.

Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) was bought for that same $150,000 price tag from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He was purchased by Andrew Forsman, who has trained him through a 30-start career that has featured six wins, four placings and more than $2m. He won five of his seven starts as a three-year-old including the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), the $1m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Sydney’s Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m).

Te Akau’s David Ellis paid $150,000 to buy Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He had six starts, all of them as a two-year-old, and recorded four wins including the $1m Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m). He earned $707,560 and now stands at Newhaven Park in New South Wales for a service fee of A$16,500. Cool Aza Beel’s first crop of two-year-olds has so far produced two black-type placegetters in Australia.

Bonham (Per Incanto) was bought by Gary Harding for $160,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. She won four of her six starts in New Zealand including the Group One Levin Classic (1600m), earning a total of $185,500 from that three-year-old campaign. She was later sold for A$1.6m as a broodmare prospect.

Team Rogerson paid $160,000 to buy Mascarpone (NZ) (Shooting To Win) from Book 1 of Karaka 2018. He earned $427,975 from a 26-start career, including a Group One victory in the Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) in 2022. He also placed in the Group One Telegraph (1200m) and two editions of the Group One Waikato Sprint (1400m).

Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) was bought by Te Akau’s David Ellis for $170,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. She has recorded five wins and three placings from 14 starts, earning more than $750,000. She won the Group One Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham last January, then went on to prove herself across the Tasman with a win in the Group Three Cockram Stakes (1200m) and fourth placings in the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) and Australian Oaks (2400m).

Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) hero Sky Field (Deep Field) was offered by Trelawney Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2018, where he was bought for $175,000. He has gone on to earn HK$35m (NZ$8.1m) from a 29-start, six-win career.

The champion two-year-old in New Zealand last season was Velocious (Written Tycoon), who was bought by syndicators Go Racing for $190,000 from Inglewood Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2023. She won four of her six starts as a two-year-old and $922,500 in stakes, including victories in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m). A half-sister to Velocious, a filly by Per Incanto, will be offered as Lot 188 in Book 1 of Karaka 2025.

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood paid $230,000 to buy Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) from Book 1 of Karaka 2021. She had 12 starts for eight wins, three placings and $1.56m in stakes. She won the $1m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the Group One Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m), the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and the Group Two Crystal Mile (1600m). Prowess was later sold for $1.45m on Gavelhouse Plus. Hallmark Stud will offer a full-sister to Prowess as Lot 564 during Book 1 of Karaka 2025.

 

$250,001 and above

The cover girl for Karaka 2025 is the triple Group One winner Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), who was bought by Go Racing for $260,000 from the Book 1 draft of breeders Waikato Stud at Karaka 2019. Atishu has had 47 starts for 11 wins, 16 placings and A$5.6m in stakes – 24 times her purchase price. She has scored outstanding Group One victories in the Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m), Champions Stakes (2000m) and Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

Te Akau’s David Ellis paid $290,000 to buy Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma) from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. She won three of her eight starts and more than $292,000, including the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November of 2020.

Another Ellis purchase from that same sale was Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel), who he bought for $300,000. She won five races and $627,000, including the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m). She also placed in the $1m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the Group One Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m). She was later sold for $1.1m on Gavelhouse Plus.

Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock) failed to meet his $300,000 reserve in Book 1 of Karaka 2020. He was retained to race by his breeders Cambridge Stud, for whom he won four of his 12 starts including the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m). He banked $773,130.

Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) was bought by Aquis Farm for $325,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He had 29 starts for five wins and 11 placings, earning A$3.8m. He won the Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Winx Stakes (1400m), and his placings included the Group One Champions Stakes (2000m), Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), Randwick Guineas (1600m), Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), Futurity Stakes (1400m), Underwood Stakes (1800m), Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Ranvet Stakes (2000m). He now stands at Newhaven Park for a service fee of A$27,500 with his first foals arriving in the spring of 2025.

The exceptional Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) holds a special place in Karaka Millions history, being the first and only horse to win both the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). She was bought by Te Akau’s David Ellis for $380,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2018. Racing in the colours of Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, she won 13 of her 29 starts and more than A$4.3m. Her Karaka Millions heroics were followed up by Group One triumphs in the Surround Stakes (1400m), Epsom Handicap (1600m), Futurity Stakes (1400m) and Might and Power Stakes (2000m).

The standout three-year-old in New Zealand so far this season is Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), who was bought by The Oaks Stud for $400,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He has returned $974,975 from a 13-start, seven-win career to date. Savaglee has recorded four wins from five appearances this season including the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Group Two Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Group Two Sarten Memorial (1400m) and Group Two Levin Classic (1400m).

Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock) was a $500,000 purchase by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock from Book 1 of Karaka 2018. Her value was already assured, being a full-sister to Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) (Tavistock), but she became a Group One winner in her own right in the Australasian Oaks (2000m). She also placed in the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick and the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington. She earned A$949,700.

Last season’s champion three-year-old was Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel). Offered by Haunui Farm in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, she was bought by trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood for $625,000. Orchestral has had 13 starts for six wins, three placings and $2.17m in stakes. She won five of her eight starts as a three-year-old including stunning performances in the $1.5m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). Haunui Farm will offer a full-sister to Orchestral as Lot 345 during Book 1 of Karaka 2025.

The highest-priced Group One winner bought at Karaka in the last six years is Noverre (NZ) (Savabeel), who was purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis for $800,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2020. Noverre showed enormous talent in a brief seven-start career, winning three times including a remarkable last-to-first performance in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). He now stands at Waikato Stud for a service fee of $10,000, with his first yearlings going through the sale ring during Karaka 2025.

Book 1 of Karaka 2025 runs from Sunday January 26 to Tuesday January 28 with selling starting at 10am each day. Book 2 will start at 12pm on Wednesday January 29 and concludes the following day on Thursday January 30 (10am start).