Emerging Talent on the Rise Ahead of Karaka 2023

An exciting group of young stallions on both sides of the Tasman are starting to really find their groove, and demand for their progeny is only going to grow in the months and seasons ahead. With that in mind, there could be no better time for buyers to secure their yearlings than at Karaka 2023.
 

New Zealand-based sires

ALMANZOR 

When Almanzor arrived at Cambridge Stud for his first season in 2018, he brought some of the best racetrack credentials of any New Zealand shuttle stallion in recent memory. The son of Wootton Bassett had won eight of his 11 starts, including a Group One treble of the highest class during his three-year-old season – the Prix du Jockey Club (2100m), Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) and British Champion Stakes (2000m).

The resulting expectation for his stallion career left a lot to live up to, but Almanzor has made an outstanding start. He was New Zealand’s leading first-season sire and leading sire of two-year-olds for the 2021-22, with Dynastic (NZ) capturing the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) – making Almanzor the first stallion in a decade to produce a Karaka Million winner from his first crop.

The spring of 2022-23 has produced more of the same, headed by an outstanding first Group One triumph courtesy of Manzoice in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington. Almanzor heads Australia’s second-season sires’ standings.

Almanzor’s yearlings have already sold for up to $675,000 at Karaka, and there is sure to be significant interest in his 56 yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He also has three yearlings catalogued for Book 2.

• Lot 90 is a daughter of Group One-winning mare Chenille (NZ) (Pentire), closely related to Group One performer Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel) and her well-performed son Not An Option (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt), and from the same family as multiple Group One winner Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel).
• Lot 331 is out of a half-sister to three stakes winners including this year’s Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) hero Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock).
• Lot 379 is a half-brother to multiple Group Two winner Subpoenaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).
• Lot 450 is out of Group One Queensland Oaks (2400m) winner Quintessential (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous), who is the dam of three winners from three foals to race.
• Lot 510 is a filly out of four-time Group One winner Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar), who is the dam of multiple stakes winners Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and House Of Cartier (Alamosa). This filly’s half-sister Sinarahma is currently in foal and racing in career-best form, capturing this month’s Group Two Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa.

 

VADAMOS 

A Group One winner in France and fourth in a Cox Plate (2040m), Rich Hill Stud’s Vadamos has rapidly stamped himself as one of New Zealand’s most exciting stallion prospects.

The son of Monsun was New Zealand’s leading second-season sire in 2021-22. He has been represented by 235 runners worldwide for 107 winners, five of them at stakes level. All of those black-type successes have come in New Zealand, headed by the top-class La Crique (NZ) – dominant winner of the Group One Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and two other Group races, and an unlucky placegetter in the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Tarzino Trophy (1400m). Three-year-old Devastate (NZ) is also an exciting prospect, winning three of his four starts to date including the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m).

Buyers will have access to 17 Vadamos yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, with 10 in Book 2.

• Lot 189 is a full-sister to this year’s Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) placegetter Caboche (NZ) (Vadamos).
• Lot 429 is a half-sister to Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).

 

TURN ME LOOSE 

Around this time nine years ago, Turn Me Loose (NZ) was offered at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, where he was bought by part-owner Todd Hartley for $52,500. That was the start of a remarkable success story that spans Group One victories on the racetrack in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Emirates Stakes (1600m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m), followed by enormous promise at Windsor Park Stud.

Turn Me Loose has sired 35 winners from 93 runners to date, with five stakes winners headed by the top-class filly (She’s) Lickety Split (NZ). Winner of the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Group Three Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) in New Zealand, the Andrew Forsman-trained filly added Melbourne’s Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) this spring and was placed in the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m).

Turn Me Loose’s other black-type stars include Prix De Turn (NZ), who captured the Group Two Alister Clark Stakes (2050m).

Turn Me Loose is the sire of 13 yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, along with eight in Book 2.

• Lot 109 is a half-sister to the exciting Weona Smartone (NZ) (Shamexpress), who has won nine of his 14 starts and placed in this spring’s A$2m Group Three Sydney Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
• Lot 242 is a half-brother to multiple Group One winner and successful sire Kermadec (NZ).

 

TIME TEST 

Little Avondale Stud’s Time Test was an exceptionally talented racehorse, placing at the highest level and winning three Group races including a track-record-breaking performance in the Group Three Tercentenary Stakes (2000m) at Royal Ascot.

The son of superstar Dubawi has made a strong start at stud too, siring 48 winners to date from 121 runners worldwide. That includes six individual stakes winners – five in the northern hemisphere, and first-crop juvenile Leedox (NZ) in last season’s Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m). He also achieved the remarkable feat of having three first-crop runners in the field for the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie in January.

Time Test is set to feature prominently at Karaka 2023 with nine yearlings in Book 1 and 31 in Book 2.

• Lot 373 is out of Night Nurse (NZ) (Tavistock), a stakes-placed full-sister to Singapore’s 2017 Horse of the Year Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock).
• Lot 891 is a half-sister to Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto), who collected her first black-type win in last month’s Group Three Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

 

RIBCHESTER 

After spending his first couple of shuttling seasons in Australia, Ribchester relocated across the Tasman to Haunui Farm in 2020 to take the place of his retiring sire Iffraaj.

Ribchester brought no shortage of credentials, being a multiple Group One winner of the Prix Jacques Le Marois (1600m) as a three-year-old and the Prix du Moulin (1600m), Lockinge Stakes (1600m) and Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) as a four-year-old. He was Europe’s Champion Older Male Miler in 2017.

He has also made an early impact at stud, being credited with 58 winners from 158 runners to date. He has sired five stakes winners in the northern hemisphere, including the Group One-placed Flaming Rib, while two-year-old colt Krakarib won this season’s Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington.

The catalogues for Karaka 2023 feature nine Ribchester yearlings in Book 1 and 17 in Book 2.

• Lot 32 is out of a winning half-sister to Group One winner Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant) and Group Two winner Nerve Not Verve (NZ) (Shocking).
• Lot 43 is out of a half-sister to Group One Australian Derby (2400m) winner Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj), who himself is now one of four sons of Iffraaj at stud in New Zealand.

 

DERRYN 

Grangewilliam Stud’s Derryn matched motors with some of Australia’s elite sprinters during his 20-start racing career. His three wins are headed by the Group Two Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) during The Championships at Randwick, and he also placed in four Group races including the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1200m).

Derryn has so far sired three winners from his first crop, with Sophmaze (NZ) an early standout through her victory in last season’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) as an autumn two-year-old.

Channel Surfer (NZ) is still a maiden but has made a big impression in strong company, placing in the Group Two Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) and the Listed Castletown Stakes.

Derryn has two yearlings in the catalogue for Karaka 2023, and 11 in Book 2.

• Lot 498 is out of Secret Spirit (NZ) (Swiss Ace), whose four wins were all at stakes level – the Group Three Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes (1400m), the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) and the Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1200m). Secret Spirit is also a half-sister to Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood), who has been a multiple Group One placegetter in Hong Kong.
• Lot 509 is a half-sister to Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking), a Group Two winner in New Zealand who recently ran third against elite opposition in the Group One Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Other emerging kiwi sires in the Karaka 2023 catalogues include Ace High, Ardrossan, Belardo, Embellish, Eminent, Rageese, Sweynesse, Vanbrugh and War Decree.

Australian-based sires

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION 

A brilliant sprinter who won seven of his 11 starts including the Group One Galaxy (1100m) and Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Russian Revolution has been a sensational addition to the stallion roster at Newgate Farm, where he now commands a service fee of A$71,500.

The son of Snitzel was Australia’s leading first-season sire in 2021-22 and has been represented by 29 winners from 95 runners to date. Revolutionary Miss won the Group Two Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) and has been runner-up in the Group One Blue Diamond (1200m) and Thousand Guineas (1600m), while Rise Of The Masses won the Group Three Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) and five others have been stakes-placed.

Russian Revolution, who sits in second place on the Australian second-season stallion premiership, has 10 yearlings set to go through the ring during Book 1 of Karaka 2023.

• Lot 73 is a filly out of a half-sister to Group One Australian Derby (2400m) winner Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock).
• The dam of Lot 137 is Delta Girl (NZ) (General Nediym), who won the Listed Widden Stakes (1000m) and placed in the Group Two Magic Night Stakes (1200m).

 

HELLBENT 

Following in the footsteps of his champion father I Am Invincible, the well-credentialled Hellbent took up stud duties at Yarraman Park in 2018 after a racing career that featured seven wins headed by the Group One William Reid Stakes (1200m).

Hellbent has quickly shown a glimpse of his sire’s prolific ability to sire winners, racking up 28 already from his first 71 runners. He currently sits in third place on Australia’s second-season sire premiership.

Several of his progeny have shown black-type ability too, with Magic Time winning the Listed Amanda Elliott Handicap (1400m) and seven others placing in stakes races.

Hellbent is the sire of four yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2023.

• Lot 33 is out of a three-quarter-sister to super sire Not A Single Doubt, as well as multiple Group One winner and exciting stallion prospect King’s Legacy.
• Lot 642 is out of a three-quarter-sister to Group One Golden Slipper (1200m) heroine Crystal Lily (Stratum).

 

IMPENDING 

Impending saved his best for Brisbane as a racehorse, claiming Group One triumphs in the Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) and Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m), but since retiring to Darley Stud in 2018, the son of Lonhro has had his influence felt far and wide across Australasia.

Impending has sired 18 winners from 60 runners to date and sits in fourth place on Australia’s second-season stallion premiership. But it was on our side of the Tasman that he was credited with his first stakes winner earlier this month – undefeated filly Impendabelle (NZ) in the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). Bought from this sale ring for $80,000, the impressive filly is now a leading contender for the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m).

In Australia, Impending has been represented by Group Three placegetters Hope At Hand and Moko.

Buyers hoping to secure another Impendabelle at Karaka 2023 will have three of Impending’s yearlings to choose from in Book 1, along with two in Book 2.

• Lot 237 is out of a half-sister to Group One Doncaster Futurity Trophy (1600m) and Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) winner Luxembourg (Camelot).
• Lot 513, who is out of a winning Fastnet Rock mare who comes from the same family as sensational sire I Am Invincible.

 

JUSTIFY 

The only winner of America’s iconic Triple Crown to retire undefeated, Justify won all of his six starts and almost US$4m in stakes. He shuttled to Coolmore Australia in 2019, 2020 and 2021, but has been rested from shuttle duties in 2022.

Justify has sired 28 first-crop winners in the northern hemisphere, with unbeaten Group Two Airlie Stud Stakes (1200m) winner Statuette the headline act among his six stakes winners.

Justify’s progeny sold for up to $600,000 at Karaka 2022, and up to $520,000 at last month’s Ready to Run Sale.

Buyers will have access to seven of his second-crop yearlings at Karaka 2023, all in Book 1.

• Lot 120 is a half-brother to Group One performer Meritable (Snitzel) and closely related to the likes of sires Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, Al Maher and Rubick.
• Lot 608 is out of the multiple Group Three winner and Group One Golden Slipper (1200m) placegetter Tulip (Pierro).

 

MERCHANT NAVY 

A sprinting superstar in both hemispheres, Merchant Navy won the stallion-making Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in the spring of his three-year-old season. He later travelled to Royal Ascot, where he landed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m). He won seven of his 10 starts overall, banking over A$1.6m.

Standing at Coolmore Australia for a $27,500 service fee, the son of Fastnet Rock has sired 14 first-crop winners, along with Group Three Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) placegetter Drisana.

Merchant Navy has four yearlings catalogued for Book 1 of Karaka 2023, along with one in Book 2.

• Lot 88 is out of Cathay Lady (Exceed And Excel), who won seven races including the Listed Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m). She also placed in the Group Two Emancipation Stakes (1600m) and Listed Wenona Girl Quality (1200m), and she is the dam of three winners from four foals to race.
• Lot 369 is a half-sister to Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) winner Replique (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and stakes placegetters Mystery Shot (Shooting To Win) and Mystique Falcon (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai). Their dam Mystique (NZ) (Montjeu) won four races and was a three-time Listed placegetter.

 

CHURCHILL 

Churchill was a racehorse of the highest quality, winning seven races including the rare double of the Group One English 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m). He was also a Group One winner as a juvenile, earning the title of Europe’s Champion 2YO Colt in 2016 and Champion 3YO Miler in 2017.

Shuttling between Coolmore’s Irish and Australian operations, Churchill has wasted no time in notching 100 winners from 212 runners. He has sired eight stakes winners, headed by Group One Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) and Eclipse Stakes (2000m) winner Vadeni.

Churchill is the sire of five yearlings in Book 1 in Karaka 2023.

• Lot 228 is a half-brother to Group Three winner Furnaces (Exceed And Excel) and Listed winner Volcanic Rock (Hinchinbrook).
• Lot 525 is a filly out of a half-sister to the dam of Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) hero Extra Brut (Domesday).

 

Book 1 of Karaka 2023 will run from 29 to 31 January, followed by Book 2 from 1 to 3 February. Selling will start at 11am each day.

All yearlings in Karaka 2023 will be inspected by NZB and NZ-based agents who are available to assist buyers with any queries or to bid on their behalf.

International buyers wishing to physically attend the Sale can enquire about accommodation options by emailing Dorian.Kos@nzb.co.nz or travel@nzb.co.nz.

Online bidding is available for all prospective purchasers via bidonline.nzb.co.nz, plus an extensive online catalogue that will host pedigrees, parade videos and photos, updates and important information to assist your buying decisions.

The catalogues for Karaka 2023 can be viewed online here.
 

Important Dates

2023 Karaka Million Twilight Meeting – Saturday 21 January

Book 1 Sale – Sunday 29 January to Tuesday 31 January

Book 2 Sale – Wednesday 1 February to Friday 3 February