Entries Open for Karaka 2023

Entries are now open for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2023 National Yearling Sales Series, with the action-packed week of selling set to take place next summer at the Karaka Sales Centre. 

After a year-long hiatus from its traditional timeslot, NZB’s Karaka 2023 Sale will return to its usual January selling period. Book 1 commences from Sunday 29 until Tuesday 31 January, while Book 2 will begin directly after from Wednesday 1 until Friday 3 February. The National Online Yearling Sale will take place in April.

NZB’s renowned Karaka Sale has produced a prolific number of modern day and all-time champion racehorses. This, joined with leading technology, world-famous kiwi hospitality and a brand new DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka hotel will again combine for an unforgettable Karaka experience.

• Karaka 2022’s combined average of $106,109 was the highest seen since 2018, despite the Sale being held as a closed event.
• The combined median of $70,000 in 2022 was also the highest seen since 2018, an increase of $7,500 on 2021’s result.
• Karaka 2023 will showcase the first crop of New Zealand-based first season sires including Group One winners Super Seth, Ten Sovereigns, Wyndspelle (NZ), as well as Sneaking to Win and Ferrando (NZ).

After a tumultuous sale period resulting in border closures and COVID-19 restrictions, NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook is looking forward to putting the pandemic disruption behind him.

“We are thrilled at the prospect of returning to normal sale conditions in January of 2023. Although our previous sales have held up remarkably well, nothing beats having our buyers present on the ground looking at horses in the flesh,” he said.

“The buyer demand for our New Zealand product continues to grow on the back of phenomenal results, and with the opening of New Zealand’s international border, we anticipate a large buying bench returning to kiwi shores.

“At the same time, we shouldn’t underestimate the continued power of our robust online bidding platform. Despite the border being now open, we still see this as a valuable tool that has changed the landscape in how we operate as a business and we will continue to see this platform used often in the future of our auction sales.”

“In what were testing conditions due to New Zealand’s internal event restrictions and COVID protocols, 2022’s results were a wonderful success with the average, median and turnover increasing significantly on the previous year despite the sale being a closed event.

“This is a testament to the outstanding quality of our New Zealand-bred and sold horses, and for the wonderful job our vendors did in preparing and marketing their horses. We look forward to building on those results heading into the future.

“We have had strong feedback from our international buying bench that they will be back here in force. We welcome their enthusiasm and are looking forward to showcasing our brand new DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka hotel, situated right on the grounds just a couple of minutes’ walk from the main sale auditorium.

“This, alongside growing confidence in our domestic market, coupled with a standout line up of yearlings will give us confidence that Karaka 2023 is going to be an outstanding year,” commented Seabrook.

To nominate your yearlings for Karaka 2023, please visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz or contact the Bloodstock Administrator Mary Jane Harvey (+64 9 393 9832 or +64 9 298 0055, or email maryjane.harvey@nzb.co.nz). Entries close 5pm Friday 8 July 2022.

For any general sale enquiries, contact the NZB Bloodstock team 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