First-Season Sires on Show at Karaka 2023

The catalogues for Karaka 2023 feature a quality cross-section of some of Australasia’s finest sire talent, including a strong representation of the latest crop of well-credentialled newcomers to stallion ranks.
 

New Zealand-based Freshmen

SUPER SETH 

Super Seth stands at Waikato Stud for a service fee of $35,000, and he is the first Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) winner in more than three decades to stand at stud in New Zealand.

By champion kiwi-bred racehorse and quality sire Dundeel (NZ), Super Seth is a half-brother to Group One performer Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom) and is out of a Redoute’s Choice mare.

Super Seth won five races in a short career on the track, headed by a spectacular come-from-behind performance in the Caulfield Guineas in October of 2019, where he lowered the colours of the previously undefeated Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).

Super Seth also won the Group Three HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m) and Group Three Manfred Stakes (1200m), and he finished second in the Group One Futurity Stakes (1400m) against older horses.

Super Seth had weanlings sell for up to $85,000 at the 2022 National Weanling Sale in June, and he is represented by 48 yearlings at Karaka 2023 – 43 in Book 1 and five in Book 2.

• Lot 91 is a half-brother to Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Winx Stakes (1400m) winner Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel), who has earned over A$2.8m and placed in another three Group One races during the 2022 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
• Lot 123 is out of Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed), who won three Group One races including the Australian Oaks (2400m). She is the dam of stakes performers Grand De Flora (NZ) (Savabeel), Grand Bouquet (NZ) (Savabeel) and Snowdrop (NZ) (Pins).
• Lot 475 is a half-sister to the undefeated Group Three VRC Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock).
• The dam of Lot 616 is Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom), who herself won three races and placed at Group Three and Listed level. But she has made a much greater impact at stud, producing Group Two winners Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Vilanova (NZ) (Commands), Group Three winner Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park) and multiple Group One placegetter Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park).

 

TEN SOVEREIGNS 

From just one season at stud in New Zealand at Valachi Downs, Ten Sovereigns sired a select crop of 43 foals.

By the enormously influential No Nay Never and out of a stakes-performed mare, Ten Sovereigns won four of his eight starts including the Group One Middle Park Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old and the stallion-making Group One July Cup (1200m) as a three-year-old against older horses.

Weanlings by Ten Sovereigns sold for up to $80,000 at the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Karaka.

The catalogues for Karaka 2023 feature five yearlings by Ten Sovereigns in Book 1 and seven in Book 2.

• Lot 94 is a half-sister to Arrogant (NZ) (Ocean Park), who ran second to champion colt The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) in a photo finish to the Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m). The dam of this filly is an unraced half-sister to Group One performer and sire Savile Row (NZ) (Makfi), as well as Group Two winner Needle And Thread (NZ) (Makfi).
• Lot 350 is a half-brother to two stakes winners. Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City) was Champion 2YO in New Zealand in 2013-14, winning the Group One Diamond Stakes (1200m) and the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m). He now stands at Mapperley Stud. Hazzabeel (NZ) (Zabeel), meanwhile, won the Group Three RJ Peters Stakes (1500m) in Perth.

 

FERRANDO (NZ)

Himself a graduate of Karaka, where he was passed in at the 2015 Festival Sale before selling for $40,000 at the Ready to Run Sale, well-performed sprinter Ferrando (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous) now stands at Rogerson Agistment for a service fee of $2,500.

He won eight races and more than $270,000 in stakes, headed by wins in the Group Three Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m) and Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) and placings in the Group One Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in both 2018 and 2019.

Ferrando has one yearling in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, with another four in Book 2.

• Lot 23 is a half-brother to Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Group Two Royal Stakes (2000m) placegetter Princess Lowry (NZ) (Roc De Cambes), as well as Group Three-placed stayer Lowry (NZ) (Roc De Cambes).

 

SNEAKING TO WIN 

Hawke’s Bay’s Te Aute Stud has a well-related stallion prospect in the form of Sneaking To Win, who stands for a service fee of $2,000.

By champion sire and sire of sires Snitzel, Sneaking To Win is a half-brother to Appearance (Commands), whose outstanding nine-win career included Group One triumphs in the Myer Classic (1600m), Coolmore Classic (1500m), Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) and Canterbury Stakes (1300m). Another half-sister, Mascareri (Commands), won eight races in Australia up to Listed level and is the dam of the Group Two-placed Trifaccia (I Am Invincible).

Sneaking To Win himself placed in one of his three starts before his career was curtailed by injury.

He features in Book 2 of Karaka 2023 with Lot 887, from the family of Group Two winner Quackerjack (Not A Single Doubt), Group One placegetter Anatina (Fastnet Rock) and more than a dozen other stakes performers.

 

WYNDSPELLE (NZ) 

Bought for $75,000 from the 2015 Select Sale at Karaka, Wyndspelle (NZ) was a Group One performer from the age of two to six. Previously standing at Grangewilliam Stud in New Zealand, the sire has now moved to Victoria-based Cornwall Park Stud in Australia.

He banked almost $700,000 through his 40-start career, with his four victories including the Group One Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) in December of 2019 and the Group Two Waikato Guineas (2000m) in February of 2017.

But he also placed in another 10 stakes races including the Group One Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and another six Group Ones in New Zealand – the Diamond Stakes (1200m), WFA Classic (1600m), Tarzino Trophy (1400m), Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and two editions of the Thorndon Mile (1600m).

Wyndspelle is by the influential Iffraaj, who is also represented in this part of the world by fellow sire sons Jon Snow (NZ), Ribchester and Turn Me Loose (NZ).

Wyndspelle features in Book 2 of Karaka 2023 with five yearlings. Lot 684 is a half-brother to four winners including Hong Kong’s Champion Griffin of 2020-21, the six-race winner Fantastic Treasure (Written Tycoon). The dam, Brambling, is by Redoute’s Choice out of Group One-winning mare Bramble Rose (NZ) (Shinko King).
 

Australian-based Sires

ALABAMA EXPRESS 

Yulong Stud’s Alabama Express is by Redoute’s Choice out of a half-sister to The Everest (1200m) hero Giga Kick (Scissor Kick). He stands for a service fee of A$22,000.

Alabama Express won four of his eight starts, including a Group One victory as a three-year-old against older horses in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

There are three yearlings by Alabama Express in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, plus one in Book 2. Lot 536 is the first foal out of a stakes-placed Savabeel mare from the family of multiple Group One winner and highly successful sire Sacred Falls (NZ).

 

BLUE POINT 

World-class sprinter Blue Point won four times at the highest level – two editions of the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m), plus the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) and Dubai’s Al Quoz Sprint (1200m). He stands for a fee of A$44,000 at Darley Stud.

The son of Shamardal is the sire of two fillies in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. Lot 442 is out of Pure (Pierro), a four-race-winning half-sister to Group One winner and sire Flying Artie.

 

CASTELVECCHIO 

The best-performed son of champion racehorse Dundeel (NZ), Arrowfield Stud’s Castelvecchio stands for a service fee of A$27,500.

He earned almost A$3m in his 13-start career, which featured victories in the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) as a two-year-old and Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) as a three-year-old. His three-year-old season also included a gallant second in the Group One Cox Plate (2040m).

Castelvecchio has two yearlings catalogued for Book 1 of Karaka 2023, along with one in Book 2. Lot 582 is a filly whose dam is a half-sister to three stakes winners including Group One winner Invincibella (I Am Invincible).

 

COSMIC FORCE 

The winner of the Group Three Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old and Group Two Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) as a spring three-year-old, Cosmic Force commands an A$11,000 service fee at Newgate Farm.

The speedy son of star sire Deep Field is represented by two yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. Lot 121 is a filly whose dam is a half-sister to dual Group One winner and black-type producer Regimental Gal (General Nediym).

 

D’ARGENTO 

Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) hero D’Argento stands at Bowness Stud, where his 2022 service fee was A$16,500.

By champion racehorse and top sire So You Think (NZ) and out of a stakes-winning mare by Redoute’s Choice, D’Argento has one yearling in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. Lot 25 is a filly whose dam is a three-quarter-sister to Sookie (Casino Prince), the Group Three-winning dam of multiple Group One winner Shadow Hero (Pierro).

 

DUBIOUS 

Aquis Farm’s Dubious, who stands for a service fee of A$13,200, won the Group Two Champagne Classic (1200m) in Brisbane as a two-year-old and also placed in the Group Two Danehill Stakes (1200m), Group Two Todman Stakes (1200m) and Group Three Breeders’ Plate (1000m).

He is by outstanding sire Not A Single Doubt out of Suspicieuse (Elusive City), who placed at Listed level in France.

Dubious has two yearlings catalogued for Karaka 2023 – one each in Book 1 and Book 2. Lot 99 is out of Chit Chat (Anabaa), who won four races in Victoria and is a daughter of Group One-winning staying mare Upsetthym (NZ) (Rhythm).

 

EXCEEDANCE 

After a short but sweet racetrack career that featured a victory in the stallion-making Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington, Exceedance retired to Vinery Stud, where he stands for a service fee of A$33,000.

He is by Exceed And Excel out of Bonnie Mac (NZ) (Thorn Park), who herself won at Listed level and is also the dam of fellow stakes winners Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) and Mac ‘N’ Cheese (Sebring).

Exceedance has six yearlings in the catalogue for Karaka 2023, all in Book 1. Lot 296 is a filly whose dam Laney (Shackleford) placed at Grade Two level at Churchill Downs.

 

MAGNA GRECIA 

Half-brother to European champion St Mark’s Basilica (Siyouni) and himself a multiple Group One winner, Magna Grecia stands at Coolmore Stud for a A$19,250 service fee.

By Invincible Spirit out of a Group Three-winning mare by Galileo, Magna Grecia won three of his six starts on the racetrack. That includes a Group One victory in the Doncaster Futurity Trophy (1600m) as a two-year-old, followed by the 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Newmarket in May of his three-year-old season.

Karaka 2023 features five Magna Grecia yearlings in Book 1, plus one in Book 2. Lot 81 is out of a half-sister to the Group One-performed Capital Diamond (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn), who is the dam of multiple stakes winner Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power) and descends from the iconic Diamond Lover-Eight Carat dam line.

 

MICROPHONE 

Darley Stud’s Microphone was Champion 2YO in Australia in 2018-19, and he stands for a service fee of A$33,000.

By Exceed And Excel out of a stakes-winning mare by Anabaa, Microphone had 11 starts for five wins and five placings. His two-year-old season was headed by a win in the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Group Two Skyline Stakes (1200m), along with a runner-up finish in the Group One Golden Slipper (1200m). He added another Group Two win as a three-year-old in the Autumn Stakes (1400m), and he placed in the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m).

Microphone has five yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2023 and one in Book 2. Lot 399 is the first foal out of multiple Group Two winner and Group One-placed Our Abbadean (NZ) (Lookin At Lucky).

 

OMAHA BEACH 

Omaha Beach shuttled to the Australian branch of Spendthrift Farm in 2020 and 2021, producing a total of 127 foals.

By the breed-shaping War Front, Omaha Beach is a half-brother to the dual Grade One winner and American Champion 2YO Filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway).

Omaha Beach himself won five of his 10 starts, three of them at the highest level – the Arkansas Derby (1800m), Sprint Championship Stakes (1200m) and Malibu Stakes (1400m). He was also runner-up in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (1600m).

The only yearling in the Karaka 2023 catalogues by Omaha Beach is Lot 157, whose three-race-winning dam is a sister to stakes winners Ho Ho Khan (NZ) (Makfi) and East Asia (NZ) (Swiss Ace).

 

PIERATA 

Pierata stands at Aquis Farm, where his service fee is A$44,000.

By Pierro out of a stakes-winning mare by Flying Spur, Pierata is a half-brother to the Group One placegetter Ashokhan (More Than Ready) and surpassed those achievements in his own racetrack career. He earned close to A$6m with nine wins from 26 starts, headed by the Group One All Aged Stakes (1400m) and four other Group races. He was also a four-time Group One placegetter.

Pierata has two yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. Lot 631 is out of a stakes-winning Irish mare, while the second dam of Lot 370 is a half-sister to Not A Single Doubt.

 

ROYAL MEETING 

Standing at Leneva Park for a service fee of A$11,000, former Godolphin star Royal Meeting won the Group One Criterium International (1400m) at Chantilly as a two-year-old and was later a Group Three placegetter at Caulfield.

By Invincible Spirit out of a Group One-winning mare, Royal Meeting features in Book 2 of Karaka 2023 as the sire of Lot 906. The colt is out of Nahema (NZ) (Per Incanto), who was runner-up in the Group Two Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old.

 

STRASBOURG 

Rosemont Stud’s Strasbourg was a high-class two-year-old, winning the Group Two BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and placing in the Group Two Champagne Classic (1200m). He stands for a service fee of A$11,000.

He is by I Am Invincible out of a Group Two-performed mare, and Karaka 2023 will feature two of his yearlings in Book 2. Lot 1064 is out of a winning half-sister to Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) placegetter Baaqyah (NZ) (I Am Invincible).

 

TOO DARN HOT 

Darley Stud’s Too Darn Hot arrived in Australia in 2020 with outstanding credentials both on the pedigree page and the racetrack, and his service fee is A$44,000.

His sire is champion stallion Dubawi, and his dam Dar Re Mi (Singspiel) won Group One races in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Dubai. Too Darn Hot had nine starts in his own racing career, winning six of them to be crowned Europe’s Champion 2YO and 3YO Colt.

He was a three-time Group One winner, capturing the Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old and the Prix Jean Prat (1400m) and Sussex Stakes (1600m) as a three-year-old.

Too Darn Hot has six yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, along with one in Book 2. Lot 294 is likely to command particular interest, being a half-brother to this season’s Group Two Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) winner and Group One placegetter Excelida (Exceed And Excel). This colt’s dam Lady Sayyida (NZ) (Iffraaj) is a half-sister to outstanding racehorse and sire Ocean Park (NZ), and to the dam of Grunt (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel).

 

YES YES YES 

The Everest (1200m) hero Yes Yes Yes stands at Coolmore Stud, where his 2022 service fee was A$38,500.

The son of Rubick had just eight starts, winning four and finishing second on another three occasions. His most famous moment came in the third edition of The Everest, beating older horses as a spring three-year-old and setting a race-record time that still stands – 1:07.32. He also won the Group Two Todman Stakes (1200m) and was runner-up in the Group One Golden Rose (1400m).

Yes Yes Yes is the sire of three fillies in the Karaka 2023 catalogue, all in Book 1. Lot 304 is out of a half-sister to the well-performed Vengeur Masque (Monsun) and comes from a quality European family that features Group One winners Volga (Caerleon), Vallee Enchantee (Peintre Celebre), Vespone (Llandaff) and Maids Causeway (Giant’s Causeway).

 

ZOUSAIN 

Standing for A$22,000 at Widden Stud, Zousain was a Group One performer at the ages of two and three.

A son of the outstanding Zoustar, he won the Group Two Champagne Classic (1200m) in a two-year-old season that also produced a runner-up finish in the Group One JJ Atkins (1600m). In the spring of his three-year-old season, he ran second in the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) and Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Book 1 of Karaka 2023 features two of Zousain’s progeny. Lot 504 is out of a twice-winning Snitzel mare whose half-sister Rockadubai (Fastnet Rock) placed at stakes level and is the dam of Group Three winner Chabaud (Lookin At Lucky).

 

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