Glory for Elite Globe-trotters of Karaka

NZB’s upcoming Karaka May Sale has produced a cast of outstanding international performers in recent seasons with their individual sale histories reflecting the quality and value that can be found at the world-renowned Karaka Sales Centre.

With 42 individual stakes winning graduates of the Sale gaining a total of 70 stakes wins in the last five seasons, prospective buyers should add this Sale as one to follow closely.

• Dual Group 1 winner Puccini (NZ) (Encosta de Lago) was catalogued in the weanling category when he was knocked down to the bid of $175,000. A booming racing career saw him win eight races, including seven at black type level, the Champion 3YO in New Zealand title and $1.2 million in prizemoney. He now stands at Mapperley Stud with his first crop of foals being born this spring.
• The famous kiwi redhead Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj) first came through the Karaka sale ring as a weanling and caught Phil Cataldo’s sharp eye who acquired him for $5,000. Returning to Karaka at the Ready to Run Sale he then sold to Te Akau Racing for $42,500. Racing in the tangerine colours he was guided to the three Group 1 wins on both sides of the Tasman earning $1.3 million in prizemoney.
• A $12,000 weanling purchase, I Am a Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) flew the winning flag in Australia on seven different occasions. Claiming six stakes races, her career high came with a victory in the Group 1 Myer Classic and she has now won earnings of more than $1.2 million.
• The most recent Group 1 winner to come out of the Sale is top stayer Ladies First (NZ) (Dylan Thomas) who has won (nine) or placed in 12 of her 16 starts, including three black type races. Selling out of the yearling category for $8,000 she returned to the Ready to Run Sale and has now earned more than $480,000 in prizemoney.
• Infantry’s (NZ) (Tavistock) list of achievements are headed by Singapore Horse of the Year and Champion 4YO and Miler. With four black type wins under his belt, the $7,000 weanling and $110,000 Ready to Run Sale graduate has grossed $1.9 million in career earnings.
• Premiere (NZ) (Dylan Thomas) was initially sold as a weanling for $13,000 before being offered at the Ready to Run Sale. A recipient of the Champion Griffin in Hong Kong, he has won seven starts including the Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy taking his earnings to over $1.5 million.
• Multiple stakes winner El Padrino (NZ) (Mr. Nancho) sold through the Karaka sale ring twice – first as a $10,000 weanling and then as a $56,000 Ready to Run Sale two-year-old. Winning in Dubai, Korea and Singapore he was awarded Champion Older Horse in Singapore and has grossed $1.4 million in prizemoney.
• 2015 $1 million Karaka Million 2YO winner Hardline (NZ) (Showcasing) was a $43,000 weanling who returned to the sale ring as a yearling selling for $130,000. A winner of four starts his earnings total $635,169.

These stakes winning graduates have collectively won over $9.1 million in prizemoney, yet combined they cost just $265,000 as weanlings at Karaka.

This year the Karaka May Sale will offer a total of 518 horses – Weanlings (294), Yearlings (65), Two-Year-Old’s (three), Unraced Stock (two), Racehorses (10) and Broodmares (144). There will be the progeny of 65 stakes-winning dams, including 10 Group 1 winners, and siblings to 103 stakes winners of which 23 are at Group 1 level. Compacted into two days on 7 and 8 May, selling will commence at 10am each day.

You can view the catalogue online or request a copy from Faye Hunt at reception@nzb.co.nz. For travel and accommodation information contact Harry King at Harry.King@nzb.co.nz.