KARAKA 2005 Catalogues Hot off the Press

The much anticipated catalogues for New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka are hot off the press today.

Thousands of catalogues for the three sales sessions, Premier, Select and Festival have gone in the post this morning to buyers and sellers around the world.

This year sees 1,479 yearlings catalogued for sale over the seven sale days from 31st January to 7th February 2005. In a change from previous years, all saledays will commence at the earlier time of 11am.

New Zealand Bloodstock Marketing & PR Manager Petrea Vela commented, "It is exciting to see the catalogues starting to be distributed, and the build up to January starting in earnest. Some of the New Zealand Bloodstock team headed to Australia on Friday in the first part of their international canvass to promote the Sales, and will then visit most parts of Asia including Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, plus South Africa, in the coming weeks."

This year's Premier Sale (31st Jan to 2nd Feb) sees 64 sires represented, including 33 shuttle sires, making this catalogue the most international ever offered at Karaka. Included amongst those are 12 first season (or first southern season) sires, with the total number of yearlings they are represented by across the three sales sessions:

Bertolini - Group 1 performer for three consecutive seasons in Europe (33 yearlings)

Black Minnaloushe - A dual group one winning son of Storm Cat (75 yearlings)

Fantastic Light - Twice Emirates World Champion (11 yearlings)

Galileo - Champion European 3YO and triple Group 1 winner (5 yearlings)

Giant's Causeway - Six times Group 1 winner (7 yearlings)

Keeper - Group 1 winning sprinting son of Danehill (50 yearlings)

Minardi - Champion European 2YO (19 yearlings)

Show A Heart - Group 1 winner at two, three and four (2 yearlings)

Spectatorial - By the classic winner, Spectrum, (17 yearlings)

St Petersburg - Group winner by Nureyev (25 yearlings)

Traditionally - Group 1 winner in the United States (29 yearlings)

Viscount - Champion 2YO & 3YO on the Australasian Classification (7 yearlings).

Plus first season sires represented in the Select and Festival sessions including Aristotle (IRE, Black Hawk (GB), Danzighill (AUS), Diatribe (AUS), Indian Danehill (IRE), Magic Albert (AUS), Mull Of Kintyre (USA), Painted Black (JPN), Postponed (USA), Rossini (USA), San Luis (AUS), Sudurka (AUS), Val Royal (FR).

The Select Sale will be conducted over two full days on 3rd & 4th February, with the Festival Sale on 6th & 7th February. To request catalogues contact Julian Phillips (julianp@nzb.co.nz) PH: (09) 2980055.