Karaka 2021 Yearling Catalogues Out Now

Media Release - Monday November 23

The release of New Zealand Bloodstock’s catalogues for the 95th National Yearling Sales Series has kicked off the countdown to the New Zealand thoroughbred industry’s biggest week of the year. 

The eyes of the thoroughbred world will tune in to Auckland from Saturday 23 January, when a high-octane Karaka Million Twilight race meeting at Ellerslie provides a perfect entrée for the live action that follows at NZB’s Karaka Sales Centre for their Book 1 and Book 2 catalogues.

Top lot at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale was this $900,000 Pierro colt.

Showcasing some of New Zealand’s brightest talent, an elite selection of yearlings will go through the ring in Book 1 on January 24, 25 and 26, followed by Book 2 on January 27 and 28. Selling will commence at Karaka from 1PM (NZT) on all days. In a change from previous years, Book 3 will be an online sale on Gavelhouse Plus, closing on Wednesday 3 February.

With decades of sustained excellence, New Zealand-sourced thoroughbreds have earned an esteemed international reputation, with racetrack performances remaining as strong as ever. Despite representing just 6.9% of the racing population in Australia, a total of 31 New Zealand-sourced Group winners won 36 Group races in Australia last season.

New Zealand-sourced fillies have won six of the last seven editions of the prestigious Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick, and three-year-olds sourced from this side of the Tasman have won 33% of the Group One Derby races in Australia over the current seven seasons. There were ten New Zealand-sourced Group One winners in Australia during the 2019-20 season alone.

The yearling class of 2021 boasts the right credentials to add to those statistics. An exceptional catalogue of 579 yearlings will go under the hammer in Book 1, with another 339 quality youngsters for sale in Book 2.

Sires represented at Karaka 2021 include American PharoahBelardoCapitalist, Darci Brahma (NZ), Dundeel (NZ), Fastnet RockI Am InvincibleNo Nay NeverOcean Park (NZ), Per Incanto, PierroSavabeelSnitzelTavistock (NZ), Written Tycoon and Zoustar.

The catalogue also features the progeny of an exciting group of new bloodlines – first season sires AlmanzorCaravaggioChurchillDerrynHellbentImpendingInvaderMerchant NavyMongolian Falcon, PariahRibchesterRussian RevolutionSatono AladdinSpieth (NZ), Time TestWar Decree and What’s The Story (NZ).

Advertisement

The catalogue for Book 1 features the progeny of Group One-winning mares Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock), Prize Lady (NZ) (Prized), Rena’s Lady (Arena), Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn), Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman), Chenille (NZ) (Pentire), Fanatic (NZ) (Shocking), Guiseppina (NZ) (Johar), I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) and Insouciant (NZ) (Keeper).

There are also siblings to Group One winners Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel), Tarzino (NZ) (Tavistock), Authentic Paddy (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit), Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto), Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), Consensus (NZ) (Postponed), (The) Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux), Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock) and Marky Mark (NZ) (Makfi).

Countless others are close relatives to Group One stars and boast pedigree pages stacked with black type.

Book 1 and Book 2 catalogues are now available to be viewed online, with physical copies arriving in mailboxes.

As with the highly successful recent NZB Ready to Run Sale, online bidding services will be available for all registered buyers who are unable to physically attend Karaka 2021.

All yearlings will be available for on-farm inspections with agents available to inspect on behalf.

View the full catalogue online here.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
$3million Won Through Inglis Xtra Bonus
A staggering $3m has now been won as part of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series following today’s victory by the Cody Morgan-trained 3YO Considered at Dubbo.
Red Right Out Wins MM Queensland Qualifier
The 2026 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping will feature the third annual Queensland Off-The-Track Cup (QOTT) final on Sunday, 11 January 2026 at Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast. 
How Much for a Snitzel Colt from Winx?
The record price for a yearling by the late champion sire Snitzel stands at $2.8million, but that benchmark looks set to be smashed at Inglis Easter next year.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Unbeaten So You Think 3YO WA's New Excitement Machine
One month to the day since he first set foot on a racecourse, So You Think’s three year old son  Opportunistic remains undefeated from three starts, is a dual stakes winner with earnings of $200,250 to his name, and is WA's new rising star of the turf.
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.