Dunlop Excited by Karaka 2022 Lineup

Media Release - Monday February 7

Despite getting drenched during an early morning yearling parade on Waitangi Day Monday, Phoenix Park principal Janine Dunlop is struggling to take the smile off her face as she prepares for the 2022 edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling sale at Karaka next month.

Phoenix Park’s Janine Dunlop has a bumper draft ahead of Karaka 2022 Photo: Trish Dunell

Dunlop is one of the most recognisable faces at Karaka each year and having prepared and sold some of the leading individuals from the sale on numerous occasions, knows when she has a line-up that will attract interest from a wide cross-section of buyers.

Phoenix Park graduates in recent years include Group One winners Princess Jenni, The Chosen One and Montoya's Secret, in addition to rising star Mr Brightside, winner of six of his seven Australian starts and fourth in the Gr.1 Cantala Stakes (1600m), plus Hong Kong Group Two winner Reliable Team.

So, when Dunlop says her draft this year could be her best ever, especially with the fillies on offer, it pays to take notice.

Phoenix Park will offer 21 yearlings in the Book 1 sale at Karaka and a further five in Book 2, on behalf of a number of leading breeders in New Zealand, including Terry Archer, Beltana Stud, The Dennis Brothers, Carol Marshall and Luigi Muollo’s Novara Park, which has a quality half-sister to three-time Derby winner Explosive Jack by Novara Park’s exciting first-season sire Staphanos, a Group One performer by Deep Impact.

Dunlop has a particularly close connection to the first filly from her draft to step foot in the Karaka Sales ring, Lot 15 by Charm Spirit from The Pearler, old on behalf of her breeder the Southland-based Dennis brothers.

“The thing that strikes me first and foremost about the yearlings we are offering this year is just how good the quality is across the entire draft,” Dunlop said.

“I’ve prepped horses for a long time now and we have sold some absolute crackers that have gone on to be elite level winners and this year I think we have individuals that are as good or better than those across the board.

“The fillies we have are amazing and include some that would not normally be offered for sale, so that is a real coup for me.

“I’m also thrilled to offer a filly for the Dennis brothers who I have worked with for a very long time now.

“Their Charm Spirit filly is from a branch of the wonderful female family they breed from and I feel I have a connection to her given I put The Chosen One through the ring the year he came to Karaka.

“I was so taken by him that when he was passed in, I offered to take a share in him and he has covered himself in glory ever since.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t be at Trentham to watch him win his Group One in person last month, but you can bet your boots I will be at Te Rapa this week, if we are allowed under COVID protocols, to see him try and make it two on end in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m).”

Group One winner The Chosen One as a yearling in the Phoenix Park draft Photo: Trish Dunell

Lot 354, the So You Think ex La Bella Delicia filly is one of the yearlings that Dunlop believes could be one of her best, with the granddaughter of Group Two winner Star Affair, the dam of former top three-year-old filly La Diosa, a real standout.

“When I talk about fillies that come from families that don’t often sell their females, Lot 354 is the one that springs to mind first,” she said.

Advertisement

“Her pedigree is impeccable and I doubt whether you would find many yearlings that have two individual Group One winners in their pedigree updates for the sale like she does (The Chosen One and The Perfect Pink).

“She is an outstanding type and you can see so much of both So You Think and Star Affair coming out in her.

“Lot 103 is our filly from the first southern hemisphere crop of American triple crown winner Justify and all I can say is if his other yearlings are like this filly then everyone will be well pleased.

“She appeals as a real three-year-old classic type and she just covers so much ground when she walks and is very athletic.”

Dunlop is also quick to point out the qualities of Lot 234, the Staphanos half-sister to multiple Group One winner Explosive Jack along with Lot 360, a colt by American Pharoah out of La Diosa.

“The La Diosa colt is probably one of the most powerful I have had and is just a gorgeous horse,” she said.

“I’m very excited by him as well as the half to Explosive Jack who is also a cracker and very forward at this stage of her prep.

“She ticks a lot of boxes from a family on the move and hopefully will be a superb advertisement for her sire.

“We have three by Staphanos all from the Explosive family and we have already seen a Staphanos filly from the same family sell for A$140,000 in Sydney on Sunday.”

With a high-quality draft at her disposal, Dunlop is feeling confident for the overall success of this year’s sale, despite border closures.

“The new timing of the sale has allowed vendors to present a more developed product,” she said.

“That should assist buyers make their purchasing decisions and given it is the second year we have been affected by COVID it will also let us produce pre-sale material better aligned to the buyers demands.

“From a staffing perspective it is a little tough, especially with our university students heading back to class, but I think overall NZB made the right decision by putting a line in the sand and providing some surety with the sale process.”

The 2022 sale kicks off at Karaka on Monday March 7. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Debut Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
Set to shuttle to Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (FR) had an impressive debut winner overnight in the UK with Cape Ashizuri opening his account in style.
Stakes Success for Spritely 7YO Warhorse
Pearce Racing's seven year old warhorse Ginger Baker collected his first ever stakes win in the Listed 2200m South West Cup yesterday.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Istataba adds international flavour to National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Buyers can currently bid on 11 stakes-performed mares in the National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, including one that brings South American bloodlines and Singaporean racetrack performance.
New Sprint Star for WA?
Oakland Park's veteran WA sire Sessions is rarely without a good horse to represent him, and the son of Lonhro now has his sixth stakes winner after exciting 3YO galloper Repossession spanked the older horses to win the Listed Beaufine Stakes at Pinjarra Park.
Spring Goals Await Caloundra Cup Winner Half Yours
With spring staying features on their minds, Tony and Calvin McEvoy sent their improving stayer north to Queensland for Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) with instant success as the 4yo gelding Half Yours romped home by four and a half lengths.
Resolute Racing Win G1 Prix Jean Prat – Wootton Bassett Sire Power
A crackerjack meeting at Deauville in France overnight highlighted the power of Wootton Bassett (GB), who sired yet another new two year-old stakes-winner and he also featured as the grand-sire of Woodshauna, who captured the Group I Prix Jean Prat (1400m) for US based Resolute Racing.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
Sixth Winner for Anders
First past the post at Wyong on June 24, talented Anders filly Sapling lost that race on protest, but quickly made amends when returning to the same track on Saturday to score her first actual victory.