Family Favourites and Nicks that Click - Karaka 2024

Sponsored Content - by Tara Madgwick - Wednesday December 27

Several stakes-winners over the holiday break hold some Karaka intrigue including a million dollar yearling now racing in career best form.

The 2024 NZB National Yearling Sale Series – Books 1 and 2 - (January 28 – February 2) features the best yearlings New Zealand has to offer and we’ve gone looking for something interesting in the mix!

Zarastro has won his past two starts in stakes races .

I Am Invincible gelding Zarastro has been one of the finds of the summer in Queensland and the Tony Gollan trained five year-old made it back to back stakes wins in the Listed  BRC Magic Millions Falvelon Stakes (1200m), read about him here.

His dam is New Zealand bred Group II winning Zabeel mare Adrift, a close relation of Cox Plate winner Maldivian from the family of Kiwi bred G1 sprinter Entriviere, so there is no surprise to find four entries from the family at K1.

Lot 31 Colt Pierro x Duby – Riversley Park as agent for Monovale Holdings

Lot 88 Colt Tarzino x Flying Orca – Riversley Park as agent for Monovale Holdings

Lot 194 Colt Ocean Park x Lost in Dubai – Riversley Park as agent for Monovale Holdings

Lot 414 Filly Anders x Smiles for Layla – Landsdowne Park as agent for Monovale Holdings

Lion's Roar was a G1 winner at three and now a $2million earner at age six - image Steve Hart

Contributer (IRE) was the man of the moment on Boxing Day siring his second Group I winner when Campionessa claimed the Zabeel Classic while at Randwick his first Group I winner Lion’s Roar smashed $2million in earnings when taking out the Group III ATC Summer Cup, read about him here.

Contributer has 16 entries for K1 and 17 for K2 and there is a full sister to Lion’s Roar entered for K1 as well as a close relation and a filly bred on the same cross.

Lot 229 Filly Contributer (IRE) x Minnaleo – Prima Park

Lot 404 Filly Contributer (IRE) x Shortblackmini – Brighthill Farm

Lot 586 Filly Ardrossan x Arija – Elsdon Park

Continuing NZB’s traditional sale format, Book 1 is set to commence from Sunday 28 until Tuesday 30 January from 10am (NZT) each day, while Book 2 will begin directly after from Wednesday 31 January until Friday 2 February from 11am (NZT) each day.

For any general enquiries, contact info@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055. For bloodstock enquiries, contact NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones on kane.jones@nzb.co.nz or call +64 27 274 4985.

Advertisment
More Reading...
New kids on the block add fresh blood to Vibrant Victorian breeding scene
With 11 new stallions standing in Victoria this coming breeding season, including the winners of three Group 1 races on their ‘home’ soil, the short and long-term future looks increasingly bright for the state’s vibrant industry. 
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
National Online Breeding Stock Sale online now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 30
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZ Racing Woman of the Year
Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle has been immersed in racing from a young age and she was recognised for her individual contribution to the industry at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday.
Euro G1 – Bridesmaid No More and Two Time Derby Hero
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who shook off his G1 bridesmaid tag winning the Group I Grand Prix de Saint Cloud in France, while in Ireland the Coolmore machine kept the winning run going to take out the Group I Irish Derby (1 ½ m).
Matahga Makes it a Memorable Weekend for Lawson
Waikato horseman Simon Lawson has an eye for a bargain, and the product of one of his purchases turned into his first stakes winner over the weekend.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Tops NZB Weanling Sale
Little Avondale stallion Per Incanto’s outstanding season carried on in the Karaka sale ring on Thursday, where his weanling colt fetched a sale-topping $190,000 in the opening hour of the NZB National Weanling Sale.
National Online Breeding Stock Sale Online Now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.
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.