Global powerhouse sires from the ranks of Australasia's best stud farms will be represented at the fast-approaching 2018 National Yearling Sales with preceding feature-race winners boosting their demand.
Waikato Stud titan and reigning Champion New Zealand Sire Savabeel made a clean sweep of New Zealand's major sire awards for the second consecutive season and success with his elite Karaka yearling Embellish (NZ) in the Group 1 2000 Guineas has seen him jump to the top of the leader board this season. His star performers around the world include the likes of Karaka graduates Hall of Fame(NZ),Sangster(NZ) and Lucia Valentina (NZ).
Amassing an aggregate of $11.46 million in the Premier session alone last year, his Karaka 2018 crop features an impressive 75 yearlings in Book 1 including full siblings to Group 1 winners Costume(Lot 163) and Brambles(Lot 493). There are also the progeny of Group 1 winning damsA Touch of Ruby (Lot 44),Irish Fling(Lot 280), Katie Lee( Lot 301) and Legs(Lot 336).
Another sire with significant representation at Karaka 2018 is Haunui Farm'sIffraaj who sired a Group 1 Derby winner on both sides of the Tasman last season –Gingernuts(NZ) in the New Zealand Derby and Jon Snow(NZ) in the Australian Derby.
The Champion 3YO Sire in New Zealand will have 39 progeny at Karaka across all three Book's including a full-sister to Champion Sprinter and multiple Group 1 winner Turn Me Loose(Lot 272) and a half-sister to Group 1 winner I Am a Star(Lot 619).
For Cambridge Stud's Sir Patrick Hogan and Justine Lady Hogan Karaka 2018 will carry special significance as it will mark their final crop of yearlings they will sell under the Cambridge Stud banner. Popular Hong Kong sire and Champion Sprinter Tavistockhas produced the likes of four time Group 1 winner Volkstok'n'barrell(NZ) and Derby victors Tarzino(NZ),Tavago(NZ) and Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther(NZ).
With the largest crop, 96 of his yearlings will go under the hammer across Book 1 and Book 2 including a full-sister to Werther (Lot 48) and half siblings to Group 1 winnersAuthentic Paddy (Lot 47),ShamrockerandRock Diva(Lot 77),Habibi(Lot 145),Sound Proposition(Lot 180),Kermadec(Lot 261) andSamantha Miss(Lot 382). The daughter of Champion WFA performer and multiple Group 1 winnerLashed(Lot 329) will also be on offer.
Kiwi-bred sireDarci Brahmawho stands at The Oaks Stud is a five-time Group 1-winning son of Danehill. He has been crowned Singapore's Champion Sire multiple times and sired last season's stakes winning Karaka graduateAlibi(NZ) who took out the first two legs of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge.
Darci Brahma will be represented by 30 yearlings catalogued in Book 1 and Book 2 at Karaka with a full-sister to Group 1 winner at twoReciteout of a Champion 2YO fillyChant(Lot 101).
Waikato Stud's twice-crowned Champion Hong Kong SirePinswill also have a significant presence at Karaka 2018 and boasts a record of elite success on the racetrack. A multiple Group winner himself he has sired Champion Hong Kong SprinterAerovelocity(NZ) and Hong Kong Horse of the YearAmbitious Dragon(NZ).
A crop of 37 yearlings by Pins will be offered at Karaka across all three Book's with the first foal out of Champion Middle Distance Horse and dual Group 1 winnerSorianocatalogued atLot 608.
The English-bred dual Group 1 winner Pentirehad made his mark as a versatile stallion and Rich Hill Stud laid him to rest in late November. He produced Karaka stars Prince of Penzanceto win the 2015 Melbourne Cup and King Mufhasato win 10 Group 1 features collecting titles such as Horse of the Year, Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler.
His progeny have won Group 1 Derbies, Sprints, Oaks, Guineas and Cups and at the time of his death he was New Zealand's active leading sire of Group 1 winners. Karaka 2018 will be one of the last chances to secure his progeny with nine yearlings catalogued across Book 1 and Book 2.
Australia's hottest sire Snitzel claimed all three major Australian sire awards last season, set a record for stallion earnings in a season and has jumped to the top of the premiership this season. The Arrowfield-based stallion sired dual Group 1 winnersRedzelandShamus Awardand Karaka 2018 is set to offer five of his progeny including a daughter of Champion Stayer and four time Group 1 winnerShez Sensational(Lot 577).
Coolmore Stud's Champion Sprinter Fastnet Rock has relished Group 1 success this season with the likes of Merchant Navy in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Shoals in the Myer Classic. The early season success has earned him a spot in the top three on the leading sires table in Australia and 12 of his progeny will go under the hammer in Book 1 at Karaka.
His progeny include a colt out of dual Oaks winnerEpisodemaking him a full brother to Group 1 sprinter First Seal(Lot 188) and a filly out of seven–time Group 1 winner and Horse of the Year Seachange(Lot 561).
A budding star of Australia's stallion ranks, I Am Invincible stands at Yarraman Park having won five sprint races including at Group level. With the first season at stud behind him he earned Champion First Season Sire and has gone on to sire the multiple Group 1-winning speedster and first season sire Brazen Beau, and Group 1-winning Karaka graduate I Am a Star. Currently fourth on the Australian leading sires table, he will be represented by three of his progeny.
The Arrowfield Stud resident Not a Single Doubt has passed his speed to his progeny and is becoming a well-known sire of two-year-olds and sprinters. After winning his first three starts at two and another at three he retired to stud and after his first year was crowned Champion Australian First Season Sire. His star progeny include this season's Group 1-winning Karaka graduateMighty Bossand last season's multiple Group winnerSecret Agenda.
He will be represented by a half-sister to Champion 2YO filly and Karaka Million winnerMelody Belle(Lot 371).
Demonstrating why Karaka 2018 will be the source of quality yearlings the stallion ranks are boosted even further with youngsters byAll Too Hard,Battle Paint,Bel Esprit,Blackfriars,Bullbars,Carlton House,Coats Choice,Dalghar,Declaration of War,Denman,Domesday,Dream Ahead,Dundeel,Echoes of Heaven,Ego,Ekraar,Epaulette,Eurozone,Exceed and Excel,Excelebration,Falkirk,Ferlax,Fighting Sun,Foxwedge,Glass Harmonium,Haradasun,Helmet,He's Remarkable,Hinchinbrook,Holy Roman Emperor,Husson,I Am Invincible,Jakkalberry,Jimmy Choux,Keano,Keeper,Lonhro,Man of Power,Medaglia d'Oro,More Than Ready,Mossman,Nadeem,Niagara,Perfectly Ready,Pierro,Pluck,Poet's Voice,Redoute's Choice,Remind,Reset,Reward for Effort,Rios,Roc de Cambes,Rock 'n' Pop,Rothesay,Sebring,Sepoy,Shamexpress,Shamoline Warrior,Shamus Award,Sizzling,Smart Missile,So You Think,Starcraft,Stratum,Sweet Orange,Swiss Ace,Tiger Prawn,Towkay,Unencumbered,Written Tycoon,Zed,ZoffanyandZoustar.
KARAKA 2018 SCHEDULE:
Karaka Million Twilight Meeting: Saturday 27 January
Book 1: Sunday 28 – Wednesday 31 January
Book 2: Thursday 1 & Friday 2 February
Book 3: Sunday 4 February
Catalogues can be viewed online or requested fromreception@nzb.co.nz.
