Thanks to a series of big-race performances by high-class siblings, the catalogues for Karaka 2025 have received some significant pedigree updates in the countdown to the sale.
Book 1 features siblings to four recent Group One placegetters and many other notable performers, while Book 2’s pedigree updates include a full-sister to a recent Group Two winner who is a key contender for Saturday’s $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).
Book 1
Rich Hill Stud’s Proisir filly catalogued as Lot 351 is a half-sister to Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio).
Already the winner of the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) and Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) before the catalogue went to print, Aeliana has since launched a powerful finish from the back of the field to be a close and fast-finishing second in the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
Proisir is also the sire of Lot 335, a filly from the Curraghmore draft. She is a half-sister to Powers Of Opal (NZ) (Ocean Park), who added a runner-up finish in the Group One VRC Oaks (2500m) to her previous performances for second in the Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and fourth in the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m).
The third placegetter in that VRC Oaks at Flemington in November was Hurry Curry (NZ) (Ocean Park), who has a full-brother going through the ring as Lot 660 in Book 1 of Karaka 2025.
Lot 154 is a colt by exciting young Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain and is a half-brother to the classy Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor). Already a Group One placegetter in last year’s New Zealand Oaks (2400m), the talented Te Akau Racing mare added another elite placing with a close second in this month’s Thorndon Mile (1600m).
Elsdon Park’s Ardrossan colt going through the ring as Lot 90 is a full-brother to the exciting three-year-old Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan). Racing in the colours of Elsdon Park owner Lib Petagna, Yaldi won the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and is likely to be a major player in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at the same venue this Saturday.
Lot 337 is a Waikato Stud colt by their legendary stallion Savabeel, which in itself is enough to make him a high-profile yearling in the catalogue. But he is also a half-brother to the stud’s exciting homebred filly Sethito (NZ) (Super Seth), who last month won the Group Three Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and finished second in a photo finish to the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m). The pair are both progeny of the dual Group One-winning mare Suavito (NZ) (Thorn Park).
Lot 228 is a full-brother to Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan), who added a second stakes win to his collection in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (1800m) at Eagle Farm in December.
He is being aimed towards the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) in May. Another full-brother, the promising two-year-old Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan), has had a win, a second and a fourth in the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m) since the catalogue went to print and is a Karaka Millions 2YO contender.
Lot 329 is a half-sister to the prolific sprinter Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel), whose 17-race career has produced seven wins and seven placings including a breakthrough black-type victory in last month’s Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Randwick.
Lot 113 is a half-sister to Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto), who has won the A$3m The Big Dance (1600m) and A$1m The Gong (1600m) since the catalogue went to print. Himself a $100,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2021, Gringotts has earned more than A$3m with nine wins and seven placings from 18 starts.
Lot 494 is a half-brother to the recent Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) winner and Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1600m) and Ballarat Cup (2000m) placegetter Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit). That super-talented gelding has now recorded five wins and two placings from only 10 starts.
Book 1 also contains some close relations of note. Lots 16 and 459 are both out of half-sisters to the granddam of leading three-year-old filly Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), who won the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. Another close relative to this pair is Oughton (More Than Ready), who recently won the Listed Recognition Stakes (1350m) at Doomben.
Lot 379 is out of a half-sister to the dam of exceptional mare Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock), who brought up the second Group One win of her career in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
Book 2
Brighthill Farm’s Satono Aladdin filly catalogued as Lot 855 is a full-sister to Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin).
Bought for $50,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2024, Too Sweet has had three starts for two wins, a placing and $164,400 in stakes. She is among the favourites for Saturday’s $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Lot 876 is a half-brother to Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca), who has made a huge impression in Sydney in recent weeks. She has won all of her last four in a row in increasingly impressive style. The Bjorn Baker-trained filly has earned A$238,925 from a nine-start career that has produced five wins and two seconds, and she is firmly on the radar for slot holders ahead of the inaugural $3.5m NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie in March.
The Book 2 catalogue received a notable pedigree update from Australia’s most famous race, the A$8.5m Group One Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in early November. Lot 813 is out of a half-sister to the dam of the Cup winner Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice).
Lot 887 is out of a half-sister to Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed), who added a second Group One victory to his CV in the Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham last month. Previously the winner of last season’s Livamol Classic (2040m), Ladies Man was a $60,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2019 and has earned $921,656.
Lot 747 is a half-sister to the Group Three New Zealand Cup (3200m) and Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) placegetter Beavertown Boy (NZ) (Shocking).
Book 1 of Karaka 2025 runs from Sunday January 26 to Tuesday January 28 with selling starting at 10am each day. Book 2 will start at the later time of 12pm on Wednesday January 29 and concludes the following day on Thursday January 30 (10am start).
