First Season Favourites Karaka Book 1

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday January 29

It was a strong renewal of the NZB National Yearling Sale Book 1 and while the key metrics were down slightly on last year’s record breaking sale it was still a very satisfactory result and there were a number of first season sires that left a good impression with Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) heading his peers on average, while Cambridge Stud’s Sword of State led the way by aggregate.

First Season Sires at Karaka Book 1

Sire

Sold

Average

Aggregate

Top Price

2022 Fee

St Mark's Basilica(Fr)

7

$235,714

$1,650,000

$360,000

$44,000

Sword of State

20

$201,500

$4,030,000

$540,000

$15,000

Wooded (IRE)

1

$200,000

$200,000

$200,000

$22,000

Stay Inside

1

$180,000

$180,000

$180,000

$77,000

Home Affairs

9

$168,889

$1,520,000

$340,000

$110,000

Wild Ruler

3

$166,667

$500,000

$380,000

$38,500

Pinatubo (IRE)

4

$136,250

$545,000

$230,000

$55,000

Noverre

16

$135,625

$2,170,000

$310,000

$10,000

Palace Pier (GB)

3

$123,333

$370,000

$175,000

$55,000

Acrobat

4

$98,125

$392,500

$160,000

$13,750

Captivant

1

$75,000

$75,000

$75,000

$27,500

Armory (IRE)

6

$73,333

$440,000

$120,000

$10,000

St Mark's Basilica (Fr) was the leading first season sire by average.

The top seller for St Mark’s Basilica came on the third and final day of the sale when Jamieson Park sold a colt from Express Fantasy that made $360,000 when bought by Patella Bloodstock.

He is the first foal of his dam, a winning half-sister by Shamexpress to stakes-winner Raghu from the family Group I VRC Victoria Derby winner Manzoice and slick Group III winner Humma Humma, who produced a Snitzel colt that sold for $2.8million at Magic Millions this year.

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$360,000 St Mark's Basilica (Fr) colt from Express Yourself .

The champion son of Siyouni has good representation at upcoming sales with 10 for Inglis Classic, four for Inglis Premier and eight for Inglis Easter.

A Group I winning juvenile by champion sire Snitzel, Sword of State had an amazing sale off a $15,000 service fee and had the highest priced yearling of all first season sires when his colt from stakes-winning I Am Invincible mare Fuld’s Bet made $540,000 for Cambridge Stud when bought by NSW based Mulberry Racing.

Wootton Bassett (GB) was the overall leading sire by average and his first season son Wooded (IRE), who shuttles to Swettenham Stud in Victoria, made his presence felt with his one and only yearling in the sale.

$200,000 Wooded (IRE) colt from Energy Within.

The first foal of metro winning Toronado (IRE) mare Energy Within, the colt was a super successful pinhook for Woburn Farm fetching $200,000 to the bid of TAB Racing Club. He was originally sourced from the Crossley Thoroughbreds draft at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale for $60,000.

A Group I winning sprinter, Wooded has nine entries for Inglis Premier and four for Magic Millions Adelaide.

Another Aussie based sire to impress was Newgate Farm’s Wild Ruler, who had the second highest priced yearling by a first season sire when the Windsor Park Stud consigned colt from Stay Smart (USA) sold for $380,000.

$380,000 Wild Ruler colt from Stay Smart (USA).

Purchased by Ellerslie Lodge / B Heys, the good looking bay is the first foal of imported US stakes-winner Stay Smart, a half-sister by Stay Thirsty to Group III winner Valedictorian and stakes-winner He’spuregold from Group III winner Smart n Classy.

She was offered at the 2023 Inglis Chairman’s Sale in the Blue Sky Consignment where she was knocked down to Ben Kwok’s Lion Rock Bloodstock for $240,000 with a positive test to Wild Ruler and this colt is the result of the mating.

A Group I winning son of Snitzel as is Sword of State, Wild Ruler has 22 for Inglis Classic, eight for Inglis Premier, 10 for Magic Millions Adelaide and two for Inglis Easter.

Coolmore’s bargain priced Fastnet Rock son Acrobat had a good sale with four of his five yearlings offered being sold and interestingly two of them were bought by David Ellis, who is renowned for his ability to find up and going types suitable for the Karaka Million next year.

$160,000 Acrobat filly from Catch Your Idol.

His top seller at $160,000 was a beautiful filly from Catch Your Idol that was offered by Curraghmore and bought by Go Racing / Blandford Bloodstock, while his next two most expensive at $100,000 and $72,500 went to David Ellis, a colt from Iff Elle and a filly from Caveat.

His other yearling that sold was a filly from Bellspath that made $60,000 and was bought by another good judge in Victorian trainer Mick Price, so these Acrobat youngsters will be given every opportunity to make their mark.

Acrobat has 14 entries for Inglis Classic, five for Inglis Premier, five for Magic Millions Adelaide and two for Inglis Easter.

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