The South Island has made a massive contribution to the 100-year history of New Zealand’s National Yearling Sale, dating right back to the Timaru-bred champion Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid) and his trip through the Trentham sale ring in 1928.
Bought for 160 guineas, the legendary Phar Lap had 51 starts for 37 wins and five placings. He won 32 of his last 35 races and was among the inaugural inductees into both the New Zealand and Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
The South Island has continued to produce top-class National Yearling Sale graduates through subsequent decades, from the 1956 Australian Derby (2400m) and Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Monte Carlo (NZ) (Lucky Bag) to last season's Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Velocious (Written Tycoon) and more.
Claiming a unique part of sales history are the Southern-bred and well-performed brothers Bruce (NZ) (Royal Chief) and Royal Tan (NZ) (Royal Chief) from the 1944 and 1945 National Yearling Sale. Both won the WRC Wellington Cup and were the top performers of their year. Bred by Stuart Faulks of Mount Barker Stud, Wanaka, they were purchased for 170 and 450 guineas respectively.
Southern vendors Beaufort Downs, Inglewood Stud and White Robe Lodge will make their annual trek up to Auckland again in two weeks time to continue the proud tradition of offering quality yearling drafts at Karaka 2026.
