The first edition of the new-look Karaka yearling sales last summer provided great satisfaction for the team at Hallmark Stud, and they are now eagerly counting down to Karaka 2019.
Hallmark's yearlings in Book 1 last January
sold up to $725,000 for a full-sister to Group One winner Age Of Fire, and the
overall sale-topper also carried a strong connection to the Te Kauwhata
nursery.
The $1.025 million Savabeel colt was out of the New Zealand 2000 and 1000 Guineas heroine Katie Lee, bred by Hallmark and sold through their 2008 Karaka draft to Sir Patrick Hogan for $340,000.
"The Katie Lee yearling last year was definitely a highlight for us, it was really nice to see her name up in lights like that," Mark Baker said.
Katie Lee sits alongside her Group One-winning half-sister Banchee on the honour roll of star Hallmark Karaka graduates – a list that also features the 2015 Karaka Million winner Hardline.
Hallmark will offer 28 yearlings in Karaka 2019, with a quality group of 19 catalogued for Book 1.
"We're taking a lovely group of horses to the sale this year," Baker said. "I think there should be something to suit all buyers – there are some who will mature into really nice middle-distance or staying types, and there are some who will run early and could even be Karaka Million contenders."
A distinctive feature of Hallmark's Book 1
offering is the youthful stallion line-up, featuring new names such as
Vancouver, Rich Enuff, Kermadec and Real Impact.
Lot 100 - Written Tycoon x Into The Groove colt
Lot 194 - Rich Enuff x Manzanilla colt
"We're looking forward to offering some nice types by some really exciting first season sires in Australia," Baker said.
"They definitely add a lot of interest.
We've also got some other young sires who have shown a bit with their first
couple of crops, and some proven sires too – a really good line-up of
stallions." – The Informant
Lot 140 - Deep Field x La Comedienne filly
