Karaka 2019 Starts Sunday

Media Release - Friday January 25

The cream of New Zealand's thoroughbred yearling crop will go under the hammer at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales at Karaka this week, with the Book 1 sale to commence at 3pm on Sunday.

Champion Miler Beauty Generation is a Karaka GraduateWith 1,284 yearlings catalogued, a strong mix of both local and international buyers have been at the complex in recent days inspecting horses.

"The support we have had this year from major breeders in New Zealand has been exceptional – the best I can remember in a very long time," New Zealand Bloodstock's Managing Director Andrew Seabrook said.

"With fewer horses going to Australian yearling sales to be sold, there has definitely been an increase in the strength of the catalogues."

The lucrative Karaka Million twilight race meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday ensures a vibrant start to the week, with two $1 million races for New Zealand Bloodstock graduates, while five of the six races on the card are stakes races.

Although last year's sale was the highest by aggregate in a decade, vendor expectations remain cautious for this year's edition.

Graduates of the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale enjoyed another strong year on the racetrack winning 120 stakes races and 18 at Group One level last season.

The New Zealand Sales have always been renowned as a quality sale at value for money and that extends beyond just the Book 1 catalogue, which numbers 698 well credentialed yearlings.

Book 2 graduates the ilk of the world's best miler Beauty Generation and star three-year-old Madison County are prime examples of the value on offer. The pair were sold for $60,000 and $36,000 respectively.

Leading buyer David Ellis of Te Akau Racing is bullish about forthcoming changes in the New Zealand racing industry and has been impressed by the stock catalogued.

"I don't think it's any secret that from August 1 our stakes money in New Zealand will dramatically improve, so now is a really good time to invest," Ellis said.

Advertisement

"I expect this sale to be a buyers' market. The quality is as good as I've seen in 20 years. And don't forget, we're just a three-hour flight to Sydney and Melbourne and they are racing for $7, $10 and $15 million and we're buying horses to win those races too."

The Chittick family's Waikato Stud has been the leading vendor by aggregate for the past five years and stock of their champion sire Savabeel will again appeal to a broad range of buyers, underpinning the sale.

Stud Principal Mark Chittick was also keen to point out that the economics of buying yearlings in New Zealand stacked up well given prizemoney in Australia has reached record levels.

"You can buy a really good horse for $120,000 at Karaka. In just over a year's time when they're racing, they can be running for more than $120,000 every Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne," Chittick said.

"To me that makes sense and I think it is good business to buy these horses that are reared in probably the best environment in the world." – NZ Racing Desk

KARAKA 2019 SCHEDULE

Karaka Million Twilight Meeting: Saturday 26 January

Book 1: Sunday 27 January – Wednesday 30 January

Book 2: Thursday 31 February – Friday 1 February

Book 3: Sunday 3 February

www.nzb.co.nz.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
Amelia’s Jewel Family Produces Wootton Bassett 2YO SW
Wootton Bassett (GB) added yet another new two year old stakes-winner to his tally overnight in Ireland with the Group III Silver Flash Stakes (7 ½ f) at Leopardstown going to a filly that is closely related to Aussie Group I winner Amelia’s Jewel.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
Carrazzo Melbourne 'Sport of Kings' Tax Talk
It gives Baumgartners great pleasure to announce that the Paul Carrazzo’s “Sport of Kings” horse tax talk returns to Inglis Melbourne on Wednesday 13 August.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 24
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 27
Here is the full list of 54 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.