Karaka 2017 will showcase the first yearling crops of 18 exciting new sires from throughout Australasia.
Camelot retired to Coolmore Stud as one of the Irish powerhouse's finest racetrack flag-bearers, winning six of his 10 starts including the Group 1 English Derby, Irish Derby, English 2000 Guineas and Racing Post Trophy. He commands a service fee of 35,000 euros in Ireland, and he formerly shuttled to Coolmore's Australian base.
Camelot will be represented by 10 yearlings at Karaka 2017, with seven in the Premier session and three in Select. They include:
- A colt out of the Zabeel mare Imposingly, making him a half-brother to stakes winners Full Of Spirit, Lady Cumquat and Imposing Lass (Lot 207).
- A filly out of a half-sister to the dam of this season's 2000 Guineas winner Ugo Foscolo (Lot 79).
Dawn Approach was another star racetrack performer, winning eight races including the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas, Dewhurst Stakes, National Stakes and St James's Palace Stakes. He shuttles to Darley Australia.
The son of New Approach has five progeny catalogued for Karaka, including:
- A close relative to the recent Singapore Gold Cup winner Bahana (Lot 183).
- A colt from the family of five-time Group 1 winner Fame And Glory (Lot 406).
Declaration of War is a son of War Front and the Rahy mare Tempo West. He won seven races including the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and Juddmonte International Stakes. He shuttles to Coolmore Australia.
The six yearlings by Declaration of War at Karaka 2017 include:
- A half-brother to the Group 1-winning sprinter Velocitea (Lot 88).
- A colt out of a half-sister to the top-class galloper Zirna (Lot 253).
Arrowfield Stud stallion Dundeel had a massive following in New Zealand throughout his racing career, being bred, owned and trained in this country. The son of High Chaparral won 10 races including six Group 1 events. He won Sydney's three-year-old Triple Crown of the Randwick Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and Australian Guineas.
There are 10 Dundeel yearlings catalogued for Karaka, nine of them in the Premier session. They include:
- A colt out of the Storm Cat mare Driven Snow, who is a daughter of three-time Grade 1 winner Wandesta (Lot 139).
- A colt from the same family as Group 1 winners Assertive Lad and Assertive Lass (Lot 52).
- A filly out of Listed winner Miss Pageantry (Lot 290).
Darley Australia stallion Epaulette is a half-brother to the multiple Group 1 winner Helmet as well as stakes winners Pearls and Bullbars. Epaulette won five races including the Doomben 10,000 and Golden Rose.
There are six of Epaulette's progeny catalogued for Karaka 2017, including:
- A close relative to the stakes-winning sprinter Martini Red (Lot 140).
- A filly from the family of Group 1 winners Wrap Around and Fashions Afield (Lot 382).
Eurozone defeated Australian Horse of the Year Dissident in the Listed Rosebud Handicap, Criterion in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes, and ran second to the talented Shamus Award in the Group1 CF Orr Stakes. Eurozone's first crop of yearlings will hit the racetracks in the 2017/2018 season. Standing at Newgate Farm, the son of Northern Meteor has two yearlings in the Select Sale.
Haunui Farm's Ferlax is by Pentire, who had a special season in 2015-16 with Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance and New Zealand's champion thee-year-old Xtravagant. Ferlax was himself an elite performer on the racetrack, winning the Australian Guineas in 2013. He also finished second to the champion mare Atlantic Jewel in the Memsie Stakes.
Ferlax has 24 yearlings catalogued for Karaka 2017, including:
- A filly out of a three-quarter sister to dual Group 2 winner Abidewithme (Lot 593).
- A colt from the same family as recent Group 3 winner Sweet Redemption (Lot 847).
- A half-brother to the stakes-placed Karaka Million prospect Oscar Eight (Lot 1114).
Fighting Sun is by the ill-fated Northern Meteor out of Group 1-winning mare Irish Darling. He started just twice in his racing career but won on both occasions, one at Listed level.
Fighting Sun has two progeny catalogued for Karaka 2017 including:
- A half-sister to South African Group Two winner New Predator (Lot 196).
Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente is by Monsun, who has stamped his name on Australia's most famous race with three winners in the last four years. Fiorente won six races, including the 2013 Melbourne Cup and four months later the Australian Cup.
Fiorente will have three yearlings go through the ring at Karaka 2017, all in the Premier session. They include:
- Lot 163, whose second dam is the Coolmore Classic winner Shindig.
- A filly from the same family as champion sire Storm Cat (Lot 276).
Novara Park's Jakkalberry is by Storming Home and is a half-brother to four stakes winners including the Group 1 winners Crackerjack King and Awelmarduk.
Jakkalberry was a top-class racehorse in his own right, winning 12 races including the Group 1 Gran Premio di Milano and four other stakes events. He also ran third to Green Moon and Fiorente in the 2012 Melbourne Cup, as well as placing in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Derby Italiano.
Jakkalberry's first crop of Karaka yearlings includes:
- A half-brother to the Melbourne Cup and Victoria Derby winner Efficient (Lot 366).
- A three-quarter brother to the Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer (Lot 259).
Windsor Park Stud's Shamexpress is by O'Reilly out of Volkrose, a half-sister to the Group 1-placed O'Reilly Rose. Shamexpress won the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap in 2013 and placed in another three Group 1 sprints.
Shamexpress has 19 yearlings catalogued for the Premier session, which is the most of any first season sire this year. They include:
- Lot 356, a half-sister to the Singapore star Debt Collector.
- A white colt out of The Opera House (Lot 449).
Shamus Award rose to stardom with his surprise win in the Cox Plate as a maiden three-year-old in 2013. He later added the Australian Guineas, while his eight minor placings included the Caulfield Guineas and CF Orr Stakes.
The son of Snitzel will be represented by four Karaka yearlings – two each in the Premier and Select sessions. They include:
- A close relative to stakes winners Fire In The Night and Hooked (Lot 87).
- A colt from the family of Australian super mare Typhoon Tracy (Lot 201).
Another son of Snitzel is Sizzling , whose dam is the stakes-placed General Nediym mare Admirelle. Sizzling won seven races including five at stakes level. Five Sizzling yearlings will be sold at Karaka – four in the Select Sale and one in the Premier. They include:
- A close relative to stakes winners Furnaces, Cloister, Melito and Shikoba (Lot 72).
- A filly from the family of Breeders' Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup winner Pleasantly Perfect (Lot 677).
Spirit of Boom was a dual Group 1 winner who won the William Reid Stakes and Doomben 10,000. He won nine races in total, five at stakes level, earning over A$2.4m in prizemoney. His oldest progeny will be two-year-olds in 2017/2018. He has two yearlings catalogued in the Select Sale.
Standing at Highview Stud is Sweet Orange the 4-time winner including the Listed Hong Kong Classic Mile, Hong Kong Rachorse Owners Handicap, and the Group 3 Hong Kong Classic Cup. A total of seven Sweet Orange yearlings will be offered at Karaka 2017 at the Select and Festival Sales.
The Factor was a blisteringly fast sprinter in the United States, clocking 1:06.98 for 1200 metres. The son of War Front won six of his 13 starts including the Group 1 Malibu Stakes and Pat O'Brien Stakes.
The Factor has already sired 11 winners in his first northern hemisphere crop including the Grade 1 winner Noted And Quoted. Five of The Factor's first southern hemisphere yearlings will go under the hammer at Karaka. They include:
- A colt from the family of Golden Slipper winner and sire Catbird (Lot 407).
- A filly from the family of Glorious Days, Black Mamba and Tully Thunder (Lot 822).
Australian-based stallion Unencumbered . A leading two-year-old cost in Australia with earnings of over A$1.9m, he retired sound after 10 career starts for five wins – including two at Listed level and one at Group 3 level. He has two yearlings to go through the Select Sale.
Completing the line-up of freshman sires is Zoustar . Another son Northern Meteor, Zoustar is out of the Redoute's Choice mare Zouzou. Zoustar won six races including the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
He will be represented by three yearlings at Karaka, all in the Premier session, including:
- A colt out of the dual stakes winner Misstrum (Lot 294).
- A filly out of the Group 3 winner Petty Cury (Lot 335).
NZB's National Yearling Sales Series will take place from 30 January – 5 February at Karaka. The catalogues can be viewed online or can be requested from reception@nzb.co.nz.
