Karaka will burst to life in January, showcasing the finest thoroughbred horseflesh, paired with world class service and the best of kiwi hospitality. A combined 1347 yearlings are catalogued to be sold across six days in the Premier, Select and Festival Sales, commencing on Monday 30 January 2017.
The PREMIER SALE presents the very best the New Zealand industry has to offer. The centrepiece of the week, it features some of the world's finest pedigrees and the progeny of a host of global powerhouse sires. Last year the Premier Sale featured the first yearling by the legendary Frankel to be sold at auction in the Southern Hemisphere, with the colt topping the Sale at $1.3 million. There are 465 yearlings entered for the Karaka 2017 Premier Sale, including another son of Frankel. The Sale will be conducted on Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 January.
The SELECT SALE has become an elite session in its own right, the source of this season's Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto) along with two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor). It produced a total of five Group 1 winners last season, including Victoria Derby winner Tarzino (NZ) (Tavistock) and New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year and Australian Oaks heroine Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi). This year's Select Sale has 640 yearlings catalogued and will run from Wednesday 1 to Friday 3 February.
The FESTIVAL SALE has produced the likes of Group 1 winners Gaultier (NZ) (Rios) and Iamishwara (NZ) (Keeninsky) in recent seasons, with Gaultier going on to perform successfully in Hong Kong under the name Simply Invincible. There are 240 yearlings catalogued for this year's Festival Sale, which will be held on Sunday 5 February.
Last season 20 Group 1 races were won by 15 individual Group 1 winning graduates of NZB's National Yearling Sales Series. These Karaka alumni captured some of the most coveted races in Australasia – the Melbourne Cup, Emirates Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Victorian Derby, Australian Derby and Australian Oaks.
The National Yearling Sales Series has been the source of 82 Group 1 wins in the past four seasons - the most of any auction house in Australasia.
The Premier Sale attracts the cream of the yearling crop with the Karaka 2017 edition boasting a catalogue stacked with world-class pedigrees. It features siblings to 133 stakes winners and the progeny of 91 stakes-winning mares.
NZB's National Yearling Sales Series offers an extensive selection of sires, both proven and young sires, from across the world. There are 127 sires represented in the catalogue, including 14 first season sires.
At Karaka 2017, all yearlings offered at the National Yearling Sales Series are eligible for the Karaka Million Series which now includes two $1 million races. This crop of yearlings will be racing for the $1 million Karaka Million in 2018, the $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic in 2019, plus the $100,000 Karaka Stayers Cup from 2020 and each year thereafter.
KARAKA 2017 SCHEDULE
- Karaka Million Twilight Meeting: Sunday 29 January
- Premier Sale: Monday 30 & Tuesday 31 January
- Select Sale: Wednesday 1 – Friday 3 February
- Festival Sale: Sunday 5 February
Catalogues are also now available on the free iPad application.
New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series catalogues can be requested from reception@nzb.co.nzor can be viewed online. For news and sales information from New Zealand Bloodstock visit www.nzb.co.nz.
