Accolades Flow for NZB’s Top Flight Performers

Media Release - Thursday August 18

As each season passes, New Zealand-bred and sold horses continue to rapidly climb the world’s thoroughbred racing ranks. 

These results are a culmination of enviable bloodlines, New Zealand’s lush natural environment, and expert kiwi horsemen and women who know what it takes to raise and educate champions.

Last season alone, NZB graduates were victorious in 21 Group One races and 99 stakes races over multiple racing jurisdictions.

The Group One class of the 2021-22 season paints a picture of dominance, endurance and versatility that Karaka graduates are renowned for.

Asterix wins the NZ Derby.

With the likes of classic Derby winners Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock), Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino) and Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock), two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year winner Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro), as well as sprinters Sky Field (Deep field) and Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto), NZB graduates continue to punch well above their weight, despite only representing a small percentage of the global racing population.

Advertisement

Here is a seasonal review of NZB’s prolific graduate success and wrap of kiwi-bred performances.


Graduate Overview

  • In the last five seasons, NZB graduates have claimed 124 Group One wins and 568 stakes wins.


Australian Spoils 

  • New Zealand-bred horses won 22% of all Australian Group One races while making up just 7.8% of the racing population. Plus a total of 45 New Zealand-bred Group winners won 58 Group races in Australia last season. 
  • During the 2021-22 season, New Zealand-bred horses claimed 16 Group One races and 71 stakes races in Australia, earning on average 47% more than Australian-breds.
  • In the past two seasons, New Zealand horses have dominated Group One Derby races in Australia, claiming 75% of the iconic features.


Australasian Turf

  • Seven out of the last ten Group One Derbys run in Australasia have been won by New Zealand-breds.
  • Fillies bred in New Zealand won 43% of all Group One Oaks races in Australasia over the past three seasons.
 

Hong Kong Heroes 

  • In the last five seasons, NZB has been the number one source for Group One winners on Hong Kong's International Raceday. Graduates have claimed 40% of all feature races, more than any other sales company in the world.
  • 38% of all Group One winners in Hong Kong in the last four seasons were sourced at Karaka.
  • Champion racehorse and NZB Ready to Run Sale graduate Golden Sixty has earned over HK$113m, 75 times his initial NZ$300,000 (HK$1.5m) purchase price at Karaka.
  • In the entire history of the Hong Kong Derby, New Zealand horses have been the number one source of winners.


Worldwide Marvels

  • Specialist milers, New Zealand-breds have won seven of the last ten Stewards' Cups in Singapore.
  • New Zealand thoroughbreds have dominated the feature 4YO races in Singapore, accounting for 55% of the wins in the current 10 seasons.
  • Karaka 2019 graduate Cheers Brothers (Deepfield) recorded a sixth win of his 11 start career, after his victory in the 2022 Macau Derby took his prizemoney earnings to more than MOP$1.9 million.


Not only do NZB’s horses punch well above their weight, but their world-renowned Karaka Sales Centre and buying experience is also what differentiates the sales company from others.

Domestic and international buyers flock to Karaka each year, both digitally and physically, to secure not only the blueblood pedigrees, value and exceptional types on offer, but also to enjoy the warm welcome and outstanding kiwi hospitality.

After another outstanding season on the turf, NZB is looking forward to welcoming its clients back to Karaka for the upcoming sales season.


Sale Calendar

2022 Ready to Run Sale

  • Breeze Ups: 3 & 4 October at Te Rapa
  • Sale of 2YOs: 16 & 17 November at Karaka


Karaka 2023

  • Book 1 Sale: 29 – 31 January at Karaka
  • Book 2 Sale: 1 – 3 February at Karaka
  • Karaka Million Twilight Meeting: 23 January at Pukekohe Park
Advertisment
More Reading...
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Strong Trade Continues at Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale
Strong trade continued on the fourth day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale with an interesting horse set to join the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald stable as turnover has already soared to be the second highest in the sale’s history with the fifth and final session still to come. 
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Depth aplenty in November (Early) Online Sale
The dam of and a sister to G1 sprinter Oscar’s Fortune, mares in foal on desirable covers and an unreserved dispersal from a respected bloodstock operator are among the highlights of the Inglis Digital November (Early) Online Sale.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
More Aussie Purchases at Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale Day 3
Strong trade continued on the third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale headed by the two-year-old LA BELLOTA at 425,000 guineas with eight lots realising 200,000 guineas or more and a clearance rate above 90%.
Flightline and Cogburn Shares Highlight Inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale
Stallion shares in Horse of the Year and exciting young sire Flightline and also Widden Stud's new shuttle prospect Cogburn changed hands at the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale.