Siblings to the Stars Offered at Karaka 2023

The New Zealand thoroughbred industry celebrated a triumph in one of the world’s richest races this spring, capturing the A$10m Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill with the ultra-impressive I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel).  

The enormously talented four-year-old unleashed a withering finish out of midfield, edging out Fangirl (Sebring) and Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino) in a thrilling finish to the four-year-old feature.

Previously a multiple Group One placegetter in New Zealand, I Wish I Win has won three of his four starts in Australia and has amassed more than A$5.6m through his 13-start career for breeders and part-owners Waikato Stud.

Waikato Stud will offer the Golden Eagle hero’s half-brother during Book 1 of Karaka 2023. Lot 328 is a colt by Ocean Park (NZ) out of Make A Wish (NZ) (Pins), who is the dam of five winners from seven foals to race. Another of Make A Wish’s progeny is this colt’s full-sister Another Dollar (NZ) (Ocean Park), a Group Three winner in Brisbane and placegetter in the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m).

WFA Warhorses

New Zealand has been renowned for decades for producing horses capable of excelling in elite weight-for-age races over a mile to a middle-distance, and the spring of 2022 has produced more of the same. 

One of the headline acts has been I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking), who had already risen to prominence with his victory in last year’s Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m) and Golden Eagle (1500m), backed up by placings in the likes of the Group One Doncaster Mile (1600m) and A$5m All-Star Mile (1600m).

The five-year-old has successfully switched to weight-for-age this spring, winning the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and running second in the Cox Plate (2000m), Might And Power Stakes (2000m) and Memsie Stakes (1400m). Overall, he has earned more than A$8.1m in a 20-start career that has produced seven wins and seven placings.

Epona Park’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2023 includes Lot 437 – a half-brother to I’m Thunderstruck by Ocean Park.

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) was another to make the difficult transition from handicaps to weight-for-age over the last few months. A brilliant winner of the Doncaster Mile in the autumn, the lightly raced five-year-old kicked off the spring with superb back-to-back victories in the Group Two PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and Group Two Feehan Stakes (1600m). Close up in the Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m), Might And Power Stakes and Cox Plate, he closed out his spring campaign with a close third in the Group One Champions Mile (1600m). He has won nine of his 19 starts and more than A$3.3m.

Lot 310 in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, consigned by Landsdowne Park, is a half-sister to Mr Brightside by leading Kiwi sire Darci Brahma (NZ).

Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) began the season as already a proven star of the racetrack and valuable stallion prospect, having won five races including the Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) as a three-year-old and the Group One Winx Stakes (1400m) as an early spring four-year-old. 

He has yet to win during his five-year-old season, but measured up against elite opposition with placings in the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes, Underwood Stakes and Champions Stakes (2000m). He has earned over A$2.8m and is worth significantly more.

Waikato Stud bred Mo’unga and offered him at Karaka 2019, where he was bought by Aquis Farm for $325,000. Waikato’s draft of 2023 includes Lot 91 – Mo’unga’s half-brother by first-season sire Super Seth, who won the Caulfield Guineas (1600m). Lot 77, a Savabeel colt in the same draft, is also a close relative to Mo’unga.

Across the Tasman, one of the standouts of the New Zealand spring has been Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh). A one-win horse at the start of the season, the four-year-old has added three wins from five starts as a four-year-old including a five-length romp in the Group One Livamol Classic (2040m). She also won the Group Three Metric Mile (1600m) and was a strong-finishing second in the Group One Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m).

Mustang Valley is a half-sister to Lot 116, a Darci Brahma filly being offered by Windsor Park Stud at Karaka 2023.

Hundreds of Highlights

The pages of the Karaka 2023 catalogues are soaked with black type, with dozens of other siblings to Group One winners including:

• Lot 323, a full-brother to Group One winner and rookie Waikato Stud stallion Noverre (NZ) (Savabeel). Himself bred by Waikato Stud, who sold him to Te Akau’s David Ellis for $800,000 at Karaka 2020, Noverre won three races in an injury-curtailed career – including a stunning last-to-first performance in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in what proved to be his final start. Noverre is the only foal to race out of this colt’s dam, Magic Dancer (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), who herself won at Group Three level as a two-year-old. 
• Haunui Farm’s Pierro filly, catalogued as Lot 344. She is a half-sister to Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), who set a new New Zealand record with no fewer than 14 victories at Group One level. Bought by David Ellis for $57,500 from Karaka 2016, Melody Belle was a two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year and earned more than $4.2m. This filly is also a half-sister to multiple Listed winner Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock) and also Exaltation (Not A Single Doubt), who sold for $560,000 as a broodmare prospect on Gavelhouse Plus.
• Lot 107, a Savabeel colt out of Cool ‘n’ Sassy (Testa Rossa) from the draft of Hallmark Stud. Cool ‘n’ Sassy’s only foal to race is this colt’s full-brother Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), who won the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) and the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and now stands at Newhaven Park in New South Wales.
• Phoenix Park offers Lot 168, a colt by Sweynesse out of Extra Explosive (NZ) (Ekraar). This colt is a half-brother to Group One Australian Derby (2400m) and South Australian Derby (2500m) hero Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry), as well as Hong Kong’s 2017-18 Champion Griffin Pick Number One (NZ) (Darci Brahma).
• Lot 242, a Turn Me Loose (NZ) colt from the draft of Wentwood Grange, is a half-brother to five winners including multiple Group One winner and sire Kermadec (NZ) (Teofilo).
• Lot 477 is a Brighthill Farm colt by Lonhro out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Sabia. As well as being a full-sister to Group One winner Saddex (Sadler’s Wells), Sabia is the dam of dual Group One winner Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel).

There are also half-siblings to the likes of Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec), Excelida (Exceed And Excel), Nicoletta (NZ) (Savabeel), Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor), Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City), Subpoenaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), Aloisia (NZ) (Azamour), Madison County (NZ) (Pins), Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) and Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly).

Other notable pedigrees in Book 1 include:

• Lot 6 is a half-brother to two Group performers in Australia – dual Group Three winner Gunstock (NZ) (Tavistock) and Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) placegetter The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock). 
• Lot 15 is a Savabeel colt out of a Lonhro mare who won at Listed level in the United States and is also a half-sister to three other stakes winners.
• Lot 33 is out of a winning Redoute’s Choice mare who is a three-quarter-sister to superstar sire Not A Single Doubt and multiple Group One-winning stallion prospect King’s Legacy.
• Lot 36 is a filly by So You Think (NZ) out of Listed Ottawa Stakes (1000m) winner Applegate (Exceed And Excel), who is the dam of four winners including Cloudy (Frosted) at Group Three level.
• Lot 41, a Pierro colt from the draft of Windsor Park Stud, is the first foal out of Group Two winner and multiple Group One placegetter Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit).
• Lot 50 is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man).
• Lot 53 is a sibling to four black-type performers including Group One winner Pondarosa Miss (NZ) (High Chaparral) and million-dollar earner Ecuador (NZ) (High Chaparral). He is also closely related to multiple Group One-winning star racehorse Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).
• Lot 59 is a Savabeel colt out of a full-sister to Group One winner and sire Merchant Navy, as well as fellow stakes winners Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock) and Setanta (Fastnet Rock).
• Lot 73 is a filly by Russian Revolution out of a half-sister to Australian Derby (2400m) winner Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock). Another of Tavago’s sisters features as the dam of Lot 566, a colt by So You Think (NZ).
• Lot 83 is a Lonhro filly out of a three-quarter-sister to champion racehorse and elite sire So You Think (NZ).
• Lot 109 is a Turn Me Loose (NZ) half-sister to the highly talented nine-race winner Weona Smartone (NZ) (Shamexpress).
• The Justify colt catalogued as Lot 120 is a half-brother to Group One performer Meritable (Snitzel) and closely related to the likes of sires Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, Al Maher and Rubick.
• Lot 123 is a Super Seth colt out of multiple Group One winner Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed), who is the dam of three stakes performers.
• Pencarrow Stud presents Lot 145, a Written Tycoon colt out of Dolmabache (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) – a Group Two-winning mare from the elite family of the likes of Darci Brahma (NZ), Burgundy (NZ) and champion staying mare Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm).
• Lot 182 is a filly by American Pharoah out of a three-quarter-sister to triple Group One winner Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel).
• Lot 221 is a colt by champion sire Snitzel out of Group One-winning sprinter Guiseppina (NZ) (Johar).
• Castle Hill farm’s Reliable Man filly, catalogued as Lot 250, is a three-quarter-sister to Group One winner Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man).
• Lot 336 is a colt by Almanzor out of a Group Three-placed mare who is a three-quarter-sister to well-performed sire Commands, from the outstanding Eight Carat family.
• Lot 418, a Justify filly, is out of a Group Two-placed half-sister to Group One winner and sire Foxwedge.
• Lot 510 is an Almanzor filly out of four-time Group One winner Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar), who is the dam of multiple stakes winners Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and House Of Cartier (Alamosa).
• Another filly by Justify, Lot 608, is out of the multiple Group Three winner and Group One Golden Slipper (1200m) placegetter Tulip (Pierro).

Book 1 of Karaka 2023 will run from 29 to 31 January, followed by Book 2 from 1 to 3 February. Selling will start at 11am each day.

International buyers wishing to physically attend the Sale can enquire about accommodation options by emailing Dorian.Kos@nzb.co.nz or travel@nzb.co.nz.

Online bidding is available for all prospective purchasers via bidonline.nzb.co.nz, plus an extensive online catalogue that will host pedigrees, parade videos and photos, updates and important information to assist your buying decisions.

The catalogues for Karaka 2023 can be viewed online here.

Important Dates

• 2023 Karaka Million Twilight Meeting – Saturday 21 January
• Book 1 Sale – Sunday 29 January to Tuesday 31 January
• Book 2 Sale – Wednesday 1 February to Friday 3 February