The young guns will come out to play at Karaka 2020, with a new wave of exciting young stallions set to make a massive impact.
This year’s Sale will showcase an especially high number of first season sires, with 25 featuring in the catalogue for Book 1 alone. This exciting crop of youngsters will be out in force with both quantity and quality.
Eleven of those stand at stud in New Zealand, and Karaka 2020 provides unmatched access to their first crops of yearlings. The other 14 new stallions in Book 1 are embarking on exciting stud careers across the Tasman.
AMERICAN PHAROAH
Coolmore shuttler American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) made history in 2015, becoming the first horse in 37 years to win America’s famed Triple Crown. The 2015 American Horse of the Year and 2014 Champion Juvenile later added the Group One Breeders’ Cup Classic (2000m), an unprecedented achievement dubbed ‘the Grand Slam’.
American Pharoah’s yearlings have sold for massive amounts in the northern hemisphere, including a filly who fetched US$8.2 million at Keeneland in September of last year. It will be the first time yearlings by an American Triple Crown winner will be offered at Karaka.
There are eight American Pharoah yearlings in the Book 1 catalogue, including Lot 189, the progeny of stakes winner Posavina (NZ) (Tiger Hill), Lot 297 out of Soubrettes (NZ) (High Chaparral) and Lot 316 out of Group-placed mare Strada Cavallo (NZ) (Alamosa). Lot 598 is a half-brother to Group One placegetter and sire Savile Row (NZ) (Makfi).
ASTERN
Exciting young Darley stallion Astern (Medaglia d’Oro) is a half-brother to the multiple Group One winner Alizee (Sepoy), along with black-type performers Tassort (Brazen Beau) and Mogador (Lonhro).
Astern won five of his nine starts including a dominant performance in the Group One Golden Rose (1400m). He also won the Group Two Silver Slipper (1100m), Group Two Run to the Rose (1200m) and Group Three Kindergarten Stakes (1100m), and finished second in the famously ‘stallion-making’ Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Astern is the sire of 10 yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2020. Lot 7 is out of a half-sister to Group One winners Shamrocker (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn), while the dam of Lot 294 is a half-sister to Group One performers Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi) and Supera (NZ) (Savabeel).
BELARDO
Alphabetically, the first of the New Zealand-based newcomers is Belardo (Lope de Vega), who shuttles to Haunui Farm for a service fee of $12,000.
Belardo was a Group One winner as a two-year-old in the Dewhurst Stakes (1400m), then added the Lockinge Stakes (1600m) as a four-year-old to earn a Timeform rating of 126. He also ran second to champion American mare Tepin (Bernstein) in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot, and ran second to five-time Group One winner Solow (Singspiel) in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1600m).
Belardo is by Lope de Vega (Shamardal), the outstanding sire of more than 50 stakes winners including the sprint stars Santa Ana Lane and Vega Magic. Belardo is his only son at stud in Australasia.
Belardo’s dam, the Danehill mare Danaskaya, placed at Group One and Group Two level as a two-year-old in the UK.
Belardo is the sire of six yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2020. Lot 476 is out of the New Zealand Oaks winner Boundless (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy), while Lot 60 is a half-brother to stakes winner London Line (Blackfriars) and Lot 144 is a half-brother to this season’s stakes-performed two-year-old Ohio Showgirl (NZ) (Showcasing).
CAPITALIST
Capitalist (Written Tycoon), who stands at Newgate Farm, has attracted plenty of attention at stud through his brilliant victory in the Group One Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.
A quartet of his yearlings will be offered at Karaka, including Lot 118, who is a close relative to a number of stakes winners. Lot 373 is out of Uberalles (NZ) (Giant’s Causeway), a Group One-placed daughter of champion mare Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm).
PREFERMENT
Standing for $12,500 at Brighthill Farm, Preferment (NZ) is by the legendary Zabeel (NZ) (Sir Tristram), who has become an outstanding sire of sires – headed by the current champion Kiwi stallion Savabeel.
There are only three Group One-winning sons of Zabeel currently standing at stud in Australasia – Savabeel, Don Eduardo (NZ) and Preferment.
Preferment won the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) as a three-year-old, and he was voted champion stayer in Australia following a four-year-old season that featured Group One victories in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m), Australian Cup (2000m) and BMW (2400m).
Preferment defeated Group One-winning gallopers such as Hallowed Crown (Street Sense) and Awesome Rock (Fastnet Rock), who are embarking on their own stud careers in Australia.
Preferment’s brother to Rezoned (NZ) (Zabeel) won at Group Three level and is the dam of this season’s Group One MRC Thousand Guineas (1600m) placegetter Southbank (Fastnet Rock).
The Book 1 catalogue features 11 sons or daughters of Preferment.
Lot 87 is a half-sister to three stakes performers including the current Queensland cult hero The Candy Man (Casino Prince). Lot 503 is out of a half-sister to the Group Two winner Natalie Wood (NZ) (Yachtie), dam of Melbourne Cup placegetter Maluckyday (NZ) (Zabeel). Lot 591 is out of a full-sister to the Group One winner Age of Fire (Fastnet Rock).
PUCCINI
A multiple Group One-winning son of Encosta de Lago, Puccini (NZ) commands a $5,000 service fee at Mapperley Stud.
A champion sire himself, Encosta de Lago (Fairy King) is making his mark as a sire of sires. He is grandsire of Group One stars such as Golden Slipper heroine She Will Reign (Manhattain Rain) and Australian Guineas winner Mystic Journey (Needs Further).
Puccini is one of seven winners from six foals to race out of the Paris Opera mare Miss Opera (NZ). Two of that group were successful at Group One level. Sir Slick (NZ) (Volksraad) won a total of 22 races in his remarkable career, six of them at the elite level.
Miss Opera’s other successful foals include Mr Jinky (NZ) (Volksraad), who placed at Group Two level, and the Group Three performer and successful broodmare Shortblackmini (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe). She is the dam of Group Two winner Amarula (NZ) (Thorn Park), Group Three winner and Group One-placed Little Wonder (NZ) (Volksraad) and Group Two-placed Langkawi (NZ) (Helmet).
Puccini himself was New Zealand’s champion three-year-old in 2013-14, winning four stakes races including the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m). He returned as a four-year-old to win the Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m).
Puccini is the sire of Lot 126 at Karaka 2020, a half-brother to the stakes-placed Naval Fleet (NZ) (Declaration of War). The colt’s dam is a three-quarter-sister to Don Garcia (NZ) (Danehill), who was a million-dollar yearling at Karaka in 2005 and won at stakes level.
RAGEESE
Rageese (Street Cry) is one of a trio of new sires at Windsor Park Stud who will feature at Karaka 2020. His service fee is $5,000.
Windsor Park has been a nursery for terrific young stallions in recent seasons, claiming first season sire titles with Shamexpress (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) in the last two years.
Rageese is by Street Cry (Machiavellian), the sire of champion mares Winx and Zenyatta. He is also a successful sire of sires, with Per Incanto consistently ranking among the top three on New Zealand’s sire standings.
Rageese won four races including the Group Three L’Oreal Paris Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. He ran second to the highly rated young Australian stallion Pride of Dubai (Street Cry) in the Group One ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), beating another stallion prospect in Odyssey Moon (Snitzel).
Rageese descends from fourth dam Emancipation (Bletchingly), who was an Australian Horse of the Year and won six Group One races including the Doncaster Handicap (1600m) and George Main Stakes (1600m). The family also features the Group One winners Rumya (Red Ransom), Stratum Star (Stratum), Virage de Fortune (Anabaa) and Caulfield Cup winner Railings (Zabeel).
There are six Rageese yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2020. Lot 274 is a half-brother to stakes winner Flavigny (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) and well-performed Hong Kong sprinter Pingwu Spark (NZ) (Mastercraftsman), while Lot 354 is closely related to Rattan (NZ) (Savabeel), a Group One performer in Hong Kong. Lot 367 is out of the multiple Group One placegetter Trepidation (NZ) (Falkirk), and the dam of Lot 579 won at Group Two level in South Africa.
TARZINO
Standing at Westbury Stud for a fee of $15,000, Tarzino (NZ) is the first son of high-class stallion Tavistock (NZ) (Montjeu) to retire to stud.
Tarzino is closely related to the Group One winner Kindacross (NZ) (Cape Cross), the Group Two winner Respect (NZ) (Zabeel) and the Group One-placed Kind Return (NZ) (Zabeel).
On the racetrack, Tarzino collected four wins including the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
In the Rosehill Guineas, he defeated the subsequent multiple Group one winners Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock) and Jameka (Myboycharlie).
Tarzino was voted champion three-year-old in Australia in 2015-16, beating highly rated young stallions such as Exosphere (Lonhro), Spill the Beans (Snitzel) and Press Statement (Hinchinbrook).
Tarzino is represented in big numbers in Book 1, appearing as the sire of 20 yearlings.
Lot 39 is a half-sister to Singapore’s Champion 2YO of 2016, Lim’s Racer (NZ) (Red Giant).
The dam of Lot 179 is a three-quarter-sister to the dam of Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist (Monsun).
Lot 15 is out of a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj), the dam of Lot 47 is a half-sister to multiple Group One winner Lotteria (Redoute’s Choice), and the dam of Lot 112 is a half-sister to a Grade One-winning two-year-old in America.
TELPERION
A barn mate to Tarzino at Westbury Stud, Telperion (Street Cry) stands at a service fee of $5,000.
Telperion is a half-brother to Kementari (Lonhro), who won the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) and is beginning a stud career at Darley Australia for a fee of A$33,000.
Telperion is by Street Cry (Machiavellian), the sire of champion mares Winx and Zenyatta. He is also a successful sire of sires, with Per Incanto consistently ranking among the top three on New Zealand’s sire standings.
In a short racing career, Telperion won the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m), beating subsequent Group One winners Prized Icon (More than Ready) and Spright (Hinchinbrook). Prized Icon now stands at Kooringal Stud for A$11,000.
Telperion finished second to that season’s champion filly Yankee Rose (All American) in the Group One ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. He also finished fourth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) behind Capitalist (Written Tycoon), who commands a A$55,000 fee at Newgate Farm.
Among those behind him in that Golden Slipper were Star Turn (Star Witness), who stands for A$22,000 at Vinery Stud, Extreme Choice (Not a Single Doubt), whose fee at Newgate Farm is also A$22,000, Astern (Medaglia d’Oro), who commands A$33,000 at Darley, and Kiss and Make Up (More than Ready), an A$11,000 stallion at Aquis Farm.
Telperion has three yearlings entered for Book 1 of Karaka 2020. Lot 486 is a half-brother to the multiple Listed winner Global Thinking (So You Think), and Lot 502 is a half-brother to Ho Ho Khan (NZ) (Makfi), whose five wins include the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin. The colt’s dam is a half-sister to Group One winner Royal Descent (Redoute’s Choice).
TIVACI
Tivaci (High Chaparral) is the latest addition to the stallion roster at Waikato Stud, who have been leading vendors at Karaka for the last six years. Their headline stallion Savabeel (Zabeel) has become a dominant force on New Zealand racetracks and in the sale ring.
Tivaci is by High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells), whose outstanding sons So You Think (NZ) and Dundeel (NZ) have already followed up their racetrack heroics with multiple Group One successes at stud. Dundeel is the sire of Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth, last season’s dual Group One-winning New Zealand two-year-old Yourdeel (NZ), and Group One-winning Sydney two-year-old Castelvecchio.
From 21 career starts, Tivaci won six including the Group One All-Aged Stakes (1400m) in Sydney. He is the only son of High Chaparral to win a Group One race at a distance shorter than 1600m.
Among the horses he defeated during his high-class career were the Group One winners Le Romain (Hard Spun), Redkirk Warrior (Notnowcato), English (Encosta de Lago) and Palentino (Teofilo).
A weanling from Tivaci’s first crop fetched $95,000 at the Karaka May Sale, the highest price of the weanling session.
Tivaci has 46 yearlings on offer at Karaka 2020. Lot 241 is outstandingly bred, being a half-brother to the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) and Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) winner Grunt (NZ) (O’Reilly). The colt’s dam is a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner and exciting young sire Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park).
Lot 336 is a half-brother to two Group One winners – the Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins), and last month’s New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) heroine Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice).
Lot 625 is a half-brother to two stakes performers including two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins).
Lots 92, 175, 287, 632 and 654 are also half-siblings to stakes winners, while Lots 40 and 560 are sons or daughters of stakes winners.
TURN ME LOOSE
The second of the Windsor Park Stud rookies is Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj). His service fee is $15,000.
Turn Me Loose is one of only two sons of Iffraaj (Zafonic) at stud in New Zealand, and the only one with foals on the ground. Another of his Group One-winning sons, Ribchester, commands a service fee of A$22,000 in Australia.
The winner of the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) as a three-year-old, Turn Me Loose later proved himself against Australia’s best with brilliant Group One victories in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m). He was New Zealand’s champion sprinter and middle-distance horse in 2015-16.
Turn Me Loose beat such horses as Stratum Star (Stratum), Scissor Kick (Redoute’s Choice) and Trust in a Gust (Keep the Faith), who stand at stud in Australia.
His first three damsires are the legendary Danehill (Danzig), Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer) and Shirley Heights (Mill Reef).
Turn Me Loose has 56 Lots catalogued for Karaka 2020.
Lot 38 is out of Lady Kipling (NZ) (Savabeel), a multiple Group Two winner who also placed at Group One level four times.
Lot 48 is a half-sister to two Group performers, while Lot 53 is out of Let Me Roar (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), a Group Two-placed half-sister to multiple Group One winner Lion Tamer (NZ) (Storming Home).
The dam of Lot 167 is the unraced Street Cry mare Peace Cry, a daughter of the multiple Group One winner Keep The Peace (NZ) (Keeper). The dam of Lot 197 is a Snitzel mare whose half-sister Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock) won the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
Lot 221 is out of a three-quarter-sister to Group One winner Royal Descent (Redoute’s Choice).
VADAMOS
Rich Hill Stud’s member of the new-stallion brigade is Vadamos (Monsun), whose service fee is $15,000.
Vadamos is by Monsun, the sire of 2013 Melbourne Cup winner and sire Fiorente, 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist and 2016 Melbourne Cup winner Almandin.
Vadamos is a half-brother to the stakes winner Volfango (Dutch Art), and to the dam of Group winner Tornibush (Dream Ahead).
The dam of Vadamos is a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner and sire Valixir (Trempolino).
Vadamos won eight races including the Group One Prix du Moulin (1600m), two Group Two races and a Group Three. He placed in the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m) and was fourth in the Group one Cox Plate (2040m) and Emirates Stakes (2000m).
There are 46 progeny of Vadamos catalogued in Books 1, 2 and 3.
Lot 43 is out of Lafleur (NZ) (Zabeel), a multiple Group Two winner who has produced six winners from seven foals to race including two stakes winners.
Lot 312 is a half-brother to three stakes winners, while Lots 103 and 168 are half-brothers to two stakes performers apiece.
Lot 262 is out of multiple Group One winner Say No More (NZ) (Pentire).
The dam of Lot 169 is a full-sister to Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire). Lot 129 is out of a half-sister to Singapore Derby winner Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock), and Lots 30 and 271 are closely related to Group One winners (King) Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire) and (The) Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux).
VANBRUGH
Completing the Windsor Park trio is Vanbrugh (Encosta de Lago), who stands for a $5,000 service fee.
Vanbrugh’s sire Encosta de Lago (Fairy King) has been a champion sire and is making his mark as a sire of sires. He is grandsire of Group One stars such as Golden Slipper heroine She Will Reign (Manhattain Rain) and Australian Guineas winner Mystic Journey (Needs Further).
On the maternal side, Vanbrugh’s dam is one of 11 winners from the Centaine mare Professionelle. Four of those won at stakes level, including four-time Group Two winner Sportsman (Supremo).
The high point of Vanbrugh’s career came with his victory in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), which has been a springboard to enormously successful stud careers in the last 20 years for the likes of Savabeel (Zabeel) and Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral), along with promising young sires such as Complacent (Authorized) and Hampton Court (Redoute’s Choice).
Vanbrugh also won the Group Three Coongy Handicap (2000m), beating the subsequent Group One Doncaster Handicap (1600m) and multiple Group Two winner It’s Somewhat (Dynaformer).
Vanbrugh is the sire of four Lots offered at Karaka 2020. Lot 656 is a half-brother to Helena Baby (NZ) (Guillotine), who won this year’s Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) and placed behind superstar Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in the Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m).
WROTE
The last of the New Zealand-based first season sires featuring in Book 1 is Wrote (High Chaparral), who stands at Highview for $5,000.
Wrote has made an exciting start to his stud career in the northern hemisphere, siring 22 winners from 43 runners in his first two crops including the stakes-placed High Providence.
Wrote is by High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells), whose outstanding sons So You Think (NZ) and Dundeel (NZ) have already followed up their racetrack heroics with multiple Group One successes at stud. Dundeel is the sire of Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth, last season’s dual Group One-winning New Zealand two-year-old Yourdeel (NZ), and Group One-winning Sydney two-year-old Castelvecchio.
Wrote comes from the same family as legendary sires Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer) and Nureyev (Northern Dancer), along with Encosta de Lago’s sire Fairy King (Northern Dancer) and top-class Hong Kong gallopers Time Warp (Archipenko) and Glorious Forever (Archipenko).
While High Chaparral is best known for his feats with progeny aged three and older, Wrote showed exceptional early talent with his win in the Group One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (1600m).
Wrote is the sire of Lot 624 in Book 1, who is a half-brother to the dam of this year’s Group One Schweppes Oaks (2000m) winner Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral).
Other Australian-based first season sires to feature in Book 1 include Group One winners Divine Prophet (Choisir), Extreme Choice (Not a Single Doubt), Flying Artie (Artie Schiller), Frosted (Tapit), Maurice (Screen Hero), Mikki Isle (Deep Impact), Territories (Invincible Spirit) and Xtravagant (NZ) (Pentire).
KARAKA 2020 SCHEDULE
Karaka Million Twilight Meeting: Saturday 25 January
Book 1: Sunday 26 January – Tuesday 28 January
Book 2: Wednesday 29 January – Friday 31 January
Book 3: Friday 31 January
You can request catalogues by emailing reception@nzb.co.nz or view them online. For news and sales information from NZB visit www.nzb.co.nz.
