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"The best week in the sales calendar", advocates Tom Magnier, a regular visitor and purchaser at Karaka’s National Yearling Sale

THERE WAS NO RESTING on laurels for New Zealand Bloodstock after November’s record-shattering Ready to Run Sale. Instead, the release of the catalogues for Karaka 2024 has launched the countdown to the pinnacle event on the sales calendar.

The 98th National Yearling Sales Series will take place at Karaka from Sunday, 28th January to Friday, 2nd February. The catalogues, which are now available to view online, contain an exceptional selection of 682 yearlings in Book 1 and another 442 in Book 2.

The National Yearling Sales Series is New Zealand Bloodstock’s flagship event and has launched the careers of countless racetrack stars in recent years.

In a season for the ages, Karaka graduates dominated the Group 1 races with a staggering haul across Australasia last season.

The triple Group 1 winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart (Redwood) won the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Sydney in the spring, followed by an elite summer double on home soil in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and the New Zealand Derby (2400m).

The $55,000 Book 2 purchase earned more than $3 million during his three-year-old season and was named New Zealand’s Horse of the Year.

Molly Bloom returns to scale following her NZ 1000 Guineas win.

Sensational three-year-old fillies Legarto (Proisir) and Prowess (Proisir) each recorded Group 1 wins on both sides of the Tasman Sea – Legarto in the 1600m New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the Australian Guineas, and Prowess in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m) and the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).

The momentum of Karaka graduates and Kiwi horses has continued into the spring of 2023, with additional elite-level successes for Ladies Man (Zed) in the Livamol Classic (2040m), Atishu (Savabeel) in the A$3m Champions Stakes (2000m), and Molly Bloom (Ace High) in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

Catalogue full of black-type

The catalogues for Karaka 2024 are loaded with well-credential candidates to follow in some of those famous footsteps. The pedigree pages are saturated with black-type, featuring plenty of progeny of stakes-winning mares and dozens of siblings to top-class performers.

There are siblings to Group 1 superstars such as Prowess, Lucia Valentina (Savabeel), Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj), Pennyweka (Satono Aladdin), Affaire A Suivre (Astern), Seabrook (Hinchinbrook), Sierra Sue (Darci Brahma), Ruthless Dame (Tavistock) and Manzoice (Almanzor), along with exciting up-and-comers like Coeur Volante (Proisir) and the stakes-winning unbeaten New Zealand two-year-old Velocious (Written Tycoon).

The stage will be set for the TAB Karaka Millions race day at Ellerslie

The Book 1 catalogue also features the first foals out of Group 1-performed mares Miss Sentimental (Reliable Man), Rondinella (Ocean Park), Evalina (I Am Invincible), Bargain (Ocean Park) and Bavella (Snitzel).

Over 100 sires are represented in the catalogues from big names such as Savabeel, Proisir, I Am Invincible, Justify, Almanzor, Per Incanto, Ocean Park and Snitzel to a big line up of first-season stallions with New Zealand-based Hello Youmzain, Circus Maximus, King Of Comedy, Banquo, Admire Mars and Ancient Spirit to debut.

Coolmore Australia’s Tom Magnier confirms the status of the sale as a must-attend event.

“You have to take this sale seriously every year because there is always a champion that comes out,” states Magnier.

“There’s nowhere in the world that looks after you like New Zealand, the hospitality is fantastic from every farm.

“Without a doubt, it is the best week on the sales calendar anywhere in the world.”

NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook is looking forward to the annual yearling harvest.

“After the record-breaking sale last week, we are looking forward to seeing that momentum roll into Karaka 2024.

“The catalogues are the biggest numbers we’ve had in years and the quality of the pedigrees and types on offer easily matches it.

“We are buoyed by the demand for our Kiwi horses and our team will be busy in the coming months promoting the sale and getting the best possible buying bench established.”

NZB invites you to join them at Karaka 2024 to experience an atmosphere like no other. The welcome will be warm, the drinks will be cold, and the thoroughbreds will be exquisite.

Experience NZB for the perfect blend of horses, people and place, while securing yourself the next generation of kiwi talent at Karaka 2024.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

January 27: 2024 Karaka Millions Twilight Meeting

Book 1: Lot 1 – 682

Day 1: Sunday, January 28 Lot 1-240 from 10am (NZT)

Day 2: Monday, January 29 Lot 241-480 from 10am

Day 3: Tuesday, January 30 Lot 481-682 from 10am

Book 2: Lot 683 – 1125

Day 1: Wednesday, January 31 Lot 683-800 from 11am

Day 2: Thursday, February 1 Lot 801-970 from 11am

Day 3: Friday, February 2 Lot 971-1125 from 11am