Big Guns Out to Play at Karaka 2015

Underpinning New Zealand Bloodstock’s Premier Sale (commencing 26 January) are large yearling drafts from a selection of vendors that account for a significant proportion of the Sale.

Premier Sale 26 & 27 January

The three biggest drafts at the Premier Sale supply one third of the entire catalogue, with champion breeders Waikato Stud (58), Windsor Park Stud (47) and Cambridge Stud (39) providing 144 of the 443 yearlings in the Sale.

The reigning leading vendor of the Karaka Premier Sale is Waikato Stud. Last year saw the Chittick family’s stud crowned the leading vendor by aggregate for the first time in the stud’s history. A full preview of Waikato Stud can be viewed here.

Presenting the second largest draft at the Premier Sale is Windsor Park Stud, whose draft is predominantly comprised of the stud’s resident stallions.

Windsor Park Stud sires Rip Van Winkle, Pour Moi, Mastercraftsman and Thewayyouare 35 have in the Stud’s draft, together with yearlings by former Windsor Park Stud sires High Chaparral and Thorn Park.

One of the most anticipated horses in the Stud’s draft will be Lot 287, a half-brother to Group 1 Victoria Derby winner Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel) by champion racehorse and first season sire So You Think (NZ), who was himself sold by the Schick family’s Windsor Park Stud at Karaka.

Windsor Park Stud recently committed to sponsoring the $100,000 Karaka Stayers Cup at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting which reflects the type of horse Windsor Park Stud are famous for breeding. Amongst the stud’s alumni are brilliant middle-distance/stayers the likes of So You Think (NZ), Might and Power (NZ), Descarado (NZ), Monaco Consul (NZ) and Nom du Jeu (NZ) all bred at Windsor Park Stud or by a sire that stood at the Stud.

Highlights of the Windsor Park Stud Premier Sale draft include:

• Lot 35, a half-sister by Pour Moi to dual Group 1 winner Lion Tamer (Storming Home), the winner of the Group 1 Victoria Derby and Group 1 Underwood Stakes.

• Lot 204, a colt by Mastercraftsman out of Group 1 Avondale Cup winner The Mighty Lions and half-brother to Australian Group 3 winner Vaquera (High Chaparral).

• Lot 297, a half-brother by Rip Van Winkle to Group 3 Stewards Handicap winner Soubrettes (High Chaparral), race-favourite for the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap.

For 32 consecutive years Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud was the king of Karaka as the leading vendor, narrowly missing the top spot for the past two years.

Cambridge Stud has a draft of 39 yearlings entered in the Sale. The home of breed-shaping sires Sir Tristam and Zabeel, the latter holds the record for the most seven-figured yearlings sold at Karaka.

The last Zabeel yearling to ever be sold at auction is entered at Lot 102 by Cambridge Stud. The colt is a half-brother to Group 1 Easter Handicap winner Time Keeper (Stravinsky) and is one of only two horses by Zabeel, who is now retired from service, in the Sale.

A new wave of Cambridge Stud sires have a strong influence in the draft with resident sires Stravinsky, Tavistock, Keeper and exciting freshman sire Cape Blanco well-represented along with top sires Fastnet Rock, More Than Ready and others.

Other highlight Lots from Cambridge Stud include:

• Lot 37, a colt by More Than Ready out of Group 2 Waikato Cup winner Lovetrista (Rock of Gibraltar), from the famous Eight Carat family.

• Lot 46, a half-brother by Cape Blanco to triple Group 1 winner Vosne Romanee (Electronic Zone).

• Lot 96, a half-brother by Stravinsky to Group 2 winner Pussy Willow (O’Reilly) and Listed winner and Group 1 placegetter Pussy O’Reilly (O’Reilly), out of Group 1 Doomben Cup runner-up Octapussy (Octagonal).

Ending Cambridge Stud’s 32-year reign as leading vendor in 2013 was Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud, that Sale highlighted by a $1,975,000 colt by Fastnet Rock.

Curraghmore Stud graduates have been in stellar form of late with five stakes performers this season from the Stud’s Karaka 2013 draft alone.

Leading the way is Group 1 Flight Stakes winner First Seal, whose full-brother by Fastnet Rock out of Group 1 winning mare Episode (Scenic) is catalogued at Lot 372 at this year’s Premier Sale. The stud also produced current stakeswinners Kuro, Rockfast, Avisto & Royal Ocean.

Curraghmore Stud has also thrown their weight behind the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting, sponsoring one of the undercard races for the fifth year this year.

Highlights from the draft of Curraghmore Stud include:

• Lot 85, a half-brother by Fastnet Rock to Group 1 Doncaster Handicap winner Triple Honour (Honours List).

• Lot 311, a half-brother by Savabeel to Group 1 winning sprinter Velocitea (Volksraad) and Group 2 placegetter Maastricht (Mastercraftsman), out of stakes placed mare Cat Shmea (Felix the Cat).

• Lot 355, a half-brother by Darci Brahma to four-time Listed winner Kuro (Denman), who was also placed in the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes this season.

Another vendor to support the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting isBrighthill Farm, also sponsoring a race on the night.

Operated by Nick and Anne-Marie King, Brighthill Farm has five horses catalogued in the Premier Sale, two of them out of Group 1 winning mares and both by their resident freshman sire Dalghar:

• Lot 40, a colt by first season sire Dalghar out of Group 1 Thorndon Mile winner Macavelli Miss (Vettori).

• Lot 422, a colt by Dalghar out of Group 1 Sydney Cup winner Honor Babe (Honor Grades).

Prominent vendors Pencarrow Stud, Trelawney Stud and Westbury Stud all have 20 or more horses in the Sale.

Cambridge-based nursery Pencarrow Stud has had many highlight horses at Karaka over the years with seven $1m plus yearlings to their credit, including star racehorse and successful sire Darci Brahma (Danehill).

Pencarrow Stud has a draft of 21 yearlings in the Premier Sale including:

• Lot 252, a half-brother by Savabeel to Atacama (Pentire), a Listed winner both sides of the Tasman this season.

• Lot 413, a colt by O’Reilly out of Group 1 winner Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel), the dam of five-time Group 1 winner and successful sire Darci Brahma.

• Lot 435, a filly by More Than Ready out of Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner and NZB Filly of the Year Insouciant (Keeper).

Established over 80 years ago was New Zealand’s oldest stud, Trelawney Stud. Owned and operated by Brent & Cherry Taylor family these days, Trelawney has a record for breeding Group 1 winners dating back to the great Tulloch.

This year Trelawney Stud will present 25 yearlings at the Premier Sale, including:

• Lot 111, a colt by O’Reilly out of Group 1 winning mare Pernod (Centaine), the dam of multiple stakes winner Martini Red (Red Ransom).

• Lot 154, a filly by Savabeel out of dual Group 2 winner and dual Group 1 placed Ruud Van Slaats(Van Nistelrooy), the dam of the promising Smashing (Pins).

• Lot 294, a colt by Savabeel out of Group 1 New Zealand Oaks winner Boundless (Van Nistelrooy).

Just a short trip from the Karaka Sales Complex is Westbury Stud, who will present a draft of 20 yearlings at the Premier Sale, many by resident sires Makfi, Swiss Ace and freshman sire Redwood.

Highlights of Westbury Stud’s draft include:

• Lot 235, a half-brother by Redwood to dual Group 2 winner Sound Journey (Good Journey).

• Lot 428, a filly by Makfi out of multiple stakes winner Illuminates (Strategic), a Group 1 placegetter.

• Lot 432, a half-sister to Group 3 winners Full of Spirit (Flying Spur) and Lady Cumquat (Duke of Marmalade).

Wentwood Grange is home to arguably Australasia’s best broodmare currently in Parfore (Gold Brose), the dam of Group 1 winners Terravista (Captain Rio), Tiger Tees (Dubawi) and dual Singapore Horse of the Year Super Easy (Darci Brahma).

While Parfore made not have a yearling in this year’s Sale Wentwood Grange does have a strong draft of 11 horses in the Premier Sale including:

• Lot 65, a colt by Darci Brahma out of Group 1 Railway Handicap winner Miss Raggedy Ann (Faltaat).

• Lot 81, a half-sister by Darci Brahma to dual Australian Listed winner Minaj (Commands), out of American Listed winner Ms Seneca Rock (Seneca Jones).

• Lot 127, a colt by Cape Blanco out of dual Group 1 Auckland Cup winner Prize Lady (Prized).

This year’s Premier Sale features 37 individual vendors ranging from small boutique drafts to the aforementioned power hitters. Other vendors at the Premier Sale include Ainsley Downs Stud, Ardsley Stud, Ascot Farm, Beltana, Blandford Lodge, Bradbury Park, Esker Lodge, Fairdale Stud, Goodwood Stud, Hallmark Stud, Haunui Farm, Highden Park, Highview, Jamieson Park, Kilgravin Lodge, Little Avondale Stud, Longlands Stud, Lyndhurst Farm, Mapperley Stud, Milan Park, Monovale Farm, Phoenix Park, Prima Park, Rich Hill Stud, Seaton Park, The Oaks Stud, Valachi Downs & Wellfield Lodge.