Karaka 2012 a Derby & Oaks Eldorado

Derbies and Oaks are a true test of a thoroughbred's toughness, constitution and determination and there is rarely a race that exceeds the thrill of winning these classic events for trainers and owners.

Since 2010, New Zealand bred horses have extended their exceptional record in these classic races throughout Australia and Asia taking 12 Derbies in Australia, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore. In addition, New Zealand Bloodstock was the source of six Derby and Oaks winners last season alone.

Derbies in Australia offer some of the biggest purses in Australian racing with the Australian, VRC, Queensland, South and West Australian Derbies offering an average stake of almost A$900,000.

Sangster races away with the 2011 VRC Derby

New Zealand thoroughbreds won over 16% of Australia's three-year-old black-type races last season and dominated the Group 1 ranks winning over 40% of Australian Group 1 three-year-old events.

These prestigious Group 1 victories included a clean sweep of Australia's premier Derby races last season. The late Lion Tamer (NZ) (Storming Home) romped home by over six-lengths in the 2010 VRC Derby, and Karaka graduate Shamrocker (NZ) (O'Reilly) became the first filly in 22 years to win the Group 1 Australian Derby last year.

The 2011 VRC Derby saw Karaka graduate Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel) put in a tough performance to lead for much of the long Flemington straight to make it five VRC Derby titles for New Zealand bred horses in the last six years.

Derby heroes with colt siblings in the National Yearling Sales Series include:

• Lot 57, the half-brother by Keeper to Queensland Derby winner and Karaka graduate Shootoff (Duelled).
• Lot 69, a three-quarter brother in blood by High Chaparral to VRC Derby winner, the Karaka graduate and now sire Monaco Consul (High Chaparral).
• Lot 394, the half-brother to VRC Derby winner, the Karaka graduate Amalfi (Carnegie) from Rationaine (Centaine), the grand-dam of current Group 1 performer Antonio Lombardo (Pins).
• Lot 287, the three-quarter brother in blood by O'Reilly to the WATC Derby winner and Karaka graduate Guyno (O'Reilly), from the New Zealand Oaks winner Legs (Pins).

Lights of Heaven was unbeaten at three

In a record that is unmatched in Hong Kong, New Zealand has bred five of the last eight HK-1 Hong Kong Derby winners with Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins), Super Satin (NZ) (Danehill Dancer), Vital King (NZ) (Almutawakel), Vengeance of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel) and Lucky Owners (NZ) (Danehill) all winning the coveted event.

The Karaka Premier Sale will offer a half-brother by Thorn Park to the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year and 2011 Derby winner, the Karaka graduate Ambitious Dragon at Lot 222.

Other Derby entries include the half-brother by New Zealand's Champion First Season Sire Perfectly Ready to Hail (Lot 1) and a half-brother in blood by Savabeel to Zonda (Lot 385).

New Zealand Bloodstock sold three Group 1 Oaks winners last season with Karaka Select Sale graduate Brazilian Pulse (NZ) (Captain Rio), a $26,000 purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock, opening the account when winning the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes/Group 1 VRC Oaks Double.

Midnight Oil (NZ) (Keeper) capped off a highly successful season for the Select Session when claiming the Group 3 Lowland Stakes/Group 1 New Zealand Oaks double. Scarlett Lady (NZ) (Savabeel) also raced her way to another rare double, the Group 3 Doomben Roses/Group 1 Queensland Oaks for the Karaka Premier Sale. The only other filly to complete the double was Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm) in 2001.

Monaco Consul winning the Champion Stakes before taking the VRC Derby

For those with Oaks and Derby ambitions, the National Yearling Sales will offer a number of fillies that are siblings to, or out of mares with, classic success including:

• Lot 90, the half-sister by Lucky Unicorn to the 2011 Australian Guineas/Australian Derby winner and Karaka graduate Shamrocker (O'Reilly).
• Lot 215, the filly by Encosta de Lago from Queensland Oaks winner Giovana (Blues Traveller), the dam of stakes placed Chivana (Fusaichi Pegasus).
• Lot 246, the three-quarter sister by Savabeel to the 2011 Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner and current Group 1 performer Lights of Heaven (Zabeel).
• Lot 389, the full sister to the VRC Derby winner, the Karaka graduate Sangster (Savabeel).

Other fillies that boast Derby and Oaks winners on their pages include the half-sister to Headtuner by Sebring (Lot 338), the half-sister to Super Satin by Postponed (Lot 309) and the sister to dual Group 1 winner Eskimo Queen (Shinko King) (Lot 124).

New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series will be held at the Karaka sales complex from 30 January to 5 February. For news and information about the Sales Series contact [email protected] or visit www.nzb.co.nz.