May Sale Set to Include Karaka Million Incentive

The year of 2018 brings a renewed structure to the National Yearling Sales Series and we’re excited for the fresh format to flow over with changes to the National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale.

The Sale now sports a new name – the ‘Karaka May Sale’, reflecting the diversity of bloodstock on offer at Karaka during this three-day Sale event.

In addition, a major enhancement to the Yearling section is set to give the Sale an additional boost. Yearlings offered will now be eligible to be nominated for the Karaka Million Series.

This addition will offer buyers another opportunity to contest the enhanced Karaka Million Series which now offers two $1 million races – the Karaka Million 2YO and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, as well as the $100,000 CollinsonForex Karaka Cup for the remainder of their careers.

Entries are now open for the Karaka May Sale which will be held across three days of selling from Monday 7 - Wednesday 9 May at Karaka. Entries are open to the following categories: Weanlings, Yearlings, Two-Year-Olds, Unraced Stock, Racehorses, Stallion Shares and Broodmares. 

While at last year’s Sale the domestic purchases made up the bulk of the spend (72%) the international buying bench accounted for the remaining 28% and can be largely put down to the success the New Zealand horses have achieved on the global stage.

The Sale alone has produced Group 1 winners Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj) who triumphed on both sides of the Tasman, headline performer and six-time Group winner I Am a Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible), recently crowned Singapore Horse of the Year Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock), and Mapperley Stud’s dual Group 1-winning sire Puccini (NZ) (Encosta de Lago) who stood his first season at stud in 2017 – all purchased out of the Weanling category.

Belle du Nord (NZ) (Reliable Man) who was purchased as a Yearling at the Sale has had quick success on the racetrack with a win at two and has placed twice at Group 1 level including the Levin Classic over the weekend.

Stars from the Yearling category also include recent dual stakes winner Ladies First (NZ) (Dylan Thomas), last year’s Singapore Listed winner Best Tothelign (NZ) (Align) and Macau stakes performer Valiant Soldier (Keeper).

NZB’s Bloodstock Sales Manager Danny Rolston perceives the changes as a win-win.

“Vendors will have the option to hang on to some of their yearlings later in the year giving them more time to mature.

“And now that they will be eligible for the Karaka Million it gives buyers added incentive to source their yearlings from this Sale.”

Important Dates:

Entries close Wednesday 21 February 2018

Karaka May Sale 7, 8 & 9 May 2018