Group 1 Sires Underpin Karaka 2016

Yearlings by proven leading sires in New Zealand are in demand and will be again at Karaka with the success of New Zealand bred horses over the past season.

Last season's leading sire Savabeel has the largest draft at Karaka.

The sire stocks are on the rise in New Zealand with renewed strength in the stallion ranks. Leading the way are proven New Zealand based stallions, Savabeel, Darci Brahma, O’Reilly, Pentire and more.

It is not only New Zealand sires that are strongly represented at Karaka 2016 with Australia's leading sires Fasnet Rock, Redoute’s Choice, Snitzel and Sebring completing an impressive line-up of stallions at Karaka 2016.

The six days of Sales over three sessions, the Premier, Select and Festival Sales with 64 stallions represented in the Premier Sale alone and 131 stallions overall.

Savabeel

The son of Champion Sire Zabeel, Savabeel was last season’s leading sire in New Zealand, siring 14 stake winners including six Group 1 winners. Savabeel has the largest draft at Karaka 2016 with 62 yearlings catalogued. Amongst the highlight Lots will be:

• A full-brother to Group 1 Queensland Derby winner Brambles (NZ) catalogued lot 22.
• A full-brother to Group 1 NZ Breeders’ Stakes winner Diademe (NZ) catalogued lot 200.
• A full-brother to Group 2 Mitchelton Vase winner Savvy Nature (NZ) catalogued lot 301.

Darci Brahma

A five-time Group 1 winner, Darci Brahma finished second on New Zealand’s Leading Sire list last season. Amongst his 11 Group 1 winners are Gust of Wind (NZ), winner of last year’s Group 1 Australian Oaks, and dual Singapore Horse of the Year Super Easy (NZ). He has 46 lots entered at Karaka 2016 including:

• A half-brother to Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes winner Shuka (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) catalogued lot 160.
• A half-sister to Group 2 Wellington Guineas winner Keyora (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) catalogued lot 282.

O’Reilly

The Champion Sire of New Zealand on four occasions, O’Reilly has sired over 80 stakes winners including 16 individual Group 1 winners. Only Zabeel and Sir Tristram have a better record for a New Zealand sire. O’Reilly has 53 horses catalogued across all three Sales, including:

• A full-sister to Group 1 Newmarket winner Shamexpress (NZ) catalogued lot 133.
• A half-sister to twice Group 1 Otaki Maori WFA winner Nashville (NZ) (Darci Brahma) catalogued lot 44.
• A colt out of Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Vouray (NZ) (Zabeel) catalogued lot 134.

Pentire

Another former Champion Sire of New Zealand is Pentire, the sire of this season’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance (NZ) and boom three-year-old Xtravagant (NZ). He is the sire of 12 Group 1 winners which also includes 10-time Group 1 winner Mufhasa (NZ). He has 15 lots entered at Karaka 2016, including:

• A full-brother to Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance (NZ) catalogued lot 45.
• A colt by Group 3 Auraria Stakes winner Fairy Oak (NZ) (High Chaparral) catalogued lot 283.
• A half-brother to Group 1 Easter Handicap winner Time Keeper (NZ) (Stravinky) catalogued lot 443.

Australia

Australia’s top two leading sires Fastnet Rock and Redoute’s Choice have a select representation at Karaka, as do Snitzel and Sebring.

Fastnet Rock

Fastnet Rock has produced the top lot at NZB’s National Yearling Sale Series for the past four years. Last season saw Karaka graduate First Seal win the Group 1 Flight Stakes for her sire. Fastnet Rock has 15 yearlings entered in the Premier Sale, they include:

• A full-brother to Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Planet Rock, cataloued lot 159.
• A half-brother to Group 1 Doncaster Handicap winner Triple Honour (NZ) (Honours List) catalogued lot 432.
• A colt out Group 2 New Zealand Cup winner Everswindell (NZ) (Align) catalogued lot 278.

Redoute’s Choice

Redoute’s Choice was a multiple Group 1 winner and Champion Sire. Redoute’s Choice boasts 25 stakes wins last season, including Group 1 winners Lankan Rupee, Hampton Court and Bonaria. He has four yearlings entered in the Premier Sale including:

• A sister to Listed Newmarket Abernant Stakes winner Asset (Marju) catalogued lot 80.
• A colt out of Listed Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes winner Mygoodgrace (Royal Academy) catalogued lot 429.

Snitzel

Snitzel has produced six Group 1 winners and made his fourth consecutive top-ten appearance on the General Sires list in Australia. Top class racehorses Wandjina and Sweet Idea were Group 1 winners last season. He has six yearlings catalogued at Karaka 2016, including:

• A half-brother to Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce winner Marky Mark (Makfi) catalogued lot 430.
• A half-brother to Group 3 Lowland Stakes winner Posavina (NZ) (Tiger Hill) catalogued lot 238.

Sebring

Sebring was a top class two-year-old winning five of his six starts including the Group 1 Golden Slipper. The sire of multiple Group 1 winners Criterion (NZ) and Dissident, Sebring has nine yearlings catalogued, including:

• A colt out of Listed Pegasus Stakes winner Darcybee (NZ) (Fasliyev) catalogued lot 243.
• A colt out of Listed Bonecrusher Stakes winner Jungle Juice (NZ) (Jungle Pocket) catalogued lot 335.
• A filly out of Listed Stampede Park Handicap winner Kathern’s Cat (Catienus) catalogued lot 341.

Other proven sires at Karaka 2016 include: Encosta de Lago, Exceed And Excel, High Chaparral, Iffraaj, More Than Ready, Pins, Street Cry and more.

Beyond this large group of established sires, a new generation is rising through the ranks, click here to read about the young sires of New Zealand.

A new class of freshman sires will be represented at Karaka 2016, click here to read about the 17 first season sires at the Sale.

NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series will take place from 25 January – 31 January at Karaka. The catalogues can be viewed online or can be requested from [email protected]