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Bargain Buy Comes Up Trumps for Meyer

The loudest cheer on day two of the National Yearling Sale at Karaka erupted as the gavel came down on the very last lot that went through the auction ring on Monday evening. A small group of supporters huddled around former Waikato Stud employee Sharon Meyer, who co-owns the Ocean Park filly consigned by Woburn Farm as Lot 390, were beside themselves as a bidding war between Ballymore stable’s Pam Gerard and the online presence of Japan’s Big Red Farm proprietor Mr Okada was settled in favo...

Perry To The Fore In Early Karaka Action

One of the prominent names in the thick of the action over the first two days at the National Yearling Sale at Karaka has been local bloodstock agent Bruce Perry. Perry, who traditionally acts on behalf of Wellington businessman Lib Petagna and a limited number of other domestic and international clients, has also taken on the task of representing Australian trainer Danny O’Brien for the duration of the sale. Perry purchased four yearlings for his domestic clients on the first day of the sale ...

Training Legend Marks 60 Years at National Yearling Sale

Legendary conditioner Dave O’Sullivan vividly remembers the first time he went to the National Yearling Sale as a raw 27-year-old with a newly minted trainers’ license in his back pocket. O’Sullivan marked his attendance at his 60th consecutive sale at Karaka on Monday with the assembled audience in the auction auditorium providing him with a warm reception on being informed of the feat. O’Sullivan was humbled by the acknowledgement as he recalled some of his experiences over the ye...

BGP Purchase First Yearling

Boys Get Paid have been a growing entity on Karaka Million-night, New Zealand’s richest race meeting, but next year could be a whole new level for the racing group led by Luke Kemeys. The group have teamed up with Te Akau to purchase a yearling at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, their first venture into the yearling market, and they are hoping they will be cheering it on in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) next year. Kemeys entrusted the yearling selection process to Te Akau p...

Persistence Pays Off For James

Trainer Roger James admitted he had pretty much given up the ghost towards the end of a bidding stoush for Lot 126, the Sebring filly from the Trelawney Stud draft at Karaka on Sunday. James and the Go Racing Syndications team went head-to-head for several minutes for the filly out of stakes placed mare Smashing, with James finally securing the granddaughter of multiple Group Two winner Ruud Van Slaats for $295,000. “I am indebted to my owner who was with me all the way on this filly,” James...

Filly Attracts International Thoroughbred Powerhouse

While international buyers weren’t able to be present at Karaka for New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale this week, Te Akau principal David Ellis ensured an international flavour wasn’t missing. The leading buyer was given instructions to purchase the best filly on the complex by Coolmore Principal John Magnier, and he believes he did just that when securing lot 94, the Zoustar filly out of Group One performer Scintillula, from Pencarrow Stud’s Book 1 draft for $800,000. While...

Ellis Strikes Early at Karaka

Te Akau Principal David Ellis has purchased the last five Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winners and he believes he may have bought his sixth at Karaka on Sunday. Ellis went to $625,000 to secure lot 52, the Written Tycoon colt out of Group One performer Pussy O’Reilly, from Woburn Farm’s draft. Ellis said he was immediately taken by the colt when he first inspected him at Woburn Farm prior to Christmas, and he just had to have the yearling bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan.  “He...

Online Bidding Proves Popular On Day One At Karaka

In an ever-changing world, technology has helped break-down barriers on a positive day of selling on the opening day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales, where the average price was $130,134 across 131 lots sold, with a clearance rate of 73 percent.  New Zealand Bloodstock’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was resigned to the fact that border closures, which meant no international buyers could be on-site at Karaka, would have an effect on the sale, but he was pleased w...

Innes Full of Admiration for Karaka Million 3YO Classic Winner

Rider Leith Innes admitted his confidence soared when he was legged aboard top three-year-old Aegon in the Ellerslie parade ring on Saturday evening. The regular pilot of the Sacred Falls gelding knew he had a battle on his hands ahead of the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) with his charge not having run since November and up against the powerful Te Akau Racing representative, exciting filly Amarelinha. Innes had nothing but faith in the skills of trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman ...

Showemhowitsdone Survives Scary Moment to Take Gore Guineas

Connections of Riccarton visitor Showemhowitsdone had to endure some anxious moments before her victory in the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m) was confirmed on Saturday. The Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong-trained three-year-old narrowly defeated The Gift in a driving finish to the day’s feature event but proved a handful in the closing stages as she shied at something on the inside of the track and ducked out sharply. Rider Terry Mosely quickly straightened the Showcasing filly, who had...

Levante Simply Brilliant in Westbury Classic

Racing fans were left shaking their heads at Ellerslie on Saturday evening after witnessing exciting mare Levante take out the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m). For those who had never seen the Proisir four-year-old in action before, they could have been forgiven for ripping up their betting tickets up at the 600m as the $1.40 favourite was dead last in the ten-horse field and struggling to catch the runners immediately ahead of her. What happened next was succinctly summed up by Levante’s rider ...

Te Akau Racing to the Fore On Karaka Million Racenight

Classy three-year-old Need I Say More made his first run at Ellerslie a winning one when he lumped topweight of 60.5kgs to victory in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m), the first race on Karaka Million night. Carrying the familiar tangerine and orange silks of Te Akau Racing, colours that were to the fore throughout the evening, the son of No Nay Never had to be good to take the win after being caught three-wide throughout the 1200m contest. Rider Troy Harris never panicked as he a...

Iffraaj colt delivers Magic result

The progeny of former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj were in hot demand this week. For the second year running he topped the second session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale when the colt out of Busted Love (Flying Spur x My Other Woman) was knocked down to the Hong Kong-based Golden River Investments for A$310,000. A result that bodes well for his progeny on offer at Karaka over the coming week. The colt was offered on behalf Haunui Farm’s Sales and Marketing Manager Shannon Taylor ...

TAB New Zealand's December Monthly Update

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Woburn Farm Excited about Karaka Yearlings

Adrian Stanley and Hannah Kettlety are in their seventh year preparing yearlings under their Woburn Farm banner and they believe they are bringing their strongest draft yet to Karaka in 2021. The Waikato couple will offer 20 yearlings in their Book 1 Sale draft, including seven for former Cambridge Stud Principals Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan. Stanley said he is pleased with all of his draft, but highlighted lot 52, the Written Tycoon colt out of Group One performer Pussy O’Reilly as the...

Throwback Thursday | 62nd National Yearling Sales | Summer 1987

It’s hard to believe that just 12 months ago the site of the 62nd National Yearling sales was a mass of earthmoving equipment as the heavy machinery moved in to commence the groundwork for the multi-million-dollar complex. At the time most observers found it difficult to envisage the Karaka site being ready in time to welcome Lot one. Chequers Stud’s Western Symphony (USA). Valencia filly, into the new sale ring. However, at the time of writing, the complex- looking vastly superior to the w...

Super Result for Proud Breeder

A promise made by Janet Hepi to one day send a mare to Hallmark Stud produced Super Strike (Super Easy- Southern Touch) the winner of the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham. “Dad had a farm right opposite Hallmark, and quite often I would wander over to see the horses,” explained Hepi, the daughter of prominent Auckland businessman and breeder Lou Fisher. “Denny (Baker proprietor of Hallmark Stud) always knew how much I loved horses, and he would always say why don’t you send...

Avantage Goes Back to Back in Telegraph

Class prevailed at Trentham on Saturday when versatile mare Avantage by Fastnet Rock-Asavant (Zabeel) was at her very best in taking out the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) for the second year in succession. The Jamie Richards-trained five-year-old had scored fresh-up in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day to take her Group One winning tally to five and added a sixth as she defended the title she captured in 2020 with another superb performance. Leading rider ...

Valuable Trentham Stakes Victory for Our Hail Mary

Well-related and talented staying mare Our Hail Mary by Ocean Park- Repenting (Ekraar) scored a strong win in Saturday’s Gr.3 Dixon & Dunlop Trentham Stakes that counted for much more than its $70,000 stake. Previously placed at Listed level as a three-year-old, the lightly raced mare took the next step and claimed big black type for the first time in her 13-start career. “I think she’s cemented herself as a future broodmare now,” trainer and part-owner Allan Sharrock said. “She’s b...

Bonham Takes out Trentham Three-Year-Old Feature

Talented three-year-old Bonham by Per Incanto-Fortune's Choice (Redoute's Choice) showed she is a filly of the highest quality when winning the Gr.1 Devan Plastics Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Rated as the main danger to $1.80 favourite Brando, the Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained filly earned her victory the hard way as she sat three-wide for the majority of the race after starting from an outside barrier. Taken forward by rider Lisa Allpress to challenge for the lead r...

Famous Colours to the Fore in Anniversary

Six decades on from the heyday of the legendary sprinter Yahabeebe, the same colours have played a starring role at Trentham. Super Strike by Super Easy-Southern Touch (Stark South) stepped up to stakes level for the first time and triumphed in Saturday’s Gr.3 Wellington Seamarket Anniversary Handicap (1600m). It was the fifth win of a nine-start career for the rising star son of Super Easy, bred and owned by Janet Hepi, whose father Lou Fisher raced the two-time Gr.1 Railway Handicap (1200m) ...

Johnson Brings Up a Century of Wins at Trentham

The runaway leader of the National jockeys’ premiership, Danielle Johnson, notched her 100th winner for the season when she guided Te Akau Racing two-year-old Quattro Quinta by Darci Brahma- Quintette (Alamosa) to victory in the Listed IRT No.1 Wellesley Stakes (1000m) at Trentham on Saturday. Installed a warm $2 Fixed Odds favourite, the Darci Brahma gelding certainly didn’t have things all his own way as he was attacked by Ansu and Magneto throughout the first 600m of the contest. Asked fo...

The Boss Looking Forward to Karaka

For a remarkable 31 consecutive years Hogan’s Cambridge Stud was the leading vendor at New Zealand’s premier yearling sale. Since vacating Cambridge Stud in April 2017, following the sale of the iconic thoroughbred nursery to Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who have taken the baton and run with it, Hogan has stepped away from the limelight that he so frequently shined in. But when horses are your life-long passion, retirement is not an option. The 81-year-old, who has battled ill-health in recent y...

Throwback Thursday | 33rd National Yearling Sales 1959

The 33rd National Yearling Sales of Thoroughbred Yearlings were held at Trentham on January 16th and 21st, 1959. A total of 267 lots were sold and realised 163,840 gns. An overall average of 614gns. Lots sold compromised 192 colts at an average of 700gns. The general tenor of the Sales was a well below the previous year due to heavily restricted local buying support due to heavily restricted local buying support brought about by increased taxation and the restriction of imports. Austra...

Beaufort Downs Bring International Flavour to Karaka

While international buyers won’t be able to be physically present at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales later this month, Beaufort Downs will ensure there is still some international flavour at their Karaka Sales Complex. Beaufort Downs principals, Annabel Wigley and Olly Tuthill, will offer an eight-strong Book 1 Sale draft, including a couple of yearlings out of mares the couple sourced in England at the twilight of their athletic careers. Wigley was a top-level eventer in th...