Photo: supplied
The final session of NZB’s 100th National Yearling Sale took place at Karaka on Thursday, with a strong inaugural Karaka Summer Sale.
112 yearlings sold for a total aggregate of more than $3.4 million at an average of $30,612. Six lots sold for $100,000 or more which added to a solid clearance rate of 81%.
NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was elated for all those involved in the historic week.
“To sum it up, this week we’ve turned over $9.6 million more than last year, with 79 less horses catalogued.”
“We’re just over the moon, seeing these results from the new format.
“The Karaka Summer Sale today was one of the strongest sessions, almost matching Book 2 results from last year.
“It’s just been a phenomenal week all around, celebrating such a big milestone in New Zealand thoroughbred history, and returning almost $96 million back to breeders.
“Our vendors have done an incredible job presenting their yearlings, our buyers supporting the Sale so well and our whole NZB team who have all contributed to its success.
“We’re looking forward to the demand for our yearlings continuing to our Online Yearling Sale, where of course the outstanding filly Well Written was purchased from.”
The top lot of the day came when first time vendor Stew McGregor offered his sole yearling. The colt by emerging sire Armory out of Satono Aladdin mare Hanako (Lot 958), was knocked down to John Foote Bloodstock for $130,000.
Photo: supplied
“We’re so, so thrilled,” commented an emotional McGregor.
“To have that amount of people and trainers come through and inspect him, it’s really neat. We hope he’s got an exciting future for us to follow.”
The well-known Waikato Hunt member praised his surrounding stud farms for all their help.
“Dean Hawkins, Windsor Park Stud and others around me have been instrumental in helping me along the way,” added McGregor.
“It’s a team sport, alright.”
The leading vendor by aggregate and average for the Karaka Summer Sale was Westbury Stud who sold seven lots for $432,000 at an average of $61,714.
The leading buyer at the end of selling of the final session was Victorian trainer Patrick Payne, having purchased three lots for $236,000. This included Lot 938, a colt for $100,000 out of the leading sire of the session in Redwood.
All yearlings purchased are eligible for the Karaka Millions Series featuring the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) as well as the NZB Mega Maiden Bonus Series with $1m in bonuses up for grabs across 40 maiden races each season. The Karaka Summer Sale is further boosted by a $200,000 Karaka Millions bonus. For the first Karaka Summer Sale graduate home in both the 2027 $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO and 2028 $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO, $100,000 will be split evenly between the vendor and purchaser for each race. Entries close Monday 2 March 2026.
To enquire about Passed Lots from the Karaka Summer Sale contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz, or Andrew Buick on +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz.
Attention now turns to the National Online Yearling Sale, where superstar filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) was purchased for $80,000.
Set to take place on Gavelhouse Plus, with bidding closing from 6pm on 14 April. Entries open early February via NZB’s portal.
View the full Karaka Summer Sale results here.
Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from the Karaka Summer Sale here.
2026 SALE SCHEDULE
National Online Yearling Sale
14 April on Gavelhouse Plus
National Weanling Sale
25 June at Karaka
NZB Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs
18 & 19 November at Karaka
