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The world’s premier sale of two-year-olds returns to Karaka on November 18 and 19 with what could well be another record-breaking edition on the horizon.
The 2026 catalogue features 460 lots across two days, with the most sires in the sale’s history represented at 119, and the breeze-up footage is already online from the October sessions at Te Rapa for those doing their homework early.
The graduate list looks as strong as any sale anywhere in the world with the Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty topping the list with Lucky Sweynesse, Invincible Ibis, War Machine, Mr Brightside and a raft of Australian and New Zealand Group One winners have all coming through this ring.
The numbers back it up too, with three consecutive record-breaking editions confirming the market’s confidence and pointing to another epic two days at Karaka.
The breeze-ups are run and done, being held at Te Rapa on October 12 and 13 on a Soft 5 surface, with times ranging from a quickest 10.19 through to the average sitting just under 10.9 seconds.
Below are five lots worth keeping an eye on when bidding opens on November 18...
LOT 45 – SAVABEEL x Starvoia (Starcraft) – Bay Gelding – Ohukia Lodge
A full brother to Group 1 Tarzino Trophy winner Skew Wiff and one of the last Savabeel yearlings to reach the sales ring.
Clocked 10.41 at the breeze-ups, a sharp effort on the Soft 5 surface.
Savabeel’s retirement from stud duties puts him on everyone’s list, and this gelding carries a family that has already delivered at the top level. His full brother Skew Wiff won the Group One Tarzino Trophy, while the dam Starvoia is by Starcraft, giving him a pedigree page that is deep in New Zealand staying class. The vendor Ohukia Lodge has a strong record presenting horses for this sale and the combination of a farewell-season sire and a proven family should generate real competition.
Lot 90 – ANAMOE x Travelling Light (El Roca) – Brown Colt – St Kilda Lodge
A first-crop Anamoe out of a Group One winning mare, and the hottest young sire name in the catalogue.
Breezed in 10.57 on Tuesday morning.
Anamoe needs little introduction. The Champion Australian Racehorse has made an electric start at Widden Stud and his first-crop yearlings have been the story of the 2026 sales season, selling up to seven figures and averaging well above any comparable first-season sire debut in recent memory. At this sale, where buyers are looking for two-year-old racehorses, the combination of his speed pedigree and physical presence in his stock is a perfect match.
The dam Travelling Light was a Group One winner and provides a quality maternal foundation to back the sire’s commercial firepower. Expect this one to be among the most heavily inspected colts in the draft.
Lot 175 – ALABAMA EXPRESS x Bohemian Lily (O’Reilly) – Bay Colt – Riverrock Farm
Sire of the brilliant Treasurethe Moment, dam a Group Two winner at Doomben.
Posted a time of 10.82 at the breeze-ups.
Alabama Express is making his mark through his progeny with Treasurethe Moment among the most exciting horses in the past couple of seasons in Australia. The dam Bohemian Lily won the Gr.2 Doomben Roses, giving this colt a serious dam page to go with a sire whose stock are clearly running. Riverrock Farm have reportedly produced the lot well and the combination of a sire with an emerging star to spruik and a genuine stakes-winning dam makes this a colt who should attract buyers from both sides of the Tasman.
Lot 374 – PROISIR x Meleka Belle (Iffraaj) – Bay Colt – Kilgravin Lodge
A half-brother to 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle, one of the greatest mares New Zealand has produced.
One of the standout performers at the breeze-ups, clocking 10.40 to rank among the fastest times of the session.
The name Melody Belle alone commands serious attention. The daughter of Iffraaj won 14 Group One races across Australia and New Zealand and is one of the best mares the country has produced. This colt is a half-brother through the dam Meleka Belle, meaning he carries the same exceptional dam line. Proisir has been a strong performer as a sire in Australia and gives this lot the speed element to complement the deep staying class on the dam’s side. A very smart breeze-up time should only strengthen the case.
Lot 432 – HELLO YOUMZAIN x Pondarosa Miss (High Chaparral) – Bay Colt – Di Leoni Equine
Son of New Zealand’s leading first-season sire, dam a Group One winner
Breezed in 10.65 on Tuesday afternoon.
Hello Youmzain has made a fast start to his stud career in New Zealand and currently sits at the top of the first-season sires table by winners. His progeny have shown a consistent ability to find the line early, which is exactly the profile buyers look for at a Ready to Run sale. The dam Pondarosa Miss was a Group One winner and adds class to a page that already sells itself through the stallion’s form. Di Leoni Equine look to have presented him well and Tuesday’s breeze-up time at 10.65 should give buyers confidence heading in.
WHEN? Wednesday, November 18 and Thursday, November 19 (NZT)
WHERE? Karaka Sales Centre, Auckland
RECENT SALE TOPPERS – (2025) $825,000 / (2024) $1,650,000 / (2023) $825,000
RECENT AVERAGES – (2025) $156,255 / (2024) $151,943 / (2023) $156,031
GROSS – (2025) $41.4m / (2024) $38.6m / (2023) $35.1m
CLEARANCE RATE – (2025) 78% / (2024) 78%
View the full catalogue and videos online HERE
