'Sire Power' at Karaka 2007

'Sire Power' at Karaka 2007

With just three weeks to go until the first lot goes under the hammer at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series, buyers are keenly pouring over the pages of the three catalogues to see what holds appeal at Karaka 2007.

The Karaka Premier Sale is offering a truly international sire selection in 2007, with the leading sires of New Zealand well represented alongside outstanding Australian and international sire talent. The Premier Sale will feature 69 sires including 16 who will be represented by their first crop of New Zealand bred yearlings.

Headlining the first crop (or first southern crop) sires for the 2007 Premier Sale are Captain Rio (GB), Dubai Destination (USA), Ekraar (USA), Elusive City (USA), Exceed And Excel (AUS), Falbrav (IRE), Grandera (IRE), Hawk Wing (USA), Hold That Tiger (USA), Ishiguru (USA), Lonhro (AUS), Lucky Owners (NZ), Reset (AUS), Spartacus (IRE), Statue of Liberty (USA) and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap winner, Thorn Park (AUS).

NZ Sires

New Zealand currently has five sires in the top 25 sires in Australia: Zabeel, Pins, Montjeu, Stravinsky and O'Reilly. With all but Zabeel having significantly fewer horses on the track than the majority of other leading Australian sires, the New Zealand sires are punching well above their weight when it comes to results.

At the top of the Australian sires table Redoute's Choice has 128 runners and Encosta de Lago has 229 runners, with Zabeel on 142, the other four NZ sires all have less than 60 runners on the track in Australia.

Heading the local stallion strength on offer is champion New Zealand sire, Zabeel. The sire of most recent racetrack star, Efficient, the Cambridge Stud resident sire is represented by 20 colts and 8 fillies at Karaka, including standout yearlings from Diamond Lover (Lot 119), L'Quiz (Lot 252), Silk Slipper (Lot 376) and Sunline (Lot 411).

With 30 winners from 61 starters in New Zealand, and 18 from 52 runners in Australia, Waikato Stud sire, Pins, is currently heading the General Sires table in New Zealand. The son of Snippets was himself a Group 1 winner at three in the VRC Australian Guineas, and has been super impressive at stud with three individual Group 1 winners this season alone in El Segundo, Legs and Porotene Gem.

Pins is represented by 27 yearlings in the Premier Sale, including Lot 249 out of Sunday Silence mare, Love Connection, a half-sister to Group 1 placed, Stanica; Lot 15 out of winning Centaine mare, Zephuros; Lot 72 from O'Reilly mare, Burwood Road, a brother to stakes performer, Dower; Lot 318 from Pegarah, dam of dual Group 2 winner, Kerry O'Reilly; and Lot 384, a colt from Centaine mare, Snobbish.

Northern Hemisphere sire sensation, Montjeu, has taken some time to make an impact in the Southern Hemisphere, but the past months have seen him hit his straps. With just 45 runners this season in Australia he had two Group 1 seconds at the Melbourne Spring Carnival with Gorky Park finishing behind Efficient in the VRC Derby, and Growl running second to Desert War in the Mackinnon Stakes. Montjeu also has impressive stakeswinner, Gallant Guru, winner of his last four starts including at Group 3 and Group 2 level.

Sharvasti became Montjeu's first Group 1 winner in New Zealand with success in the Avondale Gold Cup in early December, followed by a Group 1 second behind Mikki Street in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Montjeu has his last New Zealand crop of yearlings for sale this year with 22 entered in the Premier Sale. These include a full brother to Growl (Lot 426), and a half-brother to New Zealand's reigning Champion Two Year Old, Jokers Wild (Lot 283).

Waikato Stud sire, O'Reilly has had 20 winners from 54 runners so far this season, including promising colt, The One, who finished second behind Efficient in the Group 2 MRC AAMI Vase. The One has a full brother in the Premier Sale at Lot 425. O'Reilly - also New Zealand's current leading sire of two-year-olds - is represented by 14 yearlings in the Premier Sale.

Stravinsky is currently sitting at number 25 on the Australian Sires Table, with 24 winners from 59 runners. His leading performers so far this season are Group 2 Caulfield Sprint winner, Biscayne Bay, in Australia, and Listed winner, Fiorenza, in New Zealand, with star filly, Serenade Rose, also to his credit.

Stravinsky is represented by an impressive line-up of 38 yearlings in the Premier Sale, including from A Goodlookin Broad (Lot 24), Centuria (Lot 89), Ethereal (Lot 137), Forlorna (Lot 158), Sursum Corda (Lot 412), Sarwatch (Lot 353) and Velinda (Lot 451).

New Zealand's first and second season sires are also starting to make their mark at home and abroad. New Zealand's leading first season sire, No Excuse Needed, had his very first winner in a Group 3 event, with Grand Dancer taking the Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. His first yearling crop averaged NZ$83,500, with a top price of NZ$500,000 for the half-brother to Don Garcia from Gone West mare, Beyond the Sunset. He has eight entries in the Premier Sale, including a half-brother to Group 1 winner, Great Command (Lot 431).

New Zealand's leading second season sire this season is Postponed, sire of Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas winner, Dorabella. Also the sire of Group 2 winner, Naturo, and new addition to the Freedman stables, Post Thyme, a Listed winner in New Zealand and now headed for the AJC Oaks in the Autumn. Postponed has just nine entries in the Sales Series.

Other emerging New Zealand sires Black Minnaloushe, Keeper, Traditionally, Don Eduardo, Van Nistelrooy, Viking Ruler and Bertolini are well represented at Karaka, together with proven sires such as Pentire and Volksraad.

Sire of New Zealand Horse of the Year, Xcellent, Pentire is represented by 20 Premier, 19 Select and 2 Festival yearlings. Amongst these is a brother to Group 1 winner, Penny Gem, at Lot 168.

Windsor Park stallion, Volksraad, has had 23 winners this season in New Zealand, including exciting three-year-old filly, Veloce Bella, the winner of four from eight starts, including the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic over a mile. Volksraad has 10 Premier, 24 Select and 1 Festival Sale entry, including a half-brother to triple Group 1 winner, Miss Potential (Lot 345).

New Zealand based sires for the 2005 season such as Align, Faltaat, Golan, Howbaddouwantit, Jungle Pocket, Spectatorial, Towkay and Ustinov are also represented at the Karaka Premier Sale.

International Sires

Also represented at the Premier Sale is a strong selection of international and Australian based sires to add to the international flavour at Karaka 2007.

Sale ring sensation, Redoute's Choice, has left a staggering number of stakeswinners from his four crops to race including Australia's Champion Two Year Old and triple Group 1 winner, Miss Finland, Group 1 winners including Stratum, Lotteria, Snitzel, God's Own, Nadeem, Fashions Afield, and many more. He will be represented by two colts and six fillies at Karaka. Amongst these are colts out of Honour and Glory mare, How About That (Lot 198) from Ascot Farm, and Citidancer mare, Mascara Magic (Lot 267) from Haunui Farm.

Battling with Redoute's Choice at the top of the Australian sires table is Coolmore Stud sire, Encosta de Lago. With just A$70,000 less in progeny earnings than Redoute's Choice so far this season, the sire of outstanding Group 1 winners Racing To Win, Alinghi and Mnemosyne is sure to be in demand at auction.

Encosta de Lago has 13 yearlings at the Karaka Premier including 10 in Gordon Cunningham's Curraghmore Stud draft. Amongst these is Lot 280, a filly from stakeswining Alzao mare, Miss Helga, and Lot 381, a well-related colt from Thunder Gulch mare, Slip Sliding, a half-sister to Dehere.

Leading Australian sires including Flying Spur (3), Commands (3), Canny Lad (2), Danzero (5), Danehill Dancer (4), General Nediym (3), Testa Rossa (1) and More Than Ready (7) are also represented, along with second season sires Show a Heart (4), Galileo (4), Fantastic Light (7), Giant's Causeway (8) and Viscount (1).

The National Yearling Sales Series will be conducted at Karaka from 11am on 29 January. For online catalogue, latest withdrawals and pedigree updates, visit http://www.nzb.co.nz

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