'Sire Power' at Karaka 2009

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'Sire Power' at Karaka 2009

With just over a week to go until the first lot goes under the hammer at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series buyers are keenly eyeing up the stallion strength on offer at Karaka 2009.

The 2009 Karaka catalogues offer as strong a line up as ever seen at Karaka, with 1710 yearlings holding true international appeal. Sons and daughters by internationally proven sires based in New Zealand and offshore will be offered along with the progeny of young sires whose first crops will be widely anticipated.

The Premier Sale will feature 75 sires including 11 who will be represented by their first crop of Australasian bred yearlings.

Headlining the first crop (or first southern crop) sires for the 2009 Premier Sale are Dubawi (Ire), Duelled (Aus), Falkirk, Oratorio (Ire), Snippetson (Aus), Snitzel (Aus), Southern Image (Arg), Starcraft, Stratum (Aus), Undoubtedly (Aus), and Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn).

With the globalisation of the thoroughbred industry has come increasing international flavour to Australasian bloodlines which, coupled with the idyllic New Zealand breeding environment, promise buyers a host of opportunity at Karaka 2009.

NZ Sires

New Zealand based sires won general stallion premierships in Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore, while Faltaat finished second in Malaysia, though he was the leading active sire in 2007-08.

New Zealand this past season had five sires in the top 25 sires in Australia: Zabeel (4), O'Reilly (7), Pins (13), Stravinsky (22), and Pentire (25). 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 was Encosta de Lago with 312 runners, Zabeel had 146 and the other four NZ sires all had less than 95 runners on the track in Australia.

Heading the local stallion strength, Zabeel needs no introduction and his success at stud has been no less than phenomenal. He has been Champion Sire in New Zealand four times and in Australia twice where he has left 540 winners with prize-money totaling A$90,808,294 to date.

This season he sired a record fourth Cox Plate winner when Maldivian (ex Shynzi, by Danzig) led all the way in Australia's feature Group 1 weight-for-age event. He also sired last year's Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, as well as household names like Octagonal, Might and Power, and Sky Heights.

His daughters too hold plenty of residual value bearing in mind they have already left Group 1 winners like Samantha Miss, Headturner and Darci Brahma. Now 22 years of age, Zabeel is in as big a demand as ever with limited crops left for buyers to own and race to the glory Zabeel progeny are so accustomed.

Zabeel is represented by 31 yearlings at Karaka 2009, 21 colts and 10 fillies, including three lots from Group 1 winning mares: Lot 33 out of Honor Babe, Lot 34 out of Honour Bound, and Lot 72 out of La Bella Dama. There is also a half-brother to New Zealand Horse of the Year Sir Slick at Lot 131.

Rising star O'Reilly has developed into a top class sire winning both the New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong Sire Championships last season and finishing seventh on the Australian equivalent ahead of Redoute's Choice, Danehill Dancer, General Nediym and Testa Rossa with less than half the runners of these leading lights. Remarkably he had the best strike rate of winners to runners of any stallion in Australia's top 100 last season.

Currently sitting ninth in this season's Australian sires championship, O'Reilly has left two Group 1 winners in Australia already in 2008/09 with Alamosa in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and Swick in the VRC Classic (1200m), while in 2007, to demonstrate his versatility, O'Reilly was represented by Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Master O'Reilly.

He is represented by 28 yearlings in the Premier Sale, 19 colts and 9 fillies. These include two siblings to Group 1 winners, Lot 931 a half-sister to Vouvray, and Lot 292 a full brother to The Jewel. There is also a colt by O'Reilly out of multiple Guineas winner Perceptible at Lot 171, and at Lot 31 a colt out of top two-year-old High Grove.

Pins has not missed a beat since retiring to stud in 2000. With just six crops of racing age he has left Group 1 2007 Cox Plate hero El Segundo, 2003 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Econsul and this season's Gr2 Moonee Valley Cup winner Gallopin. His international success has been phenomenal in a short space of time and this season it was highlighted by his son Waikato winning major sprints in Singapore before contesting the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at the International meeting at Sha Tin.

Pins has also left fillies as good as his colts in Group 1 Kelt Capital Stakes and Group 1 NZ Oaks winner Legs, Group 1 Levin Classic winner Porotene Gem, and New Zealand's current top 2YO Katie Lee, winner of the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at her last start and one of the favourites for the 2009 Karaka Million.

With the largest representation of any sire in the Premier Sale, there will be 68 Pins yearlings on offer, 42 colts and 26 fillies. The selection includes Lot 236, a filly out of a half-sister to world-record priced broodmare Better Than Honour, and three half-brothers to Group 1 winners at Lot 67 (Proprietor), Lot 120 (Perlin), and Lot 448 (Saint Cecile). There are also two Pins yearlings out of Group 1 winners, Lot 473 out of Emerald Dream, and Lot 485 out of Facing the Music.

Stravinsky, courtesy of his progeny, is a regular on Australasia's big race days and major racing carnivals. This season has been no different with Group 1 VRC Oaks placed and Listed Super Impose Stakes winner Miss Scarlatti, Group 2 Matriach Stakes winner Bird of Fire, and Melbourne Cup day Sprint winner Hips Don't Lie representing him at the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

Last season he sired Group 1 QTC Stradbroke Handicap winner Mr. Baritone as well as Group 1 NZ Bloodstock Breeders Stakes winner Captivate. His success is not restricted to the southern hemisphere having also sired European Group 1 winners Benbaun, Balmont and Soldier's Tale.

Stravinsky yearlings total 43 in the Premier Sale, 25 colts and 18 fillies, including a half-sister to Group 1 winner Nom Du Jeu, being out of Group 1 winner Prized Gem at Lot 182. Lot 114 is the blue-blooded colt from Group 1 winner Marquise, the dam of Group 1 winner Shower of Roses, and at Lot 242 is a filly from 2001 NZ Champion Stayer Smiling Like.

Pentire has established himself in Australasia as a Group 1 sire of sprinters, milers, and especially Derby and Cups horses. He has done so on very small foal crops and with his larger crops now finally hitting the racetrack Pentire's future as a commercial proven sire is set.

He is the sire in Australia of last season's Group 1 South Australian Derby and Group 1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks winner Zarita, as well stakes winners Richracer, Pentacity, Sentire, and Prosecution. His five stakes winners came from fewer runners than Danehill's three in Australia, with five less starters. He is the sire this season of Chris Waller's very exciting Rangirangdoo and the recent Sydney stakes placed Penrickson, as well as New Zealand Group 2 winners Mufhasa and Tinseltown.

Pentire will be represented by 17 yearlings in the Premier Sale, 12 colts and 5 fillies, including a full brother, at Lot 225, to recent Group 2 winner Mufhasa who lines up in the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap on Saturday. At Lot 126 is also a half-brother to Group 1 winning sprinter Gee I Jane, while Lot 313 is a half-brother to Group 1 NZ Derby winner Hail.

Not to be forgotten, champion sire in New Zealand six times Volksraad is renowned for leaving precocity and speed. He sired his second Australian Group 1 winner this year when Orange County took out the Group 1 MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes during the Melbourne Spring Carnival, his previous Australian Group 1 winner being Dantelah in the Group 1 VATC Oakleigh Plate.

Volksraad has sired a further Group 1 winner this season in Dezigna, winner of the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes, along with being the most represented sire in the $1,000,000 Karaka Million, with Mexican Rose, Corsage, Veldt and Shuttleworth all set for a start in the final fourteen-horse field.

He will be represented by two yearlings at the Premier session, both halves to group winners at Lot 73 and Lot 301.

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, Bachelor Duke, has already left a stakes performer, with Bewitch running second in the Listed WRC Wellesley Stakes on debut. She has her next start in the $1,000,000 Karaka Million.

Bachelor Duke's first yearling crop averaged NZ$60,068 at Karaka, with a top price of NZ$200,000 for the half-brother to Roc De Cambes from Fairy Lights purchased by John Wheeler. Two Bachelor Duke yearlings will feature in the Premier Sale including Lot 279, a half to Group 1 winner Shizu, the dam of Group 3 winner Zupaone.

New Zealand's current leading second season sire this season is Captain Rio, sire of Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce winner Il Quello Veloce. Captain Rio is represented by two yearlings in the Premier session including Lot 151, a full brother to Il Quello Veloce.

The four leading New Zealand third crop sires will all have progeny go under the hammer at Karaka Premier. Ruud Van Slaats' sire Van Nistelrooy, and Red Ruler's sire Viking Ruler, will both be represented by two, while the exciting young sires Golan and No Excuse Needed have three yearlings apiece.

Other proven and promising New Zealand sires such as Bertolini (1), Black Minnaloushe (6), Don Eduardo (1), Elusive City (1), Faltaat (1), High Chaparral (9), Johar (4), Keeper (2), King's Chapel (1), One Cool Cat (30), Postponed (2), Savabeel (30), Scaredee Cat (2), Spartacus (2), Thorn Park (10 and Towkay (1) are all represented.

International Sires

The Premier Sale has a strong selection of yearlings by international and Australian-based sires to add to the international flavour at Karaka 2009.

Coolmore Stud sire, Encosta de Lago, wrestled the Australian Champion Sire crown off of Flying Spur last season with $10,442,843 in progeny earnings. The sire of outstanding Group 1 winners Princess Coup, Northern Meteor, Sacred Kingdom, Alinghi and Racing to Win, his progeny is sure to be in demand at auction.

Encosta de Lago has 14 yearlings at the Karaka Premier Sale. Amongst the 11 colts and 3 fillies are two out of Group 1 winners, Lot 7 from multiple Group 1 winner Giovana, and Lot 389 out of star sprinter Cannsea. There are also half siblings to Group 1 winners Maroofity at Lot 37 and Vapour Trail at Lot 451.

One of the rising stars of the Australian stallion ranks last season, Vinery Stud sire More Than Ready, has left Sebring, the winner of the Group 1 Golden Slipper winner, Benecio, Perfectly Ready and Augusta Proud. He will have four progeny on offer in the Premier session including Lot 136 out of Group 3 winner Miss Vandal, the dam of 2007-08 double Listed winner Miss Marielle.

Sale ring sensation and the highest priced stallion (service fee) in the southern hemisphere, Redoute's Choice has left a staggering 46 stakeswinners from his six crops to race including triple Group 1 winner Samantha Miss and Group 1 Golden Slipper winners Stratum and Miss Finland, amongst his 14 Group 1 winning progeny.

Redoute's Choice is represented by eight high class yearlings at Karaka 2009, five colts and three fillies. The colts selection includes Lot 85 out of Group 2 winner La Sizeranne; Lot 78 out of a daughter of Champion Australian 2YO filly Lady Jakeo; and Lot 98 out of Sunday Silence mare Love Connection, the dam of Group 1 placed Stanica.

With the largest representation at the Karaka Premier Sale by an international sire is Fastnet Rock with 16 entries. His six colts and 10 fillies include Lot 397 from Cast Your Fate, a half-sister to three stakes performers, and Lot 103, from an unraced Stravinsky half-sister to Foxwood and Malaysia Horse of the Year, Opposing Force.

Tale of the Cat, sire of outstanding three-year-old winner of the $1,000,000 NZ Two Thousand Guineas, Tell A Tale, as well as early Group 1 Golden Slipper favourite Real Saga, is represented by seven progeny in the Premier session, including Lot 12 a half-brother to Group 1 winner Arlingtonboulevard.

Leading Australian sires including Anabaa (5), Canny Lad (1), Cape Cross (7), Catbird (2), Choisir (3), Commands (4), Danehill Dancer (7), Danzero (2), Dehere (4), Elusive Quality (1), Exceed and Excel (10), Flying Spur (5), Fusaichi Pegasus (3), Galileo (10), General Nediym (10), Hussonet (4), Johannesburg (2), Lonhro (4), Mossman (2), Red Ransom (2), Reset (2), Rock of Gibraltar (8), Royal Academy (1), Shamardal (4), Show A Heart (2), Street Cry (1), Testa Rossa (1) are also represented, along with second season sires Al Maher (1), Elvstroem (3), Lion Heart (2) and Not a Single Doubt (1).

The National Yearling Sales Series will be conducted at Karaka from 11am on 26 January. For online catalogue, latest withdrawals and pedigree updates, visit http://www.nzb.co.nz/. For further information contact reception@nzb.co.nz.

For assistance with your trip to New Zealand please contact Hospitality Coordinator Victoria Vela at victoria.vela@nzb.co.nz or phone +64 9 298 0055.

ENDS

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