Karaka Bloodstock Sales A Showcase Event

Karaka Bloodstock Sales A Showcase Event

Months of planning is about to be put to the test when the buyers and vendors come together from Monday (January 31) for the Karaka Bloodstock Sales.

New Zealand Bloodstock has worked hard to attract the best yearlings and the most extensive buying bench possible for Karaka 2005. Now it is up to market forces to determine how buoyant the sales will be.

It’s the annual showcase event for the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry – the National Yearling Sales – and the world will be watching. In association with Mercedes Benz, New Zealand television viewers can catch the action daily - on Trackside Digital, and live on SKY Sport 2, with highlights each evening.

The 79th sales series gets underway at the Karaka sales grounds in South Auckland. There are three separate sessions: Premier (January 31 to February 2), Select (February 3 and 4) and Festival (February 6 and 7).

More than 1470 yearlings are catalogued for the sales including 20 by deceased super sire Danehill which are sure to attract international attention from a record bench of overseas buyers. Already buyers have arrived from England, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia at the Karaka sales ground and more groups from South Africa, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Macau are expected to converge by next week.

This year there is no question that the presence of 20 Danehills in the catalogue is a strong drawcard for many buyers. But with the depth that there is in the catalogue this year behind the Danehills, it should mean that many vendors will share the spoils.

There is no doubt that New Zealand has the edge on many overseas countries in terms of its ideal environment and conditions for breeding strong, well-boned horses. Last year the Premier Sale at Karaka netted an aggregate of $44.7 million with an average price of $111,955 per yearling.

Leading candidates for top-priced lot at next week's Premier Sale include the Danehill-Encens filly, Danehill-Beyond The Sunset colt, Giant's Causeway-Champagne colt and Zabeel-Marquise colt.

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