Karaka 2025: A Global Showcase of New Zealand Bloodstock

Karaka, situated in the heart of Auckland, New Zealand, is a cornerstone of the nation’s thoroughbred industry, embodying breeding excellence and stands as a recognised global hub for bloodstock auctions. The annual Karaka auctions attracts breeders, owners, and buyers from across the globe, establishing itself as one of the premier events on the Southern Hemisphere’s racing calendar. The 2025 edition of this iconic event is set to continue this legacy, offering a captivating showcase of New Zealand’s finest young horses.

A Legacy Forged in Vision

The roots of New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) can be traced back to 1969 when visionary businessman Sir Woolf Fisher sought to elevate the nation's thoroughbred industry to international prominence. His vision came to fruition in 1972 with the construction of the Karaka Sales Centre, which provided a dedicated space to showcase the finest young horses. This move helped establish the National Yearling Sales , which quickly became a leading event in the Southern Hemisphere, drawing buyers from around the globe eager to invest in top-quality bloodstock.

The Karaka Millions: A Race Day Like No Other

In addition to the sales, the Karaka Millions has played a pivotal role in solidifying Karaka’s reputation on the world stage. Held at Ellerslie Racecourse, the Karaka Million 2YO and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic are among the most lucrative races in New Zealand, offering substantial prize money and attracting the most promising young horses. These races are not only an exciting spectacle, but also serve as a platform for showcasing New Zealand's exceptional breeding programmes, further contributing to the country's status as a world leader in equine excellence.

Beyond the Sales Ring: Innovation and Industry Development

NZB’s influence extends far beyond the sales ring. Recognising the interconnected nature of the industry, NZB has actively implemented several strategies to support breeders, trainers, and owners alike. Some of the key initiatives include:

• International Marketing: NZB’s proactive international marketing campaigns have positioned New Zealand-bred horses as sought-after commodities on the global stage, fostering valuable relationships with buyers and trainers in key racing jurisdictions worldwide.

  
  

• Breeders’ Rewards: By introducing robust breeders’ reward programmes, NZB has incentivised investment in high-quality bloodlines, encouraging continuous improvement and innovation within the breeding sector.

  
  

• Industry Education and Support: NZB has also placed a strong emphasis on education, offering initiatives designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of professionals within the industry, from breeders to trainers and owners, ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of New Zealand’s thoroughbred industry.

Karaka 2025

The Karaka 2025, as outlined in the official NZB bloodstock book, is set to be another thrilling event, offering buyers the opportunity to secure the next generation of racing stars.

Some key highlights of the Karaka auctions include:

• Book 1 and 2 of the National Yearling Auctions: As the premier event, Book 1 and 2 will attract global attention, featuring the most highly anticipated yearlings and drawing discerning buyers, eager to invest in the next champion.

  
  

• The Karaka Millions: The 2025 Karaka Millions race day, which will take place on January 25, offers a thrilling competition and showcases the exceptional talent emerging from New Zealand’s breeding programmes.

  
  

• Growing International Interest: The 2025 auctions demonstrates the increasing global demand for New Zealand-bred horses, with an impressive number of international buyers from Australia, Hong Kong, and other major racing jurisdictions actively participating in the event.

A Closer Look at the 2025 Yearling Sale

The 2025 Karaka Yearling Sale features a diverse selection of young horses bred by some of the most respected sires such as Savabeel, Per Incanto, Proisir, and Ocean Park.

Savabeel, a magnificent son of Zabeel, has established himself as one of the most dominant stallions in New Zealand's racing history. He has won the prestigious Grosvenor Award (Champion NZ Sire) for nine of the last ten years, along with his ninth consecutive Centaine Award. With 148 stakes winners, 98 Group winners, and 35 Group 1 winners, Savabeel’s success is unparalleled in modern New Zealand breeding. He has also claimed nine Dewar Awards.

The Grosvenor Award is based on progeny earnings, the Dewar Award on combined earnings from Australia and New Zealand, and the Centaine Award considers worldwide progeny earnings. Savabeel’s consistent success in all three awards highlights his dominance as a sire. At Waikato Stud, we recognize his pivotal role in helping elevate the stud to the top vendor position at the Karaka auctions for seven consecutive years (2014-2020).

Savabeel’s achievements include a remarkable 73% winners-to-runners ratio and 11% stakes winners-to-runners ratio. Like his sire Zabeel, Savabeel’s success has only grown with age and maturity.

In 2022, his daughter Probabeel won the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year title for the second year in a row after an exceptional season, including her victory in the G1 Caulfield Stakes. In the 2022/2023 season, I Wish I Win, trained by Peter Moody, made a huge impact on the Australian scene, winning the $10M Golden Eagle and the Gr.1 TJ Smith, completing a Group 1 double with Major Beel’s Australian Derby win. This impressive feat showcased Savabeel’s versatility as a sire.

A week later, Chris Waller’s Atishu became Savabeel’s 31st Group 1 winner, taking out the Queen of the Turf Stakes. Atishu was a $260,000 purchase by Go Racing at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sales.

In total, Savabeel has sired 35 Group 1 winners, including Provence, Savaglee, Pris De Fer, Mo’unga, The Chosen One, Lucia Valentina, Kawi, and many more.

Savabeel, like Ocean Park, also won the W.S. Cox Plate, Australasia’s most prestigious weight-for-age race. His legacy as a champion sire is firmly established.

Per Incanto is a highly successful New Zealand stallion. He has sired numerous Group 1 winners in Australia and New Zealand, including VRC Champions Sprint victor Roch 'N' Horse and Blue Diamond Stakes winner Little Brose. His yearlings are highly sought after at the Karaka auctions, with some selling for up to $500,000.

Per Incanto's progeny are known for their athleticism and kind temperament, inheriting these traits from their sire. He has a strong record of producing winners, with a winners-to-runners percentage of over 66% and a stakes winners-to-runners percentage of 5%. In Asia, his winning strike rate is even higher at 80%.

Proisir is a retired thoroughbred racehorse who has transitioned into a highly successful stud career at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand. He is a son of Choisir, a successful international racehorse and sire. Proisir was a champion racehorse in New Zealand. He is now a successful sire.

Proisir, a Group 1-winning son of champion sire Pins, has established himself as a leading sire at Rich Hill Stud. His impressive racing career, highlighted by victories in the Windsor Stakes and Blamey Stakes, hinted at his breeding potential. Proisir's progeny are highly regarded for their versatility, athleticism, and toughness, consistently excelling across various distances and racing conditions.

The demand for Proisir's foals is high, reflected in the impressive prices they fetch at yearling sales. This commercial success is a testament to his reputation as a reliable producer of quality racehorses.

With a proven track record and a strong book of mares in his breeding program, Proisir's future as a leading sire looks bright. Breeders can expect him to continue producing exceptional racehorses for years to come. Proisir embodies the qualities of a champion sire. His own racing achievements, combined with his impressive breeding record, solidify his position as a valuable asset to the thoroughbred industry.

Ocean Park has established himself as a leading sire in Australasia, producing a string of top-class racehorses. His most notable progeny include Kolding, a multiple Group 1 winner, and Tofane, a four-time Group 1 champion.

Ocean Park's impact extends beyond these stars, with his offspring consistently performing at the highest level in both Australia and New Zealand. His consistent production of winners, including 22 stakes winners and 43 stakes performers, has solidified his reputation as a top sire. Ocean Park's influence is further evidenced by his impressive winners-to-runners ratio of 61.2%.

He has achieved significant accolades, including the Dewar Award for New Zealand-based sires in 2020, previously held by his stablemate Savabeel. Known for producing successful middle-distance horses, Ocean Park's own racing career culminated in a victory in the prestigious Cox Plate, mirroring the success of his sire, Thorn Park.

His yearlings are highly sought-after at sales, with some fetching significant prices, reflecting the high demand for his progeny. Ocean Park's combination of exceptional racing pedigree, consistent production of top-class runners, and commercial success solidifies his position as one of the most influential sires in the modern era of Australian and New Zealand thoroughbred racing.

New Zealand's top stud farms include: Waikato Stud, Westbury Stud, Cambridge Stud, Windsor Park Stud, Trelawney Stud, Rich Hill Stud, Curraghmore, Mapperley Stud, Wentwood Grange, Pencarrow Stud, Valachi Downs and Hanui Farm.

Notable Lots: The bloodstock book also highlighted several standout yearlings with exceptional pedigrees, including those by internationally renowned sires like Justify (USA) and Almanzor (FR), ensuring that the 2025 sale was poised to offer something for every discerning buyer.

International Demand: The sale saw strong international interest, with buyers from key racing regions such as Australia, Hong Kong, and beyond showing a keen interest in New Zealand-bred horses. This growing demand further solidified the reputation of New Zealand bloodstock as a source of top-quality horses.

Karaka 2025

The Karaka 2025 is set to take place from January 26-30, 2025, at the Karaka Sales Centre in New Zealand. Spanning over five days, the event features two books of yearlings, alongside a National Online Yearling Sale, ensuring that buyers from around the world could participate in one of the most prestigious bloodstock events of the year. The Karaka Million race day, which serves as the prelude to the sales, takes place on January 25, 2025.

As Karaka continues to evolve and strengthen its position as a leader in the global bloodstock market, the 2025 Karaka auctions is sure to further elevate the reputation of New Zealand’s breeding industry, showcasing the country's unmatched breeding excellence to the world. With its combination of innovative marketing, world-class breeding, and exciting racing opportunities, Karaka auctions remains a true global showcase of New Zealand bloodstock.

For more information about Karaka visit: https://www.nzb.co.nz/