Karaka 2025: Highlights and Key Moments from the National Yearling Sales Series

The Karaka 2025 National Yearling Sales Series was a remarkable event, showcasing the best of the thoroughbred industry. Over several days, the sales saw record-breaking transactions, historic achievements, and a diverse buying bench from around the world.

The event kicked off with a strong start, featuring significant sales and impressive clearance rates. As the days progressed, the momentum continued, culminating in the sale of a $2.4 million filly, the highest price for a filly at Karaka in twenty-five years.

The series concluded with solid results, reflecting the resilience and strength of the industry despite economic challenges. This article delves into the key moments, standout sales, and notable achievements that defined Karaka 2025.

Book 1, Day 1

The first day of trade for Book 1 started on a strong note, with 163 lots sold for $26,665,000 at an average of $163,589, and a clearance rate of 73%. The top lot of the day was a colt by Wootton Bassett, which sold for $725,000.

This colt was bred by Nearco Stud and offered by Curraghmore, and was secured by Michael Freedman, Michael Wallace, and Tom Magnier. Another significant sale was a filly by Too Darn Hot, which sold for $675,000. This filly was also offered by Curraghmore and purchased by Michael Freedman in partnership with James Harron and Tony Fung. Both top lots were highly praised for their athleticism and pedigree.

NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook expressed satisfaction with the steady results and the diverse buying bench.

Book 1, Day 2

Day Two of NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series was historic, highlighted by the sale of a $2.4 million filly. By the end of the second day of Book 1, the aggregate reached $56,830,000 for 331 lots sold, with an average of $171,692 and a clearance rate of 77%.

The standout moment was the sale of Lot 345, a full-sister to Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel x Symphonic), for $2.4 million, the highest price for a filly at Karaka in 25 years. Purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller, Guy Mulcaster expressed delight in securing the record-breaking filly. Mark Chitty from Haunui Farm, representing breeders Barneswood Farm, reflected on the significance of this achievement.

Earlier in the day, Lot 335, a Proisir filly out of Strada Cavallo, sold for $700,000 to DGR Thoroughbred Services, John Sargent Racing, and Spicer Thoroughbreds. Duncan Ramage praised the filly's athleticism and residual value.

The second day saw improved clearance and average figures from Day One, with buyers from twelve countries.

Book 1, Day 3

Day Three of NZB’s 2025 National Yearling Sales Series concluded Book 1 on Tuesday, with a solid day of trade comparable to last year's results. By the end of the selling period, the Book 1 aggregate reached $75,322,500 from 588 yearlings, with an average of $164,819 and a clearance rate of 78%.

The Book 1 session made history with the daughter of the King of Karaka ring was sold for a record-breaking $2.4 million sale of Lot 345 on the second day, marking the most expensive filly ever purchased at Karaka and the highest-priced yearling in 25 years. NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook expressed satisfaction with the final day of Book 1, noting that they were just 5% down from the incredible result of 2024. He praised the strength of both the international and domestic buying benches, highlighting the resilience of the industry despite economic challenges.

The highlight of Day Three was Lot 564, a full sister to Prowess (Proisir), offered by Hallmark Stud and sold to Roger James and Robert Wellwood for $1.1 million. This followed a similar sale the previous year when another full-sister to the star was sold for $1.6 million. Mark Baker of Hallmark Stud described the result as surreal and a dream come true.

Another significant sale was Lot 637 (Proisir x Golden Hind), which sold for $850,000 to agent Dean Hawthorne. Curraghmore, the vendor, led the average tables and sold all 18 yearlings offered for an average of $322,222.

Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis secured the leading buyer title once again, purchasing 26 yearlings over the three days for a total of $4,497,50012. Ellis expressed gratitude for the large group of owners at the sale and mentioned that they had bought some good horses out of Book 2 in the past.

For the first time, Karaka-based Haunui Farm took the title of leading vendor, selling 24 yearlings for $6,740,00015. Mark Chitty of Haunui Farm expressed delight at the honor and praised the team effort by both Haunui and NZB.

The leading sire for Book 1 was Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett, who sold nine yearlings for an average of $361,66718. His stablemate, St Mark’s Basilica, was the top freshman stallion, with seven yearlings sold for an average of $235,714.

Book 2, Day 1

Following a strong Book 1, the momentum continued into NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series Book 2 session, where 122 yearlings were sold on Wednesday. The Book 2 format, now condensed into a two-day sale, saw $4,936,000 turned over with an average of $40,463 and a pleasing clearance rate of 73%.

Rich Hill Stud stallion Satono Aladdin was the star of Book 2 of Karaka 2025, siring the highest-priced lots on both Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, Brighthill Farm’s NZ$260,000 filly out of Sparkling Rose topped the sale. On Thursday, Satono Aladdin's top lot was a NZ$150,000 colt out of High Esteem, purchased by John Foote. High Esteem is from a renowned family, including the outstanding Prized Gem.

Foote praised the colt's High Chaparral traits and noted that it was bought for David Price, with plans to go to Victoria and potentially Hong Kong. Foote also bought a Vadamos colt for NZ$70,000 and highlighted the challenges of buying good types and pedigrees.

The top lot of the day was Lot 855, a filly by Satono Aladdin out of Sparkling Rose, which was sold to Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $260,000 from Brighthill Farm’s draft. Leading vendor Nick King praised the filly for her professionalism and noted that she had been treated like a Book 1 filly, parading for nine days without missing a beat. King expressed delight at the result for breeder Leon Mountford.

Satono Aladdin's other high-priced yearling on Thursday was a NZ$140,000 colt out of Gerda, bought by Universal Bloodstock. Another highlight was a NZ$125,000 Shamexpress colt out of High Tail It, bought by Patella Bloodstock. The four yearlings by Shamexpress averaged NZ$97,500.

Windsor Park Stud’s Rodney Schick praised the Shamexpress colt's quality and noted that it was purchased by Nick Kneebone, who is returning to train in New Zealand.

NZB’s Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones was satisfied with the first day of Book 2, highlighting the spirited bidding from local trainers, agents, and international buyers. He also commended John Foote for his respect and effort in purchasing quality horses. Jones was optimistic about the clearance rate, which finished at 73% and was expected to rise overnight.

Book 2, Day 2

At the close of the Book 2 session, $9,759,000 was turned over for 270 yearlings sold, with an average of $36,144 and a clearance rate of 76%. NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook acknowledged a dip in the final figures but was pleased with the positive mood within the sales complex. He noted that the softening in the market was due to the state of the economy, but the increase in the clearance rate was a positive outcome.

The top lot of the day was Lot 1079, a colt by Satono Aladdin out of High Esteem, sold for $150,000 to John Foote, who purchased eight yearlings for $750,000. Foote commented on the difficulty of buying good types and pedigrees, even in Book 2.

Westbury Stud was the leading vendor of Book 2 with a 100% clearance rate and $1,174,500 in turnover. Ardsley Stud also cleared 100% and led the average tables with $76,250 for four lots sold. Windsor Park’s Shamexpress led the sire tables by average, with four lots secured for an average of $97,500.

Te Akau Racing's Remarkable Achievements and Future Prospects

Wrapping up last year’s sale, Te Akau Racing promised to find and buy another Karaka Millions winner, and true to their word, they did. After the last three days, the team was confident that they had done it again with their 'Class of 2025' Karaka yearlings. Book 1 at Karaka was completed, and Team Te Akau was overjoyed to have secured 26 yearlings, with a number having already been sold. Each of these yearlings was poised to excel under the Te Akau banner in both New Zealand and Australia. The team was thrilled by the exceptional quality of horses that would grace the track in the tangerine.

Te Akau Principal David Ellis CNZM was once again the leading buyer at Karaka, an achievement the team was extremely proud of. They were also immensely grateful for the ongoing support from their patrons, which enabled them to continue reaching these milestones. The team invited everyone to catch up with David and Karyn for a wrap-up of their final days ringside at Karaka.

The TAB Karaka Millions' meeting preceded the sale at Ellerslie, where Te Akau won the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO with La Dorada, providing the stable with their 8th winner in nine years, and the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO with Damask Rose.

La Dorada and Damask Rose added to the history that Te Akau had created in the Karaka Millions' races. No other stable had recorded the double, and Te Akau had done this three times. They won both races in 2020 with Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) and Probabeel (Savabeel), and again in 2022 with Dynastic (Almanzor) and Pin Me Up (Pins). Probabeel remained the only horse in the 18-year race history to have won both races, after first winning the Karaka Million 2YO in 2019.

The recent purchases, shown on the ‘Buy Yearlings & Shares’ page, had made their way to Te Akau Stud, where the spelling and breaking-in of horses was shared on 4000 acres with farming sheep and cattle. With 21 purchases at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast and 25 at Karaka, Te Akau had purchased 46 yearlings for syndication in January.

David Ellis, who received the Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award in 2017 and was appointed as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2020, continued to be a major force in the racing industry. Te Akau Racing now had stables in Matamata, Riccarton, and Cranbourne (Victoria).

The team had an even distribution of colts and fillies, having done their homework intensely leading into both the yearling sales. The buying team, including Mark Walker, Marcus Corban, and Reece Trumper, together with senior vets, inspected the Gold Coast yearling drafts in December in Australia and were back over there a week before the sales began. They also started inspecting the Karaka drafts at the farms in December, intensified these inspections in January, and were on the sale grounds in the week leading up to the sales to refine their buying lists.

Te Akau led the New Zealand Trainers' Premiership with 76 wins that season, with $4.9 million won in stakes for their owners.