Abundance of Emerging Sire Talent at Karaka 2022
11 February 2022
While browsing the index of sires represented among the catalogues for Karaka 2022, some will be drawn to the proven stars, while others zero in on the exciting first-season stallions about to make their debuts. But in between those two categories lies an outstanding range of emerging sire talent, with progeny starting to make their mark on racetracks and with the promise of a whole lot more to come.
Bringing unparalleled racetrack credentials when he started shuttling to New Zealand in 2018, Almanzor is developing into an exceptional headline act on Cambridge Stud’s stallion roster.
The son of Wootton Bassett won eight of his 11 starts, headed by a Group One treble as a three-year-old in the Prix Du Jockey Club (2100m), Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) and British Champion Stakes (2000m), beating the likes of prolific Group One mares Found (Galileo) and Minding (Galileo).
Almanzor has served over 140 mares in every season shuttling to Cambridge Stud so far, and he made an immediate impact with his first yearlings at Karaka last year. He had 42 yearlings sell for $8.13 million and an average price of $193,571 – clearly the top-ranked first-season sire, and second among all sires behind the established superstar Savabeel.
At Ellerslie in January, Almanzor became only the third first-season stallion in history to sire a Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner with his highly impressive son Dynastic (NZ). The Jamie Richards-trained colt won by two and a quarter lengths in a race-record time of 1:09.60.
There are 42 yearlings by Almanzor in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, with another six in Book 2. Many stakes-winning and well-bred mares are represented, including:
- Lot 29, from Cambridge Stud’s iconic Eight Carat-Diamond Lover-Tristalove dam line.
- Lots 49 and 511, from a prolific family that has produced the likes of Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom) and her four stakes-performing progeny.
- Lot 317, out of an unraced daughter of Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) winner and Group One placegetter Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt).
A stunning physical specimen and supreme racehorse, American Pharoah swept all before him in a historic three-year-old campaign in 2015.
He became the first horse since 1978 to complete a clean sweep of the American Triple Crown – the Kentucky Derby (2000m), Preakness Stakes (1900m) and Belmont Stakes (2400m). With a sensational Breeders’ Cup Classic (2000m) victory against older horses later in the year, American Pharoah clinched American Horse of the Year honours and was an almost immediate inductee into the Hall of Fame. Overall, he won nine of his 11 career starts.
American Pharoah has carried on in much the same way at stud, and he already has 198 winners to his name from 376 runners worldwide. He has sired 24 individual stakes winners to date, including the Group/Grade One winners Cafe Pharoah, Harvey’s Lil Goil and Van Gogh. Head Of State became his first Australian stakes winner in the Group Three Gloaming Stakes (1800m).
American Pharoah has nine yearlings in Book 1, including Lot 360 – a colt out of the blue-blooded Group One winner La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think).
Godolphin’s Astern made his mark in a brief racing career, winning five of his nine starts including the Group One Golden Rose (1400m), along with a second placing in the sire-making Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
The son of Medaglia d’Oro commenced stud duties in 2017 and has sired 36 winners to date, including three at stakes level in three different countries – Sail By in the United States, Seradess in Australia and Danger Strykes (NZ) in New Zealand.
Astern has two yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2022 and one in Book 2. Lot 219 is out of a half-sister to Group Two winner Puttanesca (NZ) (Bertolini) and descends from top-class mare Waikiki (NZ) (Crested Wave), who is also the third dam of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).
Haunui Farm’s Belardo was an elite racehorse, winning the Group One Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old and the Group One Lockinge Stakes (1600m) at four. His three-year-old season featured a second placing in a star-studded Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1600m).
Belardo has made a strong start at stud in both hemispheres, siring 71 winners from 164 runners to date, including northern hemisphere stakes winners Isabella Giles, Lullaby Moon, Elysium, Bellabel and Belloccio.
He was also leading first-season sire in New Zealand in 2020-21, siring four winners in his debut two-year-old crop including Listed winner and Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) placegetter Avonallo (NZ). Belardo has continued on an upward trajectory since then, with three further black-type performers in New Zealand including another placegetter in this year’s Karaka Million 2YO, Fellini (NZ).
A total of 25 Belardo yearlings will be offered at Karaka 2022, with four in Book 1 and the remainder in Book 2.
- Lot 27 is out of the stakes-placed Triaction (NZ) (Elusive City), a three-quarter-sister to the Group One winner Perfect Fit (NZ) (Elusive City).
- Lot 520 is a full-brother to Avonallo (NZ) (Belardo), who won the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and placed in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m). Their dam Real Angel (NZ) (O’Reilly) is an unraced half-sister to the Australian multiple Group Two placegetter Marquardt (Shamardal).
One of the hottest stallion prospects in Australasia, Capitalist has two crops of racing age and has already soared to a service fee of A$99,000 at Newgate Farm.
Himself a Golden Slipper (1200m) winner, Capitalist is the sire of 47 winners including Group One winner Captivant and fellow stakes winners Kalashnikov, Sebonack, Profiteer and Tycoon Humma.
He also finished second among first-season sires in New Zealand last season, thanks in large part to his Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) placegetter Sneaky Shark.
Book 1 of Karaka 2022 features Lot 179, out of a winning half-sister to the high-class Australian mare Fiesta (I Am Invincible).
A son of the great Galileo, Coolmore’s Churchill won a total of four Group One races across his high-class two-year-old and three-year-old seasons – the National Stakes (1400m), Dewhurst Stakes (1400m), English 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m).
He has sired 28 winners from his first northern hemisphere crop, headed by stakes winners Ladies Church, Vadeni and Snaffles.
Two Churchill yearlings will be offered in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, with one in Book 2. Lot 510 is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Tomelilla (NZ) (Tavistock) and comes from the family of Group One star Castelvecchio (Dundeel).
A multiple Group One-winning son of Encosta De Lago, elite sprinter Impending has shown bright promise with his first-crop juveniles this season, headed by Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) placegetter Moko.
A quartet of Impending yearlings will go through the ring during Book 1 of Karaka 2022, including Lot 433 – a half-brother to Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau). Their dam More Bubbles (Sebring) is a half-sister to the Group One winner Politeness (Street Sense).
A classy son of champion sire Snitzel, Invader won the Group One ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick as a two-year-old, and he also placed in the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) and Group Two Todman Stakes (1200m).
Invader has had seven starters to date from his first two-year-old crop this season, and four of them have won – Celtic Vader, Sweet Fantasy, Battledance and Red Hot Poker.
Invader has one yearling in Book 1 of Karaka 2022 – Lot 509, who is out of a half-sister to the Hong Kong Horse of the Year and triple Group One winner Vengeance Of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel). Second dam Danelagh (Danehill) won the Group One Blue Diamond (1200m) and is the dam or granddam of half a dozen stakes winners. Her daughter Dizelle (Zabeel) won the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) and is the dam of VRC Oaks (2500m) heroine Pinot (Pierro).
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Kiwi-bred Kermadec (NZ) was sold at Karaka in 2013, where he was a $260,000 purchase by Mulcaster Bloodstock from the draft of Wentwood Grange. He went on to enjoy a stellar racetrack career in Sydney, earning almost A$3 million in stakes. His biggest wins came in the Group One Doncaster Handicap (1600m) and George Main Stakes (1600m).
Kermadec has three crops of racing age and has already sired two Group One-winning fillies – Montefilia in the Flight Stakes (1600m) and Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), and Willowy in the VRC Oaks (2500m). Montefilia later added the Group One Metropolitan Handicap (1600m) as a four-year-old. Overall, Kermadec has sired 45 winners from 96 runners.
Kermadec has four yearlings catalogued for Karaka 2022, all in Book 1. Lot 471 is out of the two-race-winning mare Our Squeezer (Redoute’s Choice), a half-sister to two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi) and five other stakes winners.
An elite sprinter in both hemispheres, Merchant Navy won the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington and the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot. The son of Fastnet Rock has sired two winners to date in his first crop of juveniles, along with the Group Three Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) placegetter Drisana.
Merchant Navy is the sire of eight yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2022. Lot 85 is out of a three-quarter-sister to Epsom Derby (2400m) hero Ruler Of The World (Galileo), and close relative of five-time Group One winner and sire Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill), while Lot 439 is a son of stakes-performed and stakes-producing mare Mystique (NZ) (Montjeu).
Himself a Karaka graduate bought for $190,000 in 2013, Preferment (NZ) retired to Brighthill Farm as a four-time Group One winner of the Victoria Derby (2500m), Turnbull Stakes (2000m), Australian Cup (2000m) and Tancred Stakes (2400m). He earned A$3.4 million through a 29-start, five-win racing career.
With his oldest progeny now three, Preferment has sired four winners, along with the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) placegetter Tap Dancer (NZ). Demand has remained strong for his yearlings, selling for up to $280,000 at Karaka 2021.
A healthy contingent of eight Preferment yearlings are set to go through the ring in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, along with another eight in Book 2, including:
- Lot 4, out of stakes-winning mare Tavy (NZ) (Tavistock) and from the family of Group One winners such as Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) and Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls).
- Lot 269, a filly out of a half-sister to the high-class Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar). Herself a Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) winner and seven-time Group One placegetter, Rising Romance is the dam of this season’s Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner Yearning (Snitzel).
Originally at Darley Australia before relocating across the Tasman to Haunui Farm, Ribchester is one of the best-performed sons of quality shuttle stallion Iffraaj to retire to stud.
He won six of his 16 starts, headed by the Group One Prix Jacques Le Marois (1600m), Lockinge Stakes (1600m), Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) and Prix Du Moulin (1600m).
Ribchester has already sired 17 winners in the northern hemisphere, including Listed victor Flaming Rib, while Plymstock recently scored stylishly at Randwick to become the first winner from his debut southern crop.
Ribchester is represented by one yearling at Karaka 2022 – Lot 306, a colt offered by Wentwood Grange. He is a half-brother to five winners from six foals to race, headed by the multiple Group One winner and sire Kermadec (NZ) (Teofilo). Half-brother Good Winning (Al Maher) is a Listed performer.
A superbly swift son of Snitzel, Russian Revolution won seven of his 11 starts including the Group One Galaxy Handicap (1100m) and Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
He is Australia’s leading first-season sire so far in 2021-22, siring three winners including the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) runner-up Russian Conquest and the Group Three performer Revolutionary Miss.
Russian Revolution has eight yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2022 and one in Book 2. Lot 609 is a half-brother to the super-talented stayer Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock), winner of the Group Three Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) and Geelong Cup (2400m). Dam Star Of Tralee (NZ) (Zabeel) placed at Listed level and is half-sister to the Group One VRC Oaks (2500m), Australian Oaks (2400m) and Arrowfield Stud Stakes (2000m) winner Serenade Rose (Stravinsky).
Rich Hill Stud’s Satono Aladdin is a son of the legendary racehorse and sire Deep Impact, and he himself was a top-echelon performer on the racetrack. He won eight races, headed by a scintillating victory in the Group One Yasuda Kinen (1600m).
Satono Aladdin has sired 15 winners from his first Japanese crop, while his first batch of New Zealand two-year-olds includes the stakes-placed Sacred Satono (NZ) and impressive debut winner Kabugee.
Buyers will have access to nine yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2022 and another six in Book 2, including:
- Lot 40, out of the Group One-winning mare Veloce Bella (NZ) (Volksraad).
- Lot 323, a filly whose dam is a sibling to the dams of North Pacific (Brazen Beau), Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) and Missybeel (NZ) (Savabeel).
- Lot 477, out of a half-sister to Group One winner Littorio (Bellotto).
A son of the influential sire of sires Invincible Spirit, champion two-year-old Shalaa won six races in a career that spanned only eight starts. He was a Group One-winning juvenile in two countries, capturing the Prix Morny (1200m) and Middle Park Stakes (1200m).
Shalaa has quickly proven to be a prolific source of winners, with 99 already to his name from his first three crops worldwide. He has had 29 winners from his first southern hemisphere crop, headed by Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) winner Shaquero, while the top-class filly No Speak Alexander won the Group One Matron Stakes (1600m) in Ireland.
Shalaa has one yearling entered for Karaka 2022 – Lot 584, a filly out of the Group Three-placed Simply Put (Charge Forward), who is a half-sister to the stakes winner Best Yet To Come (Econsul).
Westbury Stud’s Tarzino (NZ) is himself a product of Karaka, where he was bought for $45,000 by Rick Connolly Bloodstock from the Cambridge Stud draft in 2014. He turned into a top-class three-year-old in Australia, triumphing in the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and earning over A$1.6 million in stakes.
Those talents have been passed on to his early progeny, with seven winners so far from his first crop including the undefeated filly Gypsy Goddess (NZ) – the winner of four races including a four-length romp in the Group Three Grand Prix (2100m) in Brisbane in December.
Jungle Magnate (NZ) placed in the Group Two Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) in the spring, while Te Toki (NZ) has shown bright promise in a short career to date and was a strong-finishing fourth in last month’s Group Two Auckland Guineas (1600m).
Tarzino is the sire of 20 yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, and another 13 in Book 2, including:
- Lot 95, out of the Group One VRC Oaks (2400m) winner Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer), who in turn is the dam of two stakes winners including another VRC Oaks heroine in Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man).
- Lot 177, a half-brother to the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350m) winner Music Magnate (NZ) (Written Tycoon).
- Lot 365, a half-brother to champion Singapore two-year-old Lim’s Racer (NZ) (Red Giant).
Standing alongside Tivaci at Westbury Stud is Telperion, a son of the world-class stallion Street Cry who himself won the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m) at Randwick as a two-year-old. Telperion also placed in the Group One ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at the same venue, and finished fourth in the Group One Golden Slipper (1200m).
With his oldest progeny now three, Telperion has been credited with three winners to date including Stormy (NZ), who won last season’s Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) and placed in the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m). He has since relocated to Hong Kong, where he placed under the name Five Elements.
Telperion has 12 yearlings set to go through the ring at Karaka 2022, all in Book 2, including:
- Lot 717, out of a daughter of Group One winner Imananabaa (Anabaa).
- Lot 727, out of the Listed winner and Group Three San Domenico Stakes (1000m) placegetter Astounded (Encosta De Lago).
- Lot 890, a filly whose dam Kilderry (Mossman) is a half-sister to four black-type performers including three-time stakes winner Passing Shot (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
A tremendous prospect for the time-honoured Little Avondale Stud, Time Test is by Dubawi and out of a stellar European female family.
He clearly inherited his share of the family talents, winning six races including the Group Two Joel Stakes (1600m), Group Two York Stakes (2100m), Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes (2000m) and the Group Three Tercentenary Stakes (2000m) in track-record time at Royal Ascot. He also placed at the highest level in the Eclipse Stakes (2000m) and America’s Manhattan Stakes (2000m) and Fourstardave Handicap (1600m).
But the most exciting part of Time Test’s CV is his early performances at stud, siring 11 first-crop winners in the northern hemisphere including stakes winners Romantic Time, Rocchigiani, The King’s Horses and Tardis.
Time Ruler (NZ) became his first southern hemisphere winner with a five-length romp at Tauranga last month, while Time Flies (NZ) finished fourth in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m).
There are 12 sons or daughters of Time Test catalogued for Book 1 of Karaka 2022, with another 22 in Book 2, including:
- Lot 148, closely related to the Group One winners Dal Cielo (NZ) (Per Incanto) and Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel).
- Lot 358, a half-brother to the Group Two winner and last season’s Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) placegetter Llanacord (NZ) (Contributer).
- Lot 454, from the family of more than a dozen stakes winners including the Australian Group One performers Tulip (NZ) (Pierro) and Sacred Eye (High Chaparral).
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After two seasons of consistent performance at high levels, Tivaci capped his racing career with a Group One triumph in his final start – the 2017 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. The son of High Chaparral joined the elite stallion roster at Waikato Stud, and he has started to hit his straps impressively in recent months.
Tivaci has sired 13 winners from his first crop and two from his second, with a pair of top-class stakes winners emerging this season. Three-year-old filly Never Been Kissed (NZ) won the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) and placed in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), while the two-year-old Wolverine (NZ) began her career with three brilliant wins including the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Eclipse Stakes (1200m). She had her first taste of defeat when a last-start second in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m).
Buyers will have access to 23 Tivaci yearlings in Book 1 of Karaka 2022 and four in Book 2, including:
- Lot 135, out of a half-sister to Group Two winner Acting (NZ) (Savabeel) and three-quarter-sister to Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel).
- Lot 231, a half-brother to super-talented Group One winner Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma).
- Lot 572, a half-brother to last season’s Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) placegetter Impecunious (NZ) (Sacred Falls).
Outstanding racehorse Turn Me Loose (NZ) earned more than $1.5 million in his 20-start, seven-win career, far exceeding his $52,500 purchase price at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. He was a Group One winner on both sides of the Tasman, capturing the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton before adding Melbourne’s Emirates Stakes (1600m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m).
Turn Me Loose retired to Windsor Park Stud in 2017 and has so far sired four winners in New Zealand and five in Australia, headed by Listed winner Turn The Ace (NZ) and the stakes-placed Verbek (NZ) and Bond Street Beau (NZ).
Karaka 2022 features 11 Turn Me Loose yearlings in Book 1 and 17 in Book 2, including:
- Lot 320, out of an unraced half-sister to Group One-winning Perth mare Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Melbourne Listed winner Ruettiger (NZ) (Duporth).
- Lot 613, out of a half-sister to the multiple Group Two winner and Group One-placed Lady Kipling (NZ) (Savabeel), whose progeny include Group Two winner Fascino (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and stakes-placed Favreau (NZ) (Tavistock).
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Rich Hill Stud’s Vadamos was a Group One performer in both hemispheres, starting in France, where he won the Prix Du Moulin (1600m) and placed in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (1600m). He later ventured to Australia, where he recorded gallant fourths in the Cox Plate (2040m) and Emirates Stakes (2000m).
The son of influential sire Monsun has wasted no time in making an impact at stud, siring 60 winners already from 156 runners worldwide. His New Zealand progeny include last month’s sensational Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) winner La Crique (NZ), along with fellow stakes-winning fillies Art De Triomphe (NZ) and the undefeated two-year-old Grace’s Secret (NZ).
Four yearlings by Vadamos will be offered during Book 1 of Karaka 2022, along with another six in Book 2, including:
- Lot 254, a half-brother to trans-Tasman stakes winner Manolo Blahniq (NZ) (Jimmy Choux).
- Lot 341, whose dam Kaatoon (NZ) (Kaapstad) was a multiple Group winner and has produced two winners including the stakes-performed Aotearower (NZ) (Shamardal).
A well-credentialled son of the influential War Front, Inglewood Stud’s War Decree won three races including the Group Two Vintage Stakes (1400m) at Goodwood as a two-year-old – beating the subsequent four-time Group One winner Thunder Snow (Helmet).
War Decree has had four runners so far from his first crop of New Zealand two-year-olds, and three of that quartet have already been placed – Order To Charge (NZ), Val Di Zoldo (NZ) and Correction (NZ).
Karaka 2022 will showcase two War Decree yearlings in Book 1 and 17 in Book 2, including:
- Lot 31, a half-brother to quality Hong Kong performer Fifty Fifty (NZ) (Thorn Park), the winner of the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m) and placegetter in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m). Dam Udiditagain (NZ) (D’Cash) was herself a Listed winner and is also the dam of the Group Three-placed Monrecour (NZ) (Zacinto).
- Lot 240, out of a half-sister to the Group Two winner Emily Margaret (NZ) (Pins).
Buyers who cannot physically attend the Sale are encouraged to participate via NZB’s user-friendly online bidding platform. Register for online bidding here.
New Zealand-based buyers and agents will be required to pre-register in order to physically attend the sale sessions held At Karaka. Domestic purchasers can apply to physically attend that Sale here.
All buyers will also need to register to purchase at Karaka 2022. Buyers can register to purchase by filling out the Buyer Registration form here or may fill in an Appointment of Agent form to purchase on their behalf here.
New Zealand-based agents are also available to complete inspections on behalf of international buyers at on-farm parades and at the iconic Karaka Sales Centre.
View the full Book 1 and 2 catalogues online here.
IMPORTANT DATES
Vodafone New Zealand Derby Day at Ellerslie, Saturday 5 March
Book 1: Monday 7 – Wednesday 9 March, commencing 11am (NZT)
Book 2: Thursday 10 – Saturday 12 March, commencing 11am (NZT)
Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day at Ellerslie, Sunday 13 March