Booming Trade Kicks off Momentous Karaka 2026
NZB’s historic 100th National Yearling Sale kicked off with a solid first day of trade with increases across the average and median reflecting a healthy middle market.
At the close of selling for the opening session, a total of 207 lots sold for a total aggregate of more than $38 million. The average reached $184,529, a 12% increase on the Book 1 total last year, while the median closed at $140,000, an increase of 27%.
Fittingly, Cambridge Stud who have been selling yearlings for more than 70 years at the National Yearling Sale, offered the top lot of the day.
The blue-blooded Snitzel colt out of Amarelinha (Lot 265) was knocked down to Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock for $850,000.
“He’s a beautiful colt by a champion sire out of a NZB Filly of the Year in Amarelinha,” commented bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster.
“We had a really good client who wanted to buy a good colt today, and hopefully he’s going to buy some good fillies tomorrow as well.
“Buying off Cambridge Stud, you can’t go wrong,” he added.
Another longstanding vendor, Hallmark Stud, offered the second top lot on Day One when Lot 93, a Super Seth colt out of Rozala, was purchased for $675,000 by KPW Bloodstock.
“I thought this was just an outstanding colt, one of the best moving colts on the complex,” commented KPW Bloodstock’s Kevin ‘Milly’ Walls.
NZB’s Director and Head Auctioneer Mike Kneebone commented on the first day of trade at the refreshed Book 1 Sale.
“We’ve taken on a massive challenge of selling across long nine hour days. To take that risk, condensing the catalogue, it’s very rewarding to see the Sale start so well.”
“There are so many good horses spread across so many good stud farms. The first 20 horses were remarkable, and that flow continued all day.
“To have 19 horses make $400,000 or more on the first day, when last year there was 26 in total, it indicates how well the Sale is travelling and a very healthy middle market.
“As we know the second day is when everyone has their eye in. A lot of people came here today to buy a horse and they are still waiting.
“There has been great feedback about the refreshed format and having all the Book 2 horses on the ground early.
“Great to see both Australia and Hong Kong so active, and the Kiwis really stepping up. The clearance rate will continue to improve overnight, and we look forward to another strong day tomorrow.”
Selling continues on Monday for Day Two of Book 1, where lots 291 – 567 will go through the ring from 10am (NZT) at Karaka.
The Sale is televised live on SKY Channel 263 and Freeview Channel 200 in New Zealand and on Racing.com in Australia, as well as on NZB’s website, online bidding platform and Facebook page.
Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Day One online here.
View the full results here.
To enquire about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham at +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz or Andrew Buick at +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz.
Karaka 2026: Book 1, Day One Statistics (as at end of selling)
| 2026 BOOK 1, DAY ONE (NEW FORMAT) | 2025 BOOK 1 TOTAL | 2024 BOOK 1 TOTAL | 2023 BOOK 1 TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGGREGATE | $38,197,500 | $75,332,500 | $79,585,500 | $70,063,000 |
| AVERAGE | $184,529 | $164,841 | $168,257 | $151,980 |
| MEDIAN | $140,000 | $110,000 | $120,000 | $130,000 |
| CLEARANCE | 77% | 78% | 78% | 79% |
| CATALOGUED | 290 | 661 | 682 | 644 |
| OFFERED | 270 | 588 | 607 | 582 |
| SOLD | 207 | 457 | 473 | 461 |
| TOP LOT | Lot 265 Snitzel – Ameralinha (B.C) $850,000 | Lot 345 Savabeel – Symphonic (Br.F) $2,400,000 | Lot 21 Proisir – Donna Marie (Ch.F) $1,600,000 | Lot 586 Fastnet Rock – Test the World (B.F) $1,000,000 |
Karaka 2026: Book 1 Day One Top Lots
| Lot | Sire | Dam | Sex | Vendor | Purchaser | Price |
| 265 | Snitzel | Amarelinha | Colt | Cambridge Stud | Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock (NSW) | $ 850,000 |
| 93 | Super Seth | Rozala | Colt | Hallmark Stud | KPW Bloodstock (QLD) | $ 675,000 |
| 102 | Anamoe | Save the Date | Colt | Cambridge Stud | Mulberry Racing (NSW) | $ 650,000 |
| 94 | Proisir | Ruqqaya | Colt | Trelawney Stud | Yulong / Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds (VIC) | $ 600,000 |
| 143 | Snitzel | Sovereign Love | Filly | Westbury Stud | Mr Andrew Carston (Canterbury) | $ 560,000 |
| 259 | Savabeel | Allemande | Colt | Cambridge Stud | Shijiazhuang Hongtao Horse Breeding (China) | $ 550,000 |
| 215 | Anamoe | Veronica Jane | Colt | Wentwood Grange | Mr Ryan Fownes (Hong Kong) | $ 500,000 |
| 124 | Street Boss | Shuffled | Filly | Inglewood Stud | Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) (NSW) | $ 475,000 |
| 147 | Home Affairs | Special Memories | Colt | Landsdowne Park | David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) | $ 475,000 |
| 24 | Satono Aladdin | On Yer Feet | Colt | Little Avondale Stud | Payne Racing (NSW) | $ 450,000 |
| 188 | Satono Aladdin | The Precious One | Colt | Milan Park | Lindsay Park Racing / Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (VIC) | $ 450,000 |
| 241 | Wootton Bassett | Zayydani | Colt | Trelawney Stud | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing / Darby Racing / Kestrel Thoroughbreds (NSW) | $ 450,000 |
| 177 | Satono Aladdin | Taviarma | Colt | Curraghmore | Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock (NSW) | $ 440,000 |
| 103 | Sword of State | Savvy Dreams | Filly | Milan Park | Ben Kwok (Singapore) | $ 425,000 |
| 107 | The Autumn Sun | Seany’s Girl | Filly | Wentwood Grange | Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) (NSW) | $ 425,000 |
| 139 | Profondo | Songbird | Filly | Carlaw Park | Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) (NSW) | $ 425,000 |
| 59 | Proisir | Pure Faith | Filly | Curraghmore | B2B Thoroughbreds (NSW) | $ 400,000 |
| 105 | Satono Aladdin | Sayyzel | Colt | Riversley Park | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing / Champion Thoroughbreds / Kestrel Thoroughbreds (NSW) | $ 400,000 |
| 270 | In the Congo | Anaween | Filly | Little Avondale Stud | David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) | $ 400,000 |
