Every January the Karaka sales ring sees yearlings from the first southern hemisphere crop of a host of emerging sires from all over the globe go under the hammer.
Earlier this year, the 2010 National Yearling Sales Series saw the progeny of 24 young stallions make their Karaka sale ring debut, with Kiwi sires Darci Brahma and Perfectly Ready heading the line-up. They have since gone on to sell well at the 2010 Ready to Run Sale and have both have already had winning progeny on the track.
The 2011 National Yearling Sales Series will see the progeny of 29 first season sires offered for sale across the three sales sessions at Karaka.
ANY SUGGESTION (Lion Hunter)
A nine-time winner, including at Listed level, Any Suggestion raced against the best from ages two to five-years-old including a brave second to champion sprinter Miss Andretti in the Group 1 Australia Stakes (1200m). Any Suggestion’s six-time winning dam, Advisable, is a half-sister to Miss Sandman, the dam of four-time Group 1 winner and successful sire, Show a Heart.
Any Suggestion has one entry in the Karaka Premier Sale at Lot 44, the colt from Shadow Ray, dam of the stakes winner Jungle Juice.
BERNARDINI (A.P. Indy)
Bernardini established himself as one of the best horses of his generation on the track. Racing only as a three-year-old he won the Group 1 Preakness Stakes (1900m), Group 1 Travers Stakes (2000m) and beat the older horses in the Group 1 Jockey Gold Cup (2000m). He was crowned the Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in the USA and Co-World Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in 2006.
Bernardini is already the sire of four Group winners in his first northern hemisphere crop including the Group 1 winners Biondetti and A.Z. Warrior.
Bernardini’s dam Cara Rafaela was the third top filly on the 1995 USA Two-Year-Old Free Handicap and registered four race day wins including the Group 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes.
His draft of 10 includes Lot 445, the colt from the Group 2 winning Volksraad mare Mistrale, and Lot 479, the filly from Paris Tryst, a daughter of Melbourne Cup winner Let’s Elope and a half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Ustinov.
CASINO PRINCE (Flying Spur)
Casino Prince won Group races from 1200-1600 metres. At age four he broke through for a well-deserved Group 1 win in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) ahead of Tuesday Joy. He was also Group 1 placed five times including three of his last four career starts.
His stakes-placed dam Lady Capel (Last Tycoon) is a sister to Palia, the dam of Group 1 winning two-year-old Onemorenomore and Listed winner and Group 2 placed Dr Green.
Casino Prince has four yearlings in the Karaka Premier Sale including Lot 272, the colt from the Stravinsky mare Devil’s Song, a half-sister to the Group 1 winner and NZB Filly of the Year Vapour Trail, Group 2 winner Santagostino and stakes winner Encosta Diablo; and Lot 410, the colt from Louders, a sister to Group 2 winner and NZB Filly of the Year Singalong.
CHINESE DRAGON (Stravinsky)
A seven-time race winner from 13 lifetime starts, including at Group 2 level, Chinese Dragon won five of his six starts at three with four of these wins coming at Listed level.
By Stravinsky, Chinese Dragon is a half-brother to two stakes placed horses and his dam Fabulous Fairy (Alydar) is the daughter of Group 1 winner Fairy Footsteps. Fabulous Fairy is also a half-sister to Group 3 winner Fleet Fairy and Flying Fairy, the dam of triple Group 1 winner Desert Prince.
Chinese Dragon has two yearlings in the Premier Sale: Lot 145, the colt from the five time winner You Remember Me, the dam of the stakes winner Etoile Du Nord, and Lot 444, the filly from Mi Steel, the dam of Group 1 winner Mi Jubilee.
DYLAN THOMAS (Danehill)
One of the best performing sons of Danehill, Dylan Thomas retired to stud as a six-time Group 1 winner including the coveted Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He was crowned Horse of the Year and Champion Older Middle Distance Horse in Europe in 2007, and Champion 3YO in Ireland.
Dylan Thomas is a half-brother to the Group 1 winning mare Queen’s Logic, the top filly on the 2001 International Two-Year-Old Classification.
With a draft of six horses in the Karaka Premier Sale, his yearlings include Lot 107, the colt from the stakes winning O’Reilly mare The Big Chill, and Lot 237, the filly from Circles of Ice, a half-sister to the dam of international Group 1 winner Starspangledbanner.
HARADASUN (Fusaichi Pegasus)
A brilliant three-year-old, Haradasun won two Group 1 races against the older horses, including the Doncaster Mile (1600m), and at five he continued Australia’s success at Royal Ascot winning the Group 1 Royal Ascot Queen Anne Stakes (1200m).
Haradasun is out of the Group 1 winning mare Circles of Gold (Marscay), the dam of multiple Group 1 winner and sire Elvstroem.
From a draft of six horses his yearlings include Lot 88, the filly from the Zabeel mare Sugar Moon, a three-quarter-sister to the Group 1 winner Dupain.
HENNY HUGHES (USA), 2003 (Hennessy x Meadow Flyer)
A precocious youngster, Henny Hughes raced six times as a two-year-old for three wins, one at Group 2 level, and placed in three Group 1 races. At three he went on to win two Group 1 races including the Belmont Vosburgh Stakes (1200m) in a new record time for the 1200 metres.
Out of stakes placed Meadow Flyer (Meadowlake), Henny Hughes is a half-brother to eight individual winners. His oldest North American crop has already produced the stakes placed Wealthy Aviator.
Henny Hughes has one yearling in the Karaka Premier Sale at Lot 244, the colt from Come Up Smiling, a sister to Group 2 winner Royal Abjar.
IFFRAAJ (Zafonic)
Seven-time winner Iffraaj is a triple Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed, and as a sire was the Champion First Season Sire in Great Britain last season.
From his first crop to race he has had 72 horses hit the track for 37 individual winners, a runners to winners ratio of over 51%. This achievement has seen Iffraaj become the new record holder for individual two-year-old winners by any Northern Hemisphere first season sire in history. His first crop has also produced the unbeaten Group 1 winner Wootton Bassett, winner of the Longchamp Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, and Espirita, winner of the Group 3 Deauville Prix des Reservoirs.
Iffraaj is out of Nureyev mare Pastorale, a half-sister to champion sire Cape Cross.
Having the largest draft of the first season sires for 2011, his Premier Sale yearlings include the colt at Lot 256 from the Danehill mare Danasia, the dam of the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive; and Lot 265, the colt from the Zabeel mare Dazzling Walk, a three-quarter-sister to Group 3 winner Activation and a half-sister to Group 1 winner Coogee Walk.
LIBRETTIST (Danzig)
A dual Group 1 winner over a mile at four in France, Librettist was France’s Champion Older Miler in 2006. Commencing stud duties in Great Britain in 2007, he is the sire of dual Group 2 winner Libranno from his first crop.
Librettist is a half-brother to the Group 1 winning sire Dubai Destination. His dam Mysterial (Alleged) is out of the stakes placed mare Mysteries, the dam of Group 1 winner Agnes World and Japan Group 1 winner Hishi Akebono.
Librettist has two lots in the Karaka Premier Sale: Lot 325, the filly from the Group 2 winner Frenetic and Lot 437, the colt from Miss Cosimo, a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winning sprinter Bentley Biscuit.
STREET SENSE (Street Cry)
A history-making son of Street Cry, Street Sense was the first horse to complete the Breeders Cup Juvenile / Kentucky Derby double. He was also three times Group 1 placed and earned over US$4.3 million on the track, being crowned Champion USA Two-Year-Old Colt in 2006.
His draft of three yearlings includes Lot 93, the colt from the Group 1 winning mare Surprize Surprize, and Lot 230, the filly from the Flying Spur mare Charangas, the dam of the stakes winner Warm Love.
2011 Karaka Select Sale
ANY GIVEN SATURDAY (Distorted Humor)
A six-time winner, Any Given Saturday won the Group 1 Monmouth Haskell Invitational Handicap (1800m) and two Group 2 events. He is a half-brother to the Group 3 winning mare Bohemian Lady and his dam, Weekend in Indy, is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed Second of June.
COURT COMMAND (Commands)
A million dollar earner by Commands, Court Command raced from ages two to six. He won six of his career starts, his maiden at his only start as a two-year-old, three Group wins as a three-year-old, and a win a piece in his last two seasons. Court Command’s dam Court House Lane (Zoffany) is herself a four-time winner.
EXCELLENT ART (Pivotal)
The winner of the Group 1 Royal Ascot St James’s Palace Stakes (1600m) at three, Excellent Art was crowned Champion Three-Year-Old Miler in GB & Ireland in 2007. He recorded four career wins plus four Group 1 placings including running second in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Ascot Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
HARD SPUN (Danzig)
This seven-time winner won all three of his starts at two, two at Listed level, and at three he won the Group 1 King’s Bishop Stakes (1400m). He was crowned World Champion Three-Year-Old Sprinter in 2007. He is a half-brother to the stakes winner Our Rite of Spring and three other winners.
HUSSON (Hussonet)
Unbeaten in five starts, Husson was a triple Group 1 winning two- and three-year-old, setting a track record over 1400m, and was the Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in Argentina in 2006 and Champion Miler in 2007. He is a brother and a half-brother to three winners and his dam Villa Elisa is a half-sister to the 13-time winner El Rincon (Hussonet).
MAGNUS (Flying Spur)
Racing from ages three to six, Magnus raced in three countries for a win in the Group 1 Galaxy (1200m) at four in Australia before running a creditable third in the Group 2 King Stand’s Stakes in England. He was also four-times Group 1 placed. Out of the Group 2 and Group 1 placed mare Scandinavia (Snippets), Magnus is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Wilander and Helsinge, the dam of Black Caviar.
PATAPAN (Stravinsky)
The joint Champion Older Sprinter in Italy in 2006, Patapan is the winner of 16 races including the Group 3 Rome Premio Umbria. He is out of the 13-time winner (and stakes winner), Pappa Reale (Indian Ridge), Italy’s 1997 Champion Older Mare (Sprinter). Patapan is a half-brother to Joint Champion 3YO Sprinter in Italy, Per Incanto (Street Cry).
RED CLUBS (Red Ransom)
A high class sprinting two-year-old, Red Clubs won at Group 2 level at two and again at three before winning the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup (1200m) at four and subsequently being crowned Champion European Sprinter in 2007. He was also three-times Group 1 placed including third in the Newmarket July Cup.
SHAFT (Flying Spur)
Shaft achieved his biggest win on the track as a two-year-old winning the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes before running a strong fifth in the Golden Slipper. A $700,000 yearling, Shaft’s dam Traceable is out of Tracy’s Element, the Group 1 winning Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in South Africa and the dam of multiple Group 1 winner and Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year, Typhoon Tracy. Shaft is also from the same family as successful sire Towkay.
SHINZIG (Danehill)
A son of Danehill, Shinzig performed in Group 1 company on both sides of the Tasman, winning the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) and placing in four other Group 1 events. From a strong family, Shinzig is out of the Group 1 winning mare Shindig (Straight Strike) and is a full brother to the stakeswinning sire, Strada.
SOLDIER’S TALE (Stravinsky)
Racing for three seasons from ages three to six, Soldier’s Tale won his maiden at two before training on to win a Group 3 at three and his greatest success, the Group 1 Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at six. Soldier’s Tale hails from the family of Group 1 winning top European filly Lemon Soufflé and Group 2 winner Caramba.
THANO (Southern Halo)
Racing for three seasons in Argentina, Thano won races at three and four, including the Group 1 Palermo G.P. General San Martin (1800m), and placed in two Group 2 events. By the same stallion as boom sire More Than Ready, Thano has black type throughout his page being from the unraced mare Di Machine (Digression), a half-sister to Group 1 winners Ilustrador, Ishkra and Indalecio.
WONDERFUL WORLD (Agnes World)
Winning his two starts as a two-year-old before placing at Group 1 level, his greatest success came at three when he won the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). He also ran second behind El Segundo in the WS Cox Plate. Wonderful World is out of the unraced Success Express mare, Success Tale. Also to feature in the family is the three-time Group 1 winner and sire, Spartacus, and Hong Kong Group 1 winner Billet Express.
ZIZOU (Fusaichi Pegasus)
The Champion 2YO in Australia in 2007, Zizou was a Listed race winner as a two-year-old and second in the Group 1 Golden Slipper and Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes. Zizou is out of the stakes placed mare Natural Is My Name, a half-sister to sire Not A Single Doubt and Come Hither; the family also features Champion Australian sire Snippets and the multi-million dollar earner Forensics.
2011 Karaka Festival Sale
CECCONI (Encosta de Lago)
In a short career spanning only 14 starts, Cecconi won his maiden race as a two-year-old in a Listed event. At three, he went on to notch up four placings, one at Group 2 level. Out of the triple Listed winning mare Tonicity, a sister to Group 3 winner Bodacious Babe, Cecconi is a half-brother to four individual winners. He also comes from the same family as Golden Slipper winner Stratum.
EDENWOLD (Southern Halo)
Edenwold was Canada’s Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 2005 with eight two-year-old starts for four wins, three at Listed level. At three he won again at Listed level and was Group 3 placed. Edenwold’s dam, Best of Friends, is out of the three-time winner Very Best Friend and is a half-sister to In Your Sights, the dam of Canadian Group 1 winner Brite Adam.
GREAT BRITAIN (Green Desert)
A full brother to champion sire Cape Cross, Great Britain was himself a dual winner including the Listed Nad al Sheba Al Quoz Sprint. From Park Appeal (Ahonoora), the dam of four stakes winners plus Pastorale, the dam of the exciting young sire Iffraaj.
HOST (Hussonet)
In a career spanning seven seasons and three countries Host won 10 races, including two Group 1 events, and was awarded the Champion Two-Year-Old and Three-Year-Old titles in Chile.
Host’s dam Colonna Traiana (Roy) was an eight-time winning (and Listed winning) mare. She is also the dam of Barbera, the dam of the stakes winner Taihedian and Group 1 placed Della Barba.
SAPERAVI (Stravinsky)
A $2.2 million yearling, Saperavi is a beautifully bred half-brother to the five time Group 1 winning sire Darci Brahma. His dam is the Group 1 winner Grand Echezeaux, by champion New Zealand sire Zabeel, a half-sister to Group 3 winner Romanee Conti, the dam of Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal.
In a short stint on the track, Saperavi broke his maiden at his second start before placing at Listed level at three.