With 11 Kiwi bred three-year-old Group 1 winners in Australia in the last two years, New Zealand horses are continuing a proud heritage of success in some of the most prestigious races on Australasia’s racing calendar.

Often a mark of a champion racehorse is its ability to perform through its classic season.  Group 1 races for this age include some of the turf’s richest events with three-year-old Group 1 races in Australia and New Zealand offering in excess of $18 million last season.

When it comes to purchasing classic types, New Zealand and NZ Bloodstock’s Karaka Yearling Sales have become the leading source of these much desired thoroughbreds.  Their record in these races is outstanding – having produced 18 Derby winners in 6 countries since 2010.

New Zealand bred horses have won over a quarter of all Australia’s three-year-old Group 1 races since 2000.  That success is even more compelling through the staying ranks with New Zealand winning a third of all Group 1 three-year-old races over 2000 metres or more since 2000.  All that with New Zealand making up just over 5% of Australia’s racehorse population.

New Zealand bred horses to claim champion 3YO honours across the Tasman include the likes of Octagonal, Mouawad, Starcraft and more recently Shamrocker and international champion So You Think.

New Zealand’s 11 individual Group 1 winning three-year-olds in Australia in the last two years include Sangster, Zabeelionaire, Brambles, Jimmy Choux, Scarlet Lady, Lights of Heaven, Norzita and It’s a Dundeel.

With these results in mind, Karaka 2013 (28 January – 4 February 2013) will be offering a quality selection of classic types with yearlings from, or siblings to, 28 Group 1 classic winning three-year-olds.

Among the distinguished list are the following siblings to Oaks, Derby and Guineas winners:

Lot 20:  Half-sister to Spring Champion Stakes/VRC Derby winner and young sire Monaco Consul by Mastercraftsman.
Lot 264:  O’Reilly half-sister to Australian Derby winner Headturner & Caulfield Guineas winner Anacheeva.
Lot 299:  Zabeel half-brother to Australian Derby winner Nom du Jeu.
Lot 284:  Henrythenavigator half-sister to this season’s NZB NZ 1000 Guineas winner Rollout the Carpet.
Lot 318:  Street Cry half-brother to VRC & AJC Oaks winner Serenade Rose.
Lot 182:  Mastercraftsman siblings to Schweppes Oaks winner Lights of Heaven and (Lot 421) to Group 1 Flight stakes winner Norzita.

The progeny from Group 1 classic winning mares include:
Lot 132:  Encosta de Lago colt from the Queensland Oaks & Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal.
Lot 291:  Mastercraftsman filly out of New Zealand Derby winner Popsy – dam of NZ 2000 Guineas winner Rock ‘N’ Pop.
Lot 332:  Zabeel colt from the seven-time Group 1 winning mare Seachange.
Lot 198:  Filly by Sakhee’s Secret from Seachange’s Group 1 classic winning half-sister Keepa Cruisin

New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2013 National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka will be held from 28 January to 4 February:
Karaka Premier Sale:  28 & 29 January.
Karaka Select Sale:  30 January – 1 February.
Karaka Festival Sale:  3 & 4 February.