Horse racing: New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sale at Karaka shaping for strong start

The signs are good for a strong start to the biggest week of the year for the thoroughbred breeding industry at Karaka today.

The annual New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sale begins at 10am on Sunday at the sales complex in Karaka and overseas interest looks particularly strong.

Many vendors report being busier with parades and inspections this week than in recent years, with NZB bosses encouraged by the large number of Australian trainers and agents on the grounds this week.

General view of auction. New Zealand Bloodstock 95th National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka Sales Centre, Karaka, Auckland on Monday 25th January 2021. Copyright photo: Alan Lee / www.photosport.nz

The sale has been buoyed by a remarkable last few years for New Zealand-bred stock in Australia through horses such as Mr Brightside, Pride Of Jenni, Ceolwulf and Antino, as well as superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong.

The sale has three days of Book 1 starting today with two days of Book 2 starting on Wednesday, with more than 1000 yearlings being offered.

Those who can’t be at Karaka can follow the action on NZB’s website and Facebook page as well as Sky TV Channel 81.

Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.