Horses sold at this sale can now race for $1m in the Karaka Million 2-year-old event, $1.5m as a 3-year-old and be eligible for the new NZB Kiwi slot race, which will be worth $4m by the time they turn 3, with an extra $1m in bouses attached.
All at Ellerslie, 29km from the sales complex.
There are a number of New Zealand buyers, breeders, vendors and others involved in racing who are still getting their heads around after Monday’s slot race announcement.
Of course, only a fraction of the 1125 yearlings catalogued for sale from Sunday to next Friday will make it to those races, but most people go to the sales to buy a dream, and that dream has just got a lot better.
Complimenting that is that the overall financial health of New Zealand thoroughbred racing is better than even the craziest optimist could have dreamed five years ago, so horses racing here can actually make money, or at least pay for themselves.
The Entain/TAB deal has brought serious cash and, just as importantly, powerful partnerships, and the thoroughbred code has been by far the biggest winner, with huge stake increases, while Ellerslie’s relaunch has unleashed a wave of positivity that could well wash up in Karaka come Sunday.
With Australia already boosting record stakes and New Zealand’s other biggest export market, Hong Kong, loosening up its ownership permits, there will be strong overseas interest to challenge the local market.
“We will have a lot of overseas buyers here - our hotel booking alone tells us that,” says New Zealand Bloodstock managing director Andrew Seabrook.
“What has happened in this industry in the last nine months has been nothing short of incredible, and with our major export markets going so well, we are going to have a good sale.”
Those words are backed by results as Kiwi horses, which usually cost less than yearlings purchased in Australia, continue to defy the statistics in Australia.
They win more big races and more money than they should, and have even been rude enough to start winning some of Australia’s major sprint races rather than just Derbys and Oaks like they’re supposed to.
Stake increases, new races and overseas heroics aside, what will help next week’s sale is stallion strength, after New Zealand’s stallion stocks took a few years ago.
Stallions like Proisir and Per Incanto were good stallions then but are far more commercial now, and that equates to money.
Savabeel’s stock is a constant source of great returns at Karaka, while others like Satono Aladdin, Almanzor, Super Seth and recently Adrossan and Contributer have boosted their appeal.
Add that to stock by Aussie stars like Zoustar, Written Tycoon, Snitzel, I Am Invincible and new flavours of the month Wootton Bassett and Too Darn Hot and the catalogue has enough stallion wattage to keep the Aussies interested through Book 1.
Those looking for value, domestic trainers and pin-hookers will do more shopping in Book 2.
The sale also has the bonus of a strong first day to help set the market, including a full sister to recently-retired Prowess as lot 21 from Hallmark Stud.
It is going to be a strong sale, that is certain. How strong may depend on how seriously the locals, particularly the syndicators, want to challenge the overseas raiders.
They have never had more reasons - 7.5 million of them and counting - to try.
New Zealand Bloodstock sales week
What: New Zealand’s thoroughbred yearling sales
Operated by: New Zealand Bloodstock
Where: Karaka sales complex
When: Book 1, Sunday to Tuesday, first lot 10am; Book 2, Wednesday to Friday
Who: 1125 yearlings catalogued
Catalogue and more info: www.nzb.co.nz
Watch: Trackside Premier (Sky Ch64), Freeview Ch200, Online at NZB website and Facebook page
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.
