Entries Open for Karaka 2025

[Wandering Eyes]

Entries are now open for NZB’s Karaka 2025 National Yearling Sales Series, with the action-packed week of selling set to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from Sunday 26 January.

Book 1 is set to commence from Sunday 26 until Tuesday 28 January, while Book 2 will begin directly after on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 January in a condensed two-day session with a later starting time.

NZB’s renowned Karaka Sale has produced a prolific number of modern day and all-time champion racehorses, highlighted by another incredible season on the track. This, joined with leading technology, world-famous Kiwi hospitality and the popular DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka hotel will again combine for an unforgettable Karaka experience.

Karaka 2024 served as a remarkable result among the downward sales trends across Australasia, with the aggregate increasing 12% to $92.3 million and the combined Book 1 and Book 2 average climbing from $110,424 to $121,797.

Records were broken across the sessions, with the highest priced filly to sell reaching $1.6 million. The Book 1 Sale was the best on record since 2008, with one of the highlights being seventeen yearlings selling for $500,000 or more in comparison to six one year earlier.

NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook is looking forward to the upcoming sales season during what is a very buoyant time for the industry.

“It was an incredible sales season last year, with the 2024 sale bucking the downward trend other sales companies experienced.”

“Since then, we have seen a major shift in the domestic scene with huge increases in prizemoney, the new Karaka Millions Mega Maiden Bonuses, the NZB Kiwi slot race and more.

“There is a lot of positivity around and there are certainly more rewards on offer, which will likely see the middle market better supported.

“Kiwi breeders have had another outstanding season on the racetracks and in the paddocks growing out lovely horses, so we are certainly excited to be putting together another outstanding catalogue that international and domestic buyers will be bursting to get here to inspect.

“The inspection and selection process is always a great time of year and our team looks forward to getting around all of the farms and seeing the next generation before they head to Karaka,” added Seabrook.

To nominate your yearlings for Karaka 2025, visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz or contact the Bloodstock Administrator Mary Jane Harvey (+64 9 298 0055, or email maryjane.harvey@nzb.co.nz). Entries close 5pm Friday 12 July 2025.

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