Snitzel Carries The Day As Karaka’s National Yearling Sale Begins

[Wandering Eyes]

A son of Snitzel brought a session-topping NZ850,000 (€428,111) from Guy Mulcaster bidding alongside trainer Chris Waller to top the first session of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka on Sunday.

“He is a beautiful colt by champion sire Snitzel, out of a New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, Amarelinha [Savabeel],” Mulcaster told TTR AusNZ of lot 265, which was consigned by Cambridge Stud.

“I had a really good client that wanted to buy a good, good colt today and he's hopefully going to buy some good fillies tomorrow. So fingers crossed, but, you know, he was a horse we saw early, and he just stayed in my mind, and we're lucky enough to take our client to see him today, and he behaved really well. Cambridge, you can't go wrong.”

The daughter of Savabeel won the G1 New Zealand Oaks in 2021 alongside three other group victories in New Zealand. Her first foal, the colt Amarzon (Almanzor), was retained by her breeders and is now two.

The revamped New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale grossed NZ38,197,500 (€19,241,297) during the first day's trade at Karaka on Sunday. The clearance rate settled at 77% for 204 lots sold, up 4% from 2024. The average increased to NZ184,529 (+7%) compared to last year, while the median rose to NZ$140,000 (+16%) on 2025, but down on the record median (NZ$150,000) of 2024.

Sunday's leading buyer was Te Akau Racing's David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ), who spend NZ$3.1 million on 11 yearlings, averaging NZ$286,364. Astute Bloodstock was the leading buyer by average (two or more) at NZ$425,000 for two yearlings.

Cambridge Stud was the leading vendor, with 27 lots sold for a gross of NZ$6.1 million and an average of NZ226,111. Little Avondale Stud sold six yearlings to top the category by average at NZ$289,167.

Leading the way among all stallions by aggregate was Proisir, whose 23 yearlings brought NZ$4.46 million. The late Snitzel, who also had the day's top lot, led by average with two yearlings averaging NZ$705,000. Similarly to his showing at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Anamoe set the standard for first-season sires, with his trio of yearlings grossing NZ$1.45 million and averaging NZ$475,000.

 

Karaka 2026 | Lot 265, $850,000

A new top lot on Day One, with the Snitzel colt out of Group One winner Amarelinha (Lot 265), purchased by @cwallerracing / @MulcasterBS for $850,000 from @CambridgeStud.#Karaka2026 #100Years pic.twitter.com/BmjotNRy7h

— New Zealand Bloodstock (@KarakaChat) January 25, 2026

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