Date change for Auckland Cup to accommodate Karaka Sales

[Wandering Eyes]

Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day has been put back a day to Sunday March 13 in order to accommodate New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale series.

The Karaka Sale is now set to commence Monday 7 March and run through until Saturday 12 March, rather than the original Sunday 6 March commencement.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook said the move was in the best interest of prospective international buyers.

“The rationale behind moving the Sale back by one day is to allow our Australian friends who want to attend ‘Super Saturday’ at Flemington or the Randwick Guineas on Saturday 5 March, extra time to travel to Karaka for the Sale on the Monday,” he said.

New Zealand Bloodstock Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.
Photo: Supplied

“It will also give our domestic buyers involved in Vodafone New Zealand Derby Day at Ellerslie on Saturday March 5 a chance to complete their final inspections on the Sunday of that same weekend.

“With this in mind, Paul Wilcox, CEO of Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, along with his board, have agreed to shift Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day – the final day of their Auckland Cup Week carnival – from Saturday 12 March to Sunday 13 March, after the conclusion of Karaka 2022.

“We are very thankful to have received support from Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Bernard Saundry and NZTR, as well as the TAB in making this shift and are looking forward to another quality year of selling at Karaka.”

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Paul Wilcox said he hopes both the industry and locals will support the move and get behind what is now going to be a big week for the country’s thoroughbred industry.

“A couple of weeks ago NZB announced they would be shifting their stellar sale to March as a direct result of uncertainty surrounding the ongoing pandemic and border restrictions,” Wilcox said.

The New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales will take place at their Karaka Sales complex on March 7-12, 2022.
Photo: Trish Dunell

“Since then, our talks with them have determined that opening NZB’s sale on Monday 7 March is a better move for buyers and vendors and that moving Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day to Sunday 13 March also works for our industry participants who would have otherwise faced a logistical nightmare needing to be at both events at the same time.

“We hope that having the sales during Auckland Cup Week 2022 will be mutually beneficial to both parties whereby attendees, many of whom will be attracted to Auckland’s “new” and one-off week-long celebration of the thoroughbred, will support both parties who, like many other businesses, have had to make huge adjustments and sacrifices in recent months.

“While we know a Sunday isn’t traditionally privy to a party, it’s also our hope that after a long few months locked up, Aucklanders will be up for the challenge come 13 March which is also planned to be the last day we race at Ellerslie before we close the track for approximately 18 months to install a StrathAyr track.”

The following dates have been confirmed for Karaka 2022:

Book 1 Sale:  Monday 7 – Wednesday 9 March, commencing 11am (NZT) each day.

Book 2 Sale:  Thursday 10 – Saturday 12 March, commencing 11am (NZT) each day.

Please note that the Karaka Million at Ellerslie will remain at the current date of 22 January 2022.

The confirmed dates for Auckland Cup Week® 2022 at Ellerslie are:

Saturday 5 March – Vodafone Derby Day ft.

Group I $1,000,000 Vodafone New Zealand Derby

Group III Haunui Farm King’s Plate

Group III McKee Family Sunline Vase

Listed FastTrack Mufhasa Stakes

The Ned Prix de Fashion – the national fashions in the field final

Sunday 13 March – Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day ft.

Group II $500,000 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup

Group I Sistema Stakes

Group I Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes

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