Superb Selection of Sires in NZB National Weanling Sale

[Wandering Eyes]

From the proven superstars to the exciting up-and-comers, a full spectrum of outstanding stallion talent is represented in the catalogue for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2022 National Weanling Sale at Karaka – giving buyers an ideal opportunity to get their hands on these star sires’ progeny.

New Zealand-based Sires

ALMANZOR

The hugely exciting new kid on the block at Cambridge Stud, Almanzor began his shuttling career with an outstanding race record under his belt. He won eight of his 11 starts, including sparkling victories against star-studded fields in the Group One Prix du Jockey Club (2100m), Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) and British Champion Stakes (2000m). He was Europe’s Champion 3YO Colt in 2016. 

Enthusiastically received on these shores with books of 140, 160, 145 and 142 mares in his first four seasons, Almanzor has made a superb start up north with 23 first-crop winners in the northern hemisphere including Listed winner Unanimous Consent.

He has also wasted no time in making his mark in our part of the world, siring a $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner in his first crop with Dynastic (NZ). He has had five first-crop winners across New Zealand and Australia to date and is New Zealand’s leading first-season sire.

Almanzor’s progeny have been in hot demand in the sale ring, most recently averaging $156,297 from 37 yearlings sold during Karaka 2022, with a top price of $675,000.

Two fillies and a colt by Almanzor will be offered during the National Weanling Sale as part of the Valachi Downs dispersal and Cambridge Stud drafts. Lot 1019 carries particular interest, being a half-sister to the Group One Diamond Stakes (1200m) and Group Two Matamata Breeders’

Stakes (1200m) placegetter Kelly Renee (NZ) (Vespa).

BELARDO 

Himself a Group One performer at the ages of two, three and four, Haunui Farm’s Belardo has made a strong start to his stallion career in both hemispheres.

The sire of 59 winners in the northern hemisphere including four at stakes level, the son of the influential Lope De Vega also claimed the honour of leading first-season sire in New Zealand for the 2020-21 season.

He has now sired 26 winners from his first New Zealand crop and two from his second, with his leading progeny including the Group Three Frank Packer Plate (2000m) winner Verona (NZ) and the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) placegetters Avonallo (NZ) and Fellini (NZ).

Belardo is continuing to be held in high regard by buyers, who have paid up to $380,000 for his yearlings at Karaka.

The National Weanling Sale features six weanlings by Belardo, including Lot 23 – a well-related colt whose unraced dam Colombelle (NZ) (Zabeel) is a half-sister to Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom). Herself a multiple black-type winner, Valpolicella has become a prolific broodmare with Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), Vilanova (NZ) (Commands) and Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park) all winning stakes races while Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park) is a three-time Group One placegetter.

OCEAN PARK 

If the successes of Savabeel and his younger barn mate Ocean Park (NZ) are anything to go by, winning the prestigious Cox Plate (2040m) and retiring to stand at Waikato Stud appears to be a sure-fire recipe for stallion stardom.

A brilliant racehorse, Ocean Park won a total of eight races on the track, five of them at Group One level, and he was New Zealand’s Horse of the Year in 2012-13.

But that was just the beginning, as Ocean Park has rapidly racked up 221 winners from 355 runners at stud, with 17 stakes winners over a wide range of distances including the Group One stars Tofane (NZ), Kolding (NZ) and Ocean Billy (NZ).

Averaging $94,220 with his yearlings at Karaka 2022, Ocean Park is represented by six weanlings in the catalogue for the National Weanling Sale. Lot 79 is a filly out of the six-race winner Pass The Post (Untouchable), who is a half-sister to the dam of Group One winner and sire Flying Artie (Artie Schiller).

PER INCANTO

Although he sired Group One-winning two-year-old Dal Cielo (NZ) in his first crop some seven years ago, it seems to be only now that Little Avondale Stud’s gun stallion Per Incanto is truly coming into the peak of his powers.

Now the sire of a total of 298 winners including 24 at stakes level, Per Incanto has been a premiership-topping source of winners in Hong Kong in recent years and has been represented at the top level by half a dozen high-class stakes winners across Australasia this season.

His highlight came with a brilliant win by Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) in Flemington’s Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m), ably backed up by the likes of the super-talented Lost And Running (NZ) and fellow black-type winners Justacanta (NZ), Belluci Babe (NZ), Magic Incanto (NZ) and Charms Star (NZ).

Progeny of Per Incanto have become hot property in the sale ring, averaging $117,580 from 25 yearlings sold at Karaka 2022.

There are three sons of Per Incanto in the National Weanling Sale catalogue, including Lot 22, whose four-time winning dam Codecracker (NZ) (Nadeem) is a half-sister to stakes winner New York Minute (NZ) (Iffraaj).

PROISIR 

Now with four crops of racing age, Rich Hill Stud’s rising star Proisir is going from strength to strength.

He has soared into the top five on the New Zealand premiership table for the first time, siring 45 winners from 94 runners on home soil this season, headed by dual Group One-winning star mare Levante (NZ). Quality three-year-old Dark Destroyer (NZ) has won at Group Two and Group Three level, while Soldier Boy (NZ) was a Listed winner in the spring.

Proisir has also made his presence felt across the Tasman with 17 winners. Dark Destroyer crossed the Tasman to snare a Group Three victory in the Rough Habit Plate (2143m), and Belle Plaisir (NZ) scored at Group Three level in South Australia earlier in the autumn.

Proisir achieved an average price of $85,059 from 17 yearlings sold at Karaka 2022, and buyers will now have access to five of his progeny in the National Weanling Sale. Lot 20 is a half-brother to the Group One-winning mare Nicoletta (NZ) (Savabeel), being out of the stakes-winning dam Celtic Crown (Doneraile Court).

RIBCHESTER 

After beginning his shuttling career with two seasons in Australia, Ribchester has relocated across the Tasman to join the roster at Haunui Farm. He is a son of the enormously influential Iffraaj, who also has fellow sire sons Turn Me Loose (NZ), Jon Snow (NZ) and Wyndspelle (NZ) at stud in New Zealand, and is grandsire of Almanzor.

Himself a multiple Group One winner on the track, Ribchester has made a promising start at stud with 30 winners in the northern hemisphere and two winning juveniles already from his first southern crop. He has sired stakes winners in the UK and USA, while Plymstock has been stakes-placed in Australia.

Ribchester’s yearlings have been well received at Karaka in the last two seasons, selling for up to $230,000, and he has five colts in the catalogue for the National Weanling Sale. Lot 111 is a half-brother to two Group Three performers – Meghan (NZ) (So You Think) and Reevederci (NZ) (Reliable Man).

SAVABEEL 

With seven successive New Zealand sires’ premierships to his name, Waikato Stud supremo Savabeel needs no introduction.

Savabeel has sired a total of 808 winners from 1127 runners, with 125 stakes winners including 27 at Group One level. His headline performers this season include the elite winners Probabeel (NZ), Mo’unga (NZ), Noverre (NZ), The Chosen One (NZ), The Perfect Pink (NZ) and Savy Yong Blonk (NZ).

A dominant force in recent years as the leading sire at Karaka’s National Yearling Sales, Savabeel reigned supreme again at Karaka 2022. He had an average price of $307,286 from 35 yearlings sold, including a $1 million sale-topper – a full-brother to Australian superstar Mo’unga.

Savabeel has three weanlings in the National Weanling Sale catalogue, including Lot 1005 – a colt whose dam Bohemian Lily (NZ) (O’Reilly) won the Group Two Doomben Roses (2000m). Also the dam of Group Two-placed Lily’s Lady (NZ) (Contributer), Bohemian Lily is a full-sister to multiple Group One winner Shamrocker (NZ) (O’Reilly) and the Group One-placed Vernanme (NZ) (O’Reilly), as well as being a half-sister to Group One winner Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn).

SHOCKING 

Another Rich Hill Stud stallion having a career-best season, Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Shocking currently sits in sixth on the New Zealand stallions’ premiership and 12th in Australia.

Shocking has been represented by a total of 168 winners from 322 runners, with 19 stakes winners. He has had Group One winners on both sides of the Tasman with Fanatic (NZ) and current Aussie star miler I’m Thunderstruck (NZ), while three-year-old filly Self Obsession (NZ) won three Group Two races and placed at Group One level to be crowned this season’s New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.

Shocking yearlings averaged $128,750 in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, and he has one Lot in the catalogue for the National Weanling Sale. Lot 64 is out of Nom du Jeu mare Midnight Ink (NZ) and is from the same family as Group One winner Precious Gem (Econsul).

TARZINO 

The premature loss of extraordinary classic sire Tavistock (NZ) has been keenly felt by the New Zealand industry, but his Derby-winning son Tarzino (NZ) is emerging as an heir apparent.

Standing at Westbury Stud, the Victoria Derby (2500m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner has had two Group One winners in his first three-year-old crop. Jungle Magnate (NZ) took out the South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville, while Gypsy Goddess (NZ) followed her elite placings in the Vinery Stud Stakes (1850m) and Australian Oaks (2400m) with a triumph in the Queensland Oaks (2200m).

Tarzino achieved an average price of $94,313 from 16 yearlings sold at Karaka 2022. He has three lots in the catalogue for the National Weanling Sale, including Lot 72, a three-quarter-sister to Singapore Derby (2000m) winner and Singapore Horse of the Year Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock).

TIME TEST 

One of the brightest prospects in New Zealand’s stallion ranks, Little Avondale Stud’s Time Test is making a name for himself in both hemispheres.

The Group Two-winning son of Dubawi has sired 16 winners in the northern hemisphere and three so far from his first New Zealand crop. He had three runners in the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) in January, and hit new heights in late May when Leedox (NZ) and Timeless (NZ) finished first and third respectively in the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m).

Time Test’s 23 yearlings sold for an average of $61,196 at Karaka 2022, and he has two colts and two fillies in the catalogue for the National Weanling Sale. Lot 43 is a filly whose dam is a three-quarter-sister to Betwixt (NZ) (O’Reilly), the Group Three-winning dam of Group One winner Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel).

TIVACI 

Waikato Stud appear to be on to another winner with their Group One All Aged Stakes (1600m) winner Tivaci, whose two crops of racing age feature the Group One winner Never Been Kissed (NZ), multiple Group Two winner and Group One-placed Wolverine (NZ), stakes-placed Outfit (NZ) and Just Maybe (NZ), and 17 other early winners.

Tivaci was one of the star sires of Karaka 2022, with 26 of his yearlings netting a total of $4,322,000 at an average price of $166,231 – more than eight times his $20,000 service fee.

Three colts by Tivaci feature in the National Weanling Sale, including a notable pedigree update for Lot 40, whose dam is a half-sister to the dam of the recent Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) runner-up Paternal (NZ) (Savabeel).

TURN ME LOOSE 

A supremely talented racehorse, Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj) won the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and later added another two Group Ones in Melbourne in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) and Futurity Stakes (1600m). Now standing at Windsor Park Stud, Turn Me Loose has begun his stallion career with a hiss and a roar.

He has sired 19 winners from his first crop and another three in his second, with five stakes winners headed by Lickety Split (NZ) in the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie and Prix De Turn (NZ) in the Group Two Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

Turn Me Loose had 18 yearlings sell at Karaka 2022 for a total of $993,500, averaging $55,194. He is the sire of two weanlings in the National Weanling Sale catalogue, including Lot 1010, a filly out of Cool Tart (NZ) (Zabeel). Herself a three-race winner, Cool Tart is a three-quarter-sister to Melbourne Cup (3200m) hero Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel) and half-sister to Group One winner On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa).

VADAMOS 

Vadamos arrived at Rich Hill Stud as an eagerly anticipated, Group One-performed son of globally influential German sire Monsun. Vadamos won eight races headed by the Group One Prix du Moulin (1600m) at Chantilly, and he also placed in the Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m) and finished fourth in the Cox Plate (2040m) and Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).

Vadamos has quickly collected 74 winners worldwide, 22 of them from his two New Zealand crops including stakes winners La Crique (NZ), Art De Triomphe (NZ) and Grace’s Secret (NZ). La Crique was super-impressive in winning the Group Two Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) before an unlucky second in the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m). Caboche (NZ) also recently placed in the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m).

Averaging $130,313 across his eight yearlings sold at Karaka 2022, Vadamos is represented by five weanlings in the National Weanling Sale. Lot 37 is a filly whose dam is a three-quarter-sister to multiple Group One winner Scarlett Lady (NZ) (Savabeel).

U S NAVY FLAG 

The Oaks Stud shuttle stallion U S Navy Flag boasts impeccable credentials. His sire is the breed-shaping War Front, his dam Misty For Me (Galileo) was a Group One winner and he is a full-brother to multiple Group One winner Roly Poly (War Front). U S Navy Flag was also a triple Group One winner himself, capturing the Middle Park Stakes (1200m) and Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old before beating older horses as a three-year-old in the Group One July Cup (1200m).

His oldest New Zealand progeny are now two-year-olds, and he has sired four early winners in the northern hemisphere. He had 32 yearlings sold at Karaka 2022 for a total of $2,561,000, averaging $80,031.

The National Weanling Sale catalogue features 11 of U S Navy Flag’s progeny, including eight from the Valachi Downs dispersal. Lot 1014 is set to command particular attention, being out of Tiffany’s Rock (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) – an unraced half-sister to superstar four-time Group One-winning mare Silent Achiever (NZ) (O’Reilly).

Australian-based sires

The catalogue also features a strong Australian flavour, with a number of high-class stallions represented.

BRAZEN BEAU was a multiple Group One-winning sprinter in Australia who also ran second in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot. He has sired over 200 winners, 18 of them in stakes races including Group One winner and $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) hero On The Bubbles. His yearlings averaged $142,500 at Karaka 2022, and he is the sire of Lot 33 in the National Weanling Sale – a filly out of a three-quarter-sister to high-class performer Platinum Warrior (Galileo). 

New Zealand-bred superstar DUNDEEL (NZ) won six Group One races on the track and has already sired five Group One-winning progeny, including sire sons Castelvecchio and Super Seth. He averaged $129,000 at Karaka 2022 and is represented in the National Weanling Sale by Lot 50 – a colt whose dam is a three-quarter-sister to stakes winners Don’t Doubt Mamma (Not A Single Doubt) and Risen From Doubt (Not A Single Doubt).

NICCONI may be best known as the sire of megastar sprinter Nature Strip, but he has been a prolific source of winners throughout his stud career – boasting a total of 477 from 690 runners, including 24 stakes winners. Nicconi features in the National Weanling Sale with Lot 48, a well-related grandson of Group One performer Our Miss Jones (NZ) (Darci Brahma).

PRIDE OF DUBAI was a multiple Group One-winning juvenile who has become a highly successful stallion, siring 149 winners to date including 14 at stakes level. He is represented in the National Weanling Sale by Lot 66, whose dam is a half-sister to Group One winner Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and three other stakes winners.

STAR TURN has only two crops of racing age, but has already sired 53 winners including three at stakes level. He is the sire of Lot 44, out of a half-sister to the multiple stakes-winning stayer Parthesia (NZ) (Raise The Flag).

All weanlings offered through the National Weanling Sale at Karaka are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Million Series. Graduates can compete for a share in the $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and $110,000 CollinsonForex Karaka Cup (2200m) for the reminder of their careers.

NZB’s 2022 National Weanling will take place as a physical sale at Karaka on Friday 17 June.

All weanlings entered in the Sale have been inspected by NZB and New Zealand-based agents at the on-farm parades.

Buyers wishing to physically attend the Sale and stay on-site and New Zealand Bloodstock’s newly established DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka hotel can book their accommodation here.

For more information contact NZB Bloodstock Executive Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email kane.jones@nzb.co.nz or Regan Donnison on +64 21 512 466 or email regan.donnison@nzb.co.nz.

View the full catalogue online here.

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