Ready to Run wrap up for 2025

Buyers descended on Karaka for the 2025 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale last Wednesday, 12 and Thursday, 13 November in search of their next Feroce (Super Seth), Force Of Nature (Savabeel), etc., where the progeny of Savabeel, Super Seth, Ardrossan, Ocean Park and Noverre were well sought-after – we took a deep dive into the results.

First-season sire, Noverre, had 11 two-year-olds on offer at the sale and concluded the sale with a top price of $320,000 to Australia, bought by Lindsay Park Racing and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ). Interestingly, 70% were snapped up by international buyers from Australia (four) and Hong Kong (three) – click to view the results.

Savabeel, the sire of Noverre, had a top sale of $220,000 (Lot 323) to Victoria and Cambridge Stud, securing a daughter of Savabeel (Lot 225) for $200,000. Daughters of Savabeel include 20 Group 1 winners, being well sought-after as broodmare prospects ,having produced eight Group 1 winners and 25 Group winners to date.

Hong Kong connections secured the top lot by Super Seth, going to $330,000 (Lot 5) for a colt out of Riversley Park’s draft, bought by Solari Bloodstock and who breezed up in 10.31 – click to view his results.

Super Seth has had three runners in Hong Kong for two winners, a small sample size but with Hong Kong back for more it gives us confidence in what’s heading over there. Super Seth is the only New Zealand-based sire to record four Group 1 winners in his first two racing seasons (three first-crop Group 1 winners, and one second-crop).

For Waikato Stud’s boutique offering of seven, it was the Ocean Park ex Pretty gelding who sold for $280,000 to Mr Peter Ho for Lot 51. Other buyers include Messrs GJ & MA Old (Lot 124), John O’Shea / Tom Charlton (Lot 181), Tan Sri Richard Cham (Lot 156), Mega Captain Racing (Lot 453), Selangor Turf Club (Lot 209).

Waikato Stud’s next offerings will be 77 yearlings at the 100th edition of the NZB Karaka Yearling Sale in 2026 – click to view the draft.