The final session of NZB’s 100th National Yearling Sale took place at Karaka on Thursday, with a strong inaugural Karaka Summer Sale.
112 yearlings sold for a total aggregate of more than $3.4 million at an average of $30,612. Six lots sold for $100,000 or more which added to a solid clearance rate of 81%.
NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook was elated for all those involved in the historic week.
“To sum it up, this week we’ve turned over $9.6 million more than last year, with 79 less horses catalogued.”
“We’re just over the moon, seeing these results from the new format.
“The Karaka Summer Sale today was one of the strongest sessions, almost matching Book 2 results from last year.
“It’s just been a phenomenal week all around, celebrating such a big milestone in New Zealand thoroughbred history, and returning almost $96 million back to breeders.
“Our vendors have done an incredible job presenting their yearlings, our buyers supporting the Sale so well and our whole NZB team who have all contributed to its success.
“We’re looking forward to the demand for our yearlings continuing to our Online Yearling Sale, where of course the outstanding filly Well Written was purchased from.”
The top lot of the day came when first time vendor Stew McGregor offered his sole yearling. The colt by emerging sire Armory out of Satono Aladdin mare Hanako (Lot 958), was knocked down to John Foote Bloodstock for $130,000.
“We’re so, so thrilled,” commented an emotional McGregor.
“To have that amount of people and trainers come through and inspect him, it’s really neat. We hope he’s got an exciting future for us to follow.”
The well-known Waikato Hunt member praised his surrounding stud farms for all their help.
“Dean Hawkins, Windsor Park Stud and others around me have been instrumental in helping me along the way,” added McGregor.
“It’s a team sport, alright.”
The leading vendor by aggregate and average for the Karaka Summer Sale was Westbury Stud who sold seven lots for $432,000 at an average of $61,714.
The leading buyer at the end of selling of the final session was Victorian trainer Patrick Payne, having purchased three lots for $236,000. This included Lot 938, a colt for $100,000 out of the leading sire of the session in Redwood.
All yearlings purchased are eligible for the Karaka Millions Series featuring the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) as well as the NZB Mega Maiden Bonus Series with $1m in bonuses up for grabs across 40 maiden races each season. The Karaka Summer Sale is further boosted by a $200,000 Karaka Millions bonus. For the first Karaka Summer Sale graduate home in both the 2027 $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO and 2028 $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO, $100,000 will be split evenly between the vendor and purchaser for each race. Entries close Monday 2 March 2026.
To enquire about Passed Lots from the Karaka Summer Sale contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz, or Andrew Buick on +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz.
Attention now turns to the National Online Yearling Sale, where superstar filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) was purchased for $80,000.
Set to take place on Gavelhouse Plus, with bidding closing from 6pm on 14 April. Entries open early February via NZB’s portal.
View the full Karaka Summer Sale results here.
Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from the Karaka Summer Sale here.
2026 SALE SCHEDULE
National Online Yearling Sale
14 April on Gavelhouse Plus
National Weanling Sale
25 June at Karaka
NZB Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs
18 & 19 November at Karaka
Karaka 2026: Summer Sale Statistics (as at end of selling)
2026 SUMMER SALE TOTAL
AGGREGATE
$3,428,500
AVERAGE
$30,612
MEDIAN
$20,000
CLEARANCE
81%
CATALOGUED
161
OFFERED
138
SOLD
112
TOP LOT
Lot 958 Armory – Hanako (B.C) $130,000
Karaka 2026: Combined Statistics (at end of selling)
2026 COMBINED TOTAL
2025 COMBINED TOTAL
2024 COMBINED TOTAL
2023 COMBINED TOTAL
Aggregate
$95,685,000
$86,061,500
$91,842,000
$82,091,500
Average
$129,130
$115,986
$122,783
$111,235
Median
$90,000
$80,000
$90,000
$80,000
Clearance
82%
79%
76%
77%
Catalogued
1009
1088
1125
1079
Withdrawn
103
146
141
121
Offered
906
941
984
958
Passed
165
199
236
220
Lots Sold
741
742
748
738
Top Price
$1,100,000
$2,400,000
$1,600,000
$1,000,000
Karaka 2026: Summer Sale Top Lots
Lot
Sire
Dam
Sex
Vendor
Purchaser
Price
958
Armory
Hanako
Colt
S. C. T. McGregor
John Foote Bloodstock
$130,000.
954
Written By
Glowing Trait
Filly
Hallmark Stud
Mrs S Finnegan
$125,000.
989
El Roca
Love and Kisses
Filly
Westbury Stud
Pertab Racing / CW Cole Racing
$115,000.
980
Ardrossan
La Sartiglia
Filly
Little Avondale Stud
Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman
$105,000.
938
Redwood
Decimal
Colt
Westbury Stud
Patrick Payne
$100,000.
951
Redwood
Florid Affair
Colt
Westbury Stud
John Foote Bloodstock
$100,000.
990
Ace High
Lovelight
Colt
Seaton Park Ltd
Mr PW Lock
$87,500.
852
Preferment
O’sam
Colt
Brighthill Farm
HF Investments
$80,000.
865
Noverre
Royal Roc
Filly
HGT Bloodstock Ltd
Wexford Stables
$80,000.
935
Santos
Cracker
Colt
Highview
Patrick Payne
$70,000.
Karaka 2026: Summer Sale Leading Buyers
Purchaser
Lots
Aggregate
Top Price
Top Lot
Patrick Payne
3
$ 236,000
$ 100,000
938
John Foote Bloodstock
2
$ 230,000
$ 130,000
958
Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman
2
$ 170,000
$ 105,000
980
Mrs S Finnegan
1
$ 125,000
$ 125,000
954
Pertab Racing / CW Cole Racing
1
$ 115,000
$ 115,000
989
Kasa Bloodstock Ltd
2
$ 95,000
$ 60,000
902
Sparta Racing Pty Ltd / Phill Cataldo Bloodstock
2
$ 90,000
$ 60,000
897
Mr PW Lock
1
$ 87,500
$ 87,500
990
HF Investments
1
$ 80,000
$ 80,000
852
Wexford Stables
1
$ 80,000
$ 80,000
865
Karaka 2026: Summer Sale Leading Vendors by Aggregate
Vendor
Offered
Sold
Aggregate
Average
Top Price
Top Lot
Westbury Stud
13
7
$ 432,000
$ 61,714
$ 115,000
989
HGT Bloodstock
6
6
$ 268,500
$ 44,750
$ 80,000
865
Highview
9
9
$ 237,000
$ 26,333
$ 70,000
935
Grangewilliam Stud
11
9
$ 232,000
$ 25,778
$ 60,000
897
Leanach Lodge
7
6
$ 206,500
$ 34,417
$ 66,000
975
Little Avondale Stud
4
4
$ 203,000
$ 50,750
$ 105,000
980
Haunui Farm
5
5
$ 187,000
$ 37,400
$ 65,000
994
Brighthill Farm
9
9
$ 186,000
$ 20,667
$ 80,000
852
Hallmark Stud
3
3
$ 177,000
$ 59,000
$ 125,000
954
Woburn Farm
7
5
$ 149,000
$ 29,800
$ 45,000
866
Karaka 2026: Summer Sale Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)
Vendor
Offered
Sold
Average
Top Price
Top Lot
Westbury Stud
13
7
$ 61,714
$ 115,000
989
Hallmark Stud
3
3
$ 59,000
$ 125,000
954
Little Avondale Stud
4
4
$ 50,750
$ 105,000
980
HGT Bloodstock Ltd
6
6
$ 44,750
$ 80,000
865
Haunui Farm
5
5
$ 37,400
$ 65,000
994
Kilgravin Lodge
3
3
$ 36,667
$ 50,000
907
Leanach Lodge Ltd
7
6
$ 34,417
$ 66,000
975
Woburn Farm
7
5
$ 29,800
$ 45,000
866
Mapperley Stud Ltd
5
4
$ 29,125
$ 65,000
969
Highview
9
9
$ 26,333
$ 70,000
935
Karaka 2026: Summer Sale Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)
Sire
Offered
Sold
Average
Aggregate
Top Price
Top Lot
Redwood
9
5
$ 52,400
$ 262,000
$ 100,000
951
Ardrossan
7
7
$ 46,429
$ 325,000
$ 105,000
980
Armory
8
8
$ 45,563
$ 364,500
$ 130,000
958
Sword of State
4
4
$ 37,500
$ 150,000
$ 60,000
863
Preferment
3
3
$ 30,500
$ 91,500
$ 80,000
852
Noverre
4
4
$ 30,000
$ 120,000
$ 80,000
865
Embellish
3
3
$ 29,667
$ 89,000
$ 66,000
975
Ace High
8
7
$ 26,286
$ 184,000
$ 87,500
990
Santos
8
8
$ 24,375
$ 195,000
$ 70,000
935
Shocking
4
4
$ 23,000
$ 92,000
$ 60,000
897