22 Jan 2018
The 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka is sure to be an emotional one for Cambridge Stud’s Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan.
Since its established in 1976, the couple have guided Cambridge Stud to leading vendor status at the sale on a staggering 32 occasions, have been voted New Zealand Breeder of the Year five times and with the help of resident champion sires Sir Tristram and Zabeel, the stud has carved its way into history as New Zealand’s greatest source of Group One racehorses.
As a consequence of his contribution, Sir Patrick has been inducted not only into the New Zealand Hall of Fame, but the Australian equivalent also.
With the iconic stud’s recent sale to New Zealanders Brendan and Jo Lindsay, feelings of nostalgia will be ever present at Karaka in 2018 when the well-known Cambridge couple present their final draft as the owners of Cambridge Stud.
Last year, Cambridge Stud averaged $149,500 per horse and aggregated just over $9 million. The stud’s top seller was a yearling out of their mare Diamond Like, who sold for $800,000.
From the stud’s internationally renowned Eight Carat family, this colt was related to the highest priced yearling ever sold by Cambridge Stud – Don Eduardo. Don Eduardo, who was by Zabeel and out of the great mare Eight Carat, sold for $3.6 million at the 2000 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale Series and went on to win at Gr.1 level and become a Gr.1 sire.
Don Eduardo remains the highest priced yearling ever sold in New Zealand.
As is customary, Cambridge Stud’s 2018 Karaka draft is bejewelled with blueblood stars.
One such horse is Lot 159, a filly out of Diamond Like. By the stud’s exciting sire Tavistock, this filly is a half-sister to the aforementioned $800,000 top seller and correspondingly, is also related to Don Eduardo.
This blueblood Eight Carat family is also represented by the stud’s Lot 612, a Tavistock filly out of Special Diamond.
Lot 301, a colt by Savabeel out of Katie Lee is also one that will be of special interest to the stud.
Sir Patrick spotted Katie Lee herself in the outside parade ring at the 2008 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale, liking what he saw and her accompanying pedigree, he stepped into the auditorium and bought the grey filly for $340,000. She later more than repaid his judgement by becoming the history-making first filly to win the Gr.1 1000 and 2000 Guineas at three.
Such success cemented her commercial worth as a broodmare and in 2014 her Fastnet Rock yearling colt sold at Karaka for $800,000.
Cambridge Stud welcome people to come and see their elite yearlings for themselves and will be hosting a public parade at Karaka this Tuesday at 1:00 pm to enable this.
For Cambridge Stud and all of the other vendors, this New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale Series provides a vital part of their annual income.
For every commercial breeder in New Zealand, the New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sale is an annual event that forms the mainstay of our yearly income. With the exception of those who stand stallions, the seven days of selling at Karaka can represent their only seven paydays of the entire year.
Fortunately, with New Zealand’s reputation for breeding and raising exceptional racehorses, the annual Karaka Yearling Sale attracts leading buyers, trainers and owners from all over the world and could aggregate around $85 million in turnover for the 1250 or so thoroughbreds offered.
Interestingly, it is for yearlings – which are untried horses that are only one year of age - as opposed to older tried horses, that international buyers traditionally flock. Dating back to the likes of equine stars Phar Lap and Tulloch, the trip to New Zealand's National Yearling Sale has become an annual pilgrimage for astute buyers motivated by the goal of sourcing their next champion.
The 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale at Karaka starts at 5 pm on Sunday the 28th of January and continues until the 4th of February.
Coverage of all the sale ring action can be viewed on Sky channel 263 from the 28th to the 31st of January.