Snitzel colt tops Day 1 at Karaka Sales 2026

New Zealand Bloodstock’s milestone 100th National Yearling Sale opened with a strong first day of trading, recording increases across both the average and median to signal a healthy middle market.

At the conclusion of Day One, 207 lots had been sold for an aggregate in excess of $38 million. The average rose to $184,529, representing a 12 per cent increase on last year’s Book 1 figure, while the median climbed 27 per cent to $140,000.

In a fitting result for the historic occasion, long-time vendor Cambridge Stud supplied the top lot of the day. The blue-blooded Snitzel colt out of Amarelinha (Lot 265) was purchased by Chris Waller Racing in partnership with Mulcaster Bloodstock for $850,000.

“He’s a beautiful colt by a champion sire out of a NZB Filly of the Year in Amarelinha,” bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster said.

“We had a really good client who wanted to buy a good colt today, and hopefully he’s going to buy some good fillies tomorrow as well.

“Buying off Cambridge Stud, you can’t go wrong.”

Another long-established vendor, Hallmark Stud, produced the second top lot of the session when Lot 93, a Super Seth colt out of Rozala, was secured by KPW Bloodstock for $675,000.

“I thought this was just an outstanding colt, one of the best moving colts on the complex,” said KPW Bloodstock’s Kevin ‘Milly’ Walls.

NZB Director and Head Auctioneer Mike Kneebone was pleased with the opening day of the refreshed Book 1 format.

“We’ve taken on a massive challenge of selling across long nine-hour days. To take that risk, condensing the catalogue, it’s very rewarding to see the sale start so well,” Kneebone said.

“There are so many good horses spread across so many good stud farms. The first 20 horses were remarkable, and that flow continued all day.

“To have 19 horses make $400,000 or more on the first day, when last year there was 26 in total, it indicates how well the sale is travelling and a very healthy middle market.

“As we know, the second day is when everyone has their eye in. A lot of people came here today to buy a horse and they are still waiting.

“There has been great feedback about the refreshed format and having all the Book 2 horses on the ground early.

“It’s also great to see both Australia and Hong Kong so active, and the Kiwis really stepping up. The clearance rate will continue to improve overnight, and we look forward to another strong day tomorrow.”

Selling resumes on Monday for Day Two of Book 1, with Lots 291 to 567 scheduled to go through the ring from 10am (NZT) at Karaka.

The sale is being broadcast live on SKY Channel 263 and Freeview Channel 200 in New Zealand, as well as on Racing.com in Australia, and via NZB’s website, online bidding platform and Facebook page.