Karaka 2026 Book 1: A Record-Breaking Sale for New Zealand
The 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Book 1 sale delivered an emphatic statement about the health of the New Zealand thoroughbred market. With a record average price and buyers paying a premium for quality, the sale confirmed the Kiwi breeding industry's upward trajectory.
Sale Summary
| Metric | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sold | 422 | 477 | -12% |
| Clearance | 81.2% | 81.1% | +0.1% |
| Aggregate | $79,022,500 | $76,612,500 | +3.1% |
| Average | $187,257 | $160,613 | +16.6% |
| Median | $140,000 | $110,000 | +27% |
| Top Price | $1,100,000 | $2,400,000 | -54% |
Our median calculation considers only sold lots, reflecting what buyers actually paid. Some industry reports include passed-in and withdrawn lots as $0, which artificially lowers the median. We believe the sold-lot median provides a more accurate measure of market strength.
The headline figures tell an interesting story: a 16.6% increase in average price and a remarkable 75% lift in median (from $80,000 to $140,000), despite a lower top price than 2025. This wasn't a sale propped up by a few headline lots — the strength ran deep through the middle market.
The $1.1 Million Topper
Lot 513 — a Sword Of State colt out of Las Brisas (by Shamardal) — topped proceedings at $1,100,000, consigned by Cambridge Stud. The colt represents the second crop of the exciting young sire, who delivered an outstanding sale with 20 sold from 23 offered (87% clearance) at a sire-leading $260,250 average.
The top five lots:
| Lot | Sire | Dam | Dam Sire | Sex | Vendor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 513 | Sword Of State | Las Brisas | Shamardal | C | Cambridge Stud | $1,100,000 |
| 471 | Justify | Heart To Heart | Zoffany | C | Landsdowne Park | $950,000 |
| 383 | Alabama Express | Diva Carolina | Tivaci | C | Elsdon Park | $850,000 |
| 265 | Snitzel | Amarelinha | Savabeel | C | Cambridge Stud | $850,000 |
| 516 | Toronado | Les Crayeres | Redoute's Choice | F | Pencarrow Stud | $800,000 |
Justify made his presence felt with a $950,000 colt — the US Triple Crown winner going 7/7 at the sale (100% clearance) at a $292,857 average.
Sire Analysis: The Heavyweights Deliver
Leading Sires by Aggregate
| Sire | Offered | Sold | Clearance | Aggregate | Average | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satono Aladdin | 54 | 40 | 81.6% | $8,035,000 | $200,875 | $500,000 |
| Proisir | 54 | 37 | 74.0% | $7,165,000 | $193,649 | $600,000 |
| Savabeel | 35 | 27 | 87.1% | $5,715,000 | $211,667 | $550,000 |
| Super Seth | 40 | 30 | 81.1% | $5,685,000 | $189,500 | $675,000 |
| Sword Of State | 25 | 20 | 87.0% | $5,205,000 | $260,250 | $1,100,000 |
| Ardrossan | 29 | 20 | 74.1% | $3,220,000 | $161,000 | $450,000 |
| Almanzor | 24 | 23 | 100% | $3,175,000 | $138,043 | $350,000 |
Satono Aladdin dominated by volume with 40 sold, while Sword Of State led on average ($260,250) among sires with significant numbers.
Perfect Clearance Club
Several sires achieved 100% clearance rates:
- Almanzor — 23/23 at $138K avg
- Justify — 7/7 at $293K avg
- In The Congo — 4/4 at $253K avg (first-crop)
- Contributer — 9/9 at $137K avg
- The Autumn Sun — 3/3 at $380K avg
- Spirit Of Boom — 4/4 at $206K avg
- Wootton Bassett — 3/3 at $233K avg
- Russian Revolution — 3/3 at $222K avg
- Ghaiyyath — 2/2 at $368K avg
First-Crop Sires: Anamoe Dominates on Average
The freshman sires made an immediate impact, led by Darley's Anamoe who recorded the highest average among first-crop sires with multiple sales:
| Sire (2023 to Stud) | Offered | Sold | Clearance | Aggregate | Average | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anamoe | 10 | 6 | 75.0% | $2,925,000 | $487,500 | $650,000 |
| In The Congo | 4 | 4 | 100% | $1,010,000 | $252,500 | $400,000 |
| Profondo | 37 | 22 | 64.7% | $2,810,000 | $127,727 | $425,000 |
| State Of Rest | 10 | 8 | 100% | $555,000 | $69,375 | $100,000 |
| Jacquinot | 3 | 3 | 100% | $260,000 | $86,667 | $150,000 |
Anamoe's $650,000 colt (Lot 102, out of Save The Date by Savabeel) was the standout first-crop yearling. At an average of nearly $500,000, the Cox Plate and George Main winner announced himself as a serious sire prospect.
Profondo — Windsor Park's exciting addition from the Anamoe family — had the biggest numbers on offer (37) but found buyers more selective at a 65% clearance rate. His $425,000 top lot showed there's an appetite at the right price.
In The Congo was the first-crop success story in terms of clearance — 4 from 4 at a $252,500 average, with his $400,000 top lot signalling strong commercial appeal.
Second-Crop Sires: Sword Of State Breaks Through
The second-crop sires were headlined by Sword Of State, whose $1.1M topper and $260K average stamped him as a rising force:
| Sire (2022 to Stud) | Offered | Sold | Clearance | Aggregate | Average | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sword Of State | 25 | 20 | 87.0% | $5,205,000 | $260,250 | $1,100,000 |
| Home Affairs | 10 | 8 | 88.9% | $1,895,000 | $236,875 | $475,000 |
| Noverre | 18 | 13 | 76.5% | $1,480,000 | $113,846 | $200,000 |
| St Mark's Basilica | 4 | 4 | 100% | $1,020,000 | $255,000 | $440,000 |
Home Affairs continued his outstanding commercial form from Australia, selling 8 from 9 offered (89% clearance) at $236,875 average. The Lightning Stakes winner is building a reputation as a reliable source of quality yearlings on both sides of the Tasman.
St Mark's Basilica went 4/4 at a $255,000 average — the Coolmore-based son of Siyouni showing strong demand in his second crop.
Damsire Analysis: Savabeel's Enduring Influence
The damsire table underlines Savabeel's extraordinary legacy as the dominant influence on New Zealand broodmares:
| Damsire | Sold | Clearance | Aggregate | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savabeel | 36 | 73.5% | $8,130,000 | $225,833 |
| O'Reilly | 19 | 90.5% | $4,010,000 | $211,053 |
| Tavistock | 17 | 89.5% | $3,775,000 | $222,059 |
| Redoute's Choice | 11 | 91.7% | $2,965,000 | $269,545 |
| Fastnet Rock | 17 | 89.5% | $2,855,000 | $167,941 |
| Snitzel | 8 | 88.9% | $1,925,000 | $240,625 |
Redoute's Choice mares commanded the highest average ($269,545), while More Than Ready (6/6, 100%) and Lonhro (6/6, 100%) mares were perfect at auction.
Vendor Analysis: Cambridge Stud Leads
Top Vendors by Aggregate
| Vendor | Offered | Sold | Clearance | Aggregate | Average | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Stud | 58 | 50 | 92.6% | $10,640,000 | $212,800 | $1,100,000 |
| Waikato Stud | 55 | 35 | 76.1% | $5,900,000 | $168,571 | $425,000 |
| Elsdon Park | 27 | 24 | 88.9% | $4,920,000 | $205,000 | $850,000 |
| Curraghmore Stables | 22 | 18 | 100% | $4,765,000 | $264,722 | $525,000 |
| Wentwood Grange | 35 | 27 | 84.4% | $4,740,000 | $175,556 | $600,000 |
| Landsdowne Park | 25 | 17 | 77.3% | $4,245,000 | $249,706 | $950,000 |
| Windsor Park Stud | 30 | 24 | 92.3% | $4,215,000 | $175,625 | $600,000 |
| Trelawney Stud | 17 | 13 | 81.3% | $3,460,000 | $266,154 | $600,000 |
Cambridge Stud dominated with $10.64M in aggregate sales, including the sale topper. Their 92.6% clearance rate from 58 offered demonstrated the strength of their draft.
Curraghmore Stables achieved a perfect 100% clearance (18/18) at a $264,722 average — the best average among major vendors.
Trelawney Stud also impressed with a $266,154 average from their quality draft.
Colts vs Fillies
| Sex | Offered | Sold | Clearance | Aggregate | Average | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 325 | 254 | 84.7% | $48,135,000 | $189,508 | $1,100,000 |
| Fillies | 242 | 168 | 76.4% | $30,887,500 | $183,854 | $800,000 |
Colts commanded an 8% higher clearance rate and a 3% premium on average. The top four lots were all colts, though Pencarrow Stud's Toronado filly at $800,000 (Lot 516) was the highest-priced filly of the sale.
Price Distribution
| Price Range | Lots | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|
| $500K+ | 15 | $10,310,000 |
| $300K-$500K | 69 | $25,460,000 |
| $200K-$300K | 60 | $14,010,000 |
| $150K-$200K | 66 | $10,600,000 |
| $100K-$150K | 94 | $10,685,000 |
| $50K-$100K | 103 | $7,410,000 |
| Under $50K | 15 | $547,500 |
The $300K-$500K bracket was the strongest segment, generating $25.46M from 69 lots — a sign of robust middle-market demand. The 15 lots at $500K+ delivered over $10M, while only 15 lots sold under $50K, indicating strong floor prices throughout.
Year-Over-Year Trends
| Year | Sold | Clearance | Aggregate | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 422 | 81.2% | $79,022,500 | $187,257 |
| 2025 | 477 | 81.1% | $76,612,500 | $160,613 |
| 2024 | 488 | 71.6% | $80,743,000 | $165,457 |
| 2023 | 471 | 73.1% | $70,545,500 | $149,778 |
| 2022 | 449 | 80.0% | $64,692,500 | $144,081 |
| 2021 | 436 | 75.3% | $52,278,000 | $119,904 |
The 2026 average of $187,257 is the highest on record for Karaka Book 1, representing a 57% increase from 2021. The market has shown consistent year-on-year growth, with buyers increasingly confident in New Zealand bloodstock.
Key Takeaways
- Record Average — $187,257 average is the highest in Karaka Book 1 history, up 16.6% year-on-year.
- Median Tells the Real Story — The 27% jump in median (from $110K to $140K) shows genuine market-wide strength, not just a few headline lots carrying the numbers. This was a broad, deep sale.
- Sword Of State Emerges — The second-crop sire topped the sale ($1.1M) and led on average ($260K) among volume sires.
- Anamoe's Premium Debut — The Cox Plate winner's first-crop averaged $487,500 — the highest of any freshman.
- Home Affairs Trans-Tasman Star — Continues his commercial form with 89% clearance at $237K average.
- Cambridge Stud Dominance — $10.64M aggregate with the sale topper and 93% clearance.
- Quality Over Quantity — Fewer lots sold but 3.1% higher aggregate proves buyers paid up for the right horses.
- Justify Perfect — The US Triple Crown winner went 7/7 at a $293K average.
- Savabeel Legacy — As a damsire, his progeny generated $8.13M — the enduring influence of New Zealand's greatest modern sire.
Report compiled from New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka 2026 Book 1 results
Data source: G1 Goldmine / Stallion Match