New Zealand Bloodstock has today announced revised sale dates for its 2022 National Yearling Sales Series set to be held in March.
A minor alteration has been made to the impending March dates for Karaka 2022, with the Sale set to commence Monday 7 March and running through until Saturday 12 March, rather than the original Sunday 6 March commencement.
NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook commented on the move.
“The rationale behind moving the Sale forward by one day is to allow our Australian friends who want to attend ‘Super Saturday’ at Flemington or the Randwick Guineas on Saturday 5 March, extra time to travel to Karaka for the Sale on the Monday.”
“It will also give our domestic buyers involved in Vodafone Derby Day at Ellerslie on the Saturday a chance to complete their final inspections on the Sunday of that same weekend.
“With this in mind, Paul Wilcox, CEO of Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, along with his board, have agreed to shift Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day – the final day of their Auckland Cup Week® carnival - from Saturday 12 March to Sunday 13 March, after the conclusion of Karaka 2022.
“We are very thankful to have received support from Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Bernard Saundry and NZTR, as well as the TAB in making this shift and are looking forward to another quality year of selling at Karaka,” Seabrook said.
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing CEO Paul Wilcox says he hopes both the industry and locals will support the move and get behind what is now going to be a big week for the country’s thoroughbred industry.
“We hope that having the sales during Auckland Cup Week® 2022 will be mutually beneficial to both parties whereby attendees, many of whom will be attracted to Auckland’s “new” and one-off week-long celebration of the thoroughbred, will support both parties who, like many other businesses, have had to make huge adjustments and sacrifices in recent months.
“While we know a Sunday isn’t traditionally privy to a party, it’s also our hope that after a long few months locked up, Aucklanders will be up for the challenge come 13 March which is also planned to be the last day we race at Ellerslie before we close the track for approximately 18 months to install a StrathAyr track,” he says.
Anyone who has purchased a ticket to Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day 2022 is being contacted directly by ATR with regards to ticketing transfers or refunds.
In terms of the day itself, all the original races and activities that had been planned for the Saturday edition of Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day at Ellerslie will be transferred to the Sunday.
The following dates have been confirmed for Karaka 2022:
- Book 1 Sale: Monday 7 - Wednesday 9 March, commencing 11am (NZT) each day.
- Book 2 Sale: Thursday 10 - Saturday 12 March, commencing 11am (NZT) each day.
- Please note that the Karaka Million at Ellerslie will remain at the current date of 22 January 2022.
The confirmed dates for Auckland Cup Week® 2022 at Ellerslie are:
- Saturday 5 March – Vodafone Derby Day ft.
- Group I $1,000,000 Vodafone New Zealand Derby
- Group III Haunui Farm King’s Plate
- Group III McKee Family Sunline Vase
- Listed FastTrack Mufhasa Stakes
- The Ned Prix de Fashion – the national fashions in the field final
- Sunday 13 March – Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day ft.
- Group II $500,000 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup
- Group I Sistema Stakes
- Group I Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes
Tickets & further information are available online from ellerslie.co.nz
