The momentum from a record Book 1 session at NZB’s 100th National Yearling Sale continued into Book 2 on Tuesday, where a condensed session saw 188 yearlings sell for an incredible $12,247,000.
Surpassing all previous records, the Book 2 session reached an average of $65,144 (up 80%), a median of $60,000 (up 124%) and a clearance rate of 76%.
"As we had expected, putting the Book 2 horses in front of the international buyers has been key," commented NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.
"To see a $2.5 million increase in turnover from a catalogue with 146 less horses, the results are just extraordinary really.
"The Australian spend has more than doubled compared to this session last year, and while the Kiwis were stronger too, there were plenty who missed out so we hope to see them active at the Karaka Summer Sale on Thursday."
Among the Australian buyers was Wylie Dalziel, who praised the new format of the popular second session.
“Credit due to the team here for getting all the Book 2 horses on the grounds early.”
“In previous years when they weren’t on the complex, we never got to inspect them. Now, Peter Moody and I have had the chance to steal some good ones.
“We’ve had really good success buying out of Karaka, especially at this kind of price point. We couldn’t be happier.”
Initially passed in, the top lot of the day came when Busuttin Racing negotiated a sale for Lot 601. $200,000 was outlaid for the filly by Embellish out of Queen of Wizardy from leading vendor Cambridge Stud.
After being titled the Leading Vendor for the 34th time during Book 1, Cambridge Stud also took Book 2 honours, selling a further 14 yearlings for just shy of $1.2 million.
Little Avondale Stud took the Leading Vendor by average title for Book 2, selling five lots at an average price of $103,000.
Leading sire by average was Rich Hill Stud’s resident stallion Shocking, who sold three lots at an average of $121,667. Headed by Lot 762 (ex Gardenier), who sold for $160,000 to Hong Kong’s Lok Lor.
Attention now turns to the inaugural Karaka Summer Sale kicking off Thursday 29 January from 11am. Inspections continue from Wednesday 28 January, while a welcome BBQ will take place from 4pm at the Garden Bar with all welcome.
All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2026 are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series, featuring the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO, $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and the $1m NZB Mega Maiden Series. To nominate your yearling, contact finance@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055. Entries close Monday 2 March 2026.
To enquire about Passed Lots from Book 2 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.
View the full Book 2 results here.
Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Book 2 here.
Karaka 2026: Book 2 Statistics (as at end of selling)
| 2026 BOOK 2 TOTAL (NEW FORMAT) | 2025 BOOK 2 TOTAL | 2024 BOOK 2 TOTAL | 2023 BOOK 2 TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGGREGATE | $12,247,000 | $9,759,000 | $11,444,000 | $11,516,000 |
| AVERAGE | $65,144 | $36,144 | $43,185 | $43,131 |
| MEDIAN | $60,000 | $26,750 | $32,500 | $32,000 |
| CLEARANCE | 76% | 76% | 70% | 71% |
| CATALOGUED | 281 | 427 | 443 | 435 |
| SOLD | 188 | 270 | 265 | 267 |
| TOP LOT | Lot 601 Embellish - Queen of Wizardy (B.F) $200,000 | Lot 855 Satono Aladdin - Sparkling Rose (B.F) $260,000 | Lot 790 Time Test - Kerre (Br.C) $220,000 | Lot 789 Proisir - Harriet Wilson (G.C) $180,000 |
Karaka 2026: Book 2 Top Lots
| Lot | Sire | Dam | Sex | Vendor | Purchaser | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 601 | Embellish | Queen of Wizardry | Filly | Cambridge Stud | Busuttin Young (VIC) | $ 200,000 |
| 657 | Sword of State | Tina Again | Filly | Landsdowne Park | Mr RA James / Mr R Wellwood (Waikato) | $ 170,000 |
| 838 | Sword of State | Membership | Colt | Leanach Lodge | Riversley Park/De Burgh Equine (Waikato) | $ 170,000 |
| 762 | Shocking | Gardenier | Colt | Rich Hill Stud | Lok Lor (Hong Kong) | $ 160,000 |
| 585 | Sword of State | Palace Whispers | Colt | Woburn Farm | Mr G Thompson (VIC) | $ 150,000 |
| 756 | Ardrossan | Feuilla | Colt | The Oaks Stud | Bleakley Bloodstock (Manawatu) | $ 150,000 |
| 826 | Ace High | Maenoha | Filly | Seaton Park | Rising Sun Syndicate/ Henry Dwyer Racing (VIC) | $ 150,000 |
| 842 | Contributer | Miss Banff | Colt | Riversley Park | BBA Ireland / BMD Bloodstock / Hurworth Bloodstock / David Skelly (Ireland) | $ 150,000 |
| 592 | Trapeze Artist | Pickup the Pieces | Colt | Woburn Farm | David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) | $ 145,000 |
| 801 | Per Incanto | Kechika | Colt | Little Avondale Stud | Mr Frankie Ting (Hong Kong) | $ 145,000 |
Karaka 2026: Book 2 Leading Buyers
| Purchaser | Lots | Aggregate | Top Price | Top Lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Frankie Ting | 4 | $ 380,000 | $ 145,000 | 801 |
| Lok Lor | 2 | $ 300,000 | $ 160,000 | 762 |
| Mr RA James / Mr R Wellwood | 2 | $ 300,000 | $ 170,000 | 657 |
| Ritchie Murray Racing / Chris Rutten Bloodstock (BAFNZ) | 3 | $ 275,000 | $ 110,000 | 806 |
| Andrew Campbell Bloodstock / T Heptinstall | 4 | $ 266,000 | $ 110,000 | 641 |
| Bleakley Bloodstock Ltd | 2 | $ 240,000 | $ 150,000 | 756 |
| Forsman Racing | 3 | $ 210,000 | $ 100,000 | 754 |
| Benner Racing Ltd | 2 | $ 205,000 | $ 140,000 | 607 |
| Busuttin Young | 1 | $ 200,000 | $ 200,000 | 601 |
| Ballymore Racing / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman | 3 | $ 192,500 | $ 110,000 | 812 |
Karaka 2026: Book 2 Leading Vendors by Aggregate
| Vendor | Offered | Sold | Aggregate | Average | Top Price | Top Lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Stud | 15 | 14 | $ 1,195,000 | $ 85,357 | $ 200,000 | 601 |
| Waikato Stud | 22 | 18 | $ 902,500 | $ 50,139 | $ 130,000 | 631 |
| Woburn Farm | 10 | 10 | $ 865,000 | $ 86,500 | $ 150,000 | 585 |
| Rich Hill Stud | 14 | 9 | $ 812,500 | $ 90,278 | $ 160,000 | 762 |
| Windsor Park Stud | 15 | 11 | $ 805,000 | $ 73,182 | $ 120,000 | 581 |
| Landsdowne Park | 10 | 8 | $ 557,000 | $ 69,625 | $ 170,000 | 657 |
| Westbury Stud | 16 | 8 | $ 550,000 | $ 68,750 | $ 100,000 | 628 |
| Little Avondale Stud | 7 | 5 | $ 515,000 | $ 103,000 | $ 145,000 | 801 |
| HGT Bloodstock | 6 | 6 | $ 435,000 | $ 72,500 | $ 110,000 | 752 |
| Hallmark Stud | 8 | 8 | $ 415,000 | $ 51,875 | $ 75,000 | 725 |
Karaka 2026: Book 2 Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold)
| Vendor | Offered | Sold | Average | Top Price | Top Lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Avondale Stud | 7 | 5 | $ 103,000 | $ 145,000 | 801 |
| Cambria Park | 5 | 4 | $ 98,750 | $ 125,000 | 633 |
| Rich Hill Stud | 14 | 9 | $ 90,278 | $ 160,000 | 762 |
| Woburn Farm | 10 | 10 | $ 86,500 | $ 150,000 | 585 |
| Cambridge Stud | 15 | 14 | $ 85,357 | $ 200,000 | 601 |
| Leanach Lodge Ltd | 4 | 4 | $ 78,750 | $ 170,000 | 838 |
| The Oaks Stud | 3 | 3 | $ 75,333 | $ 150,000 | 756 |
| Windsor Park Stud | 15 | 11 | $ 73,182 | $ 120,000 | 581 |
| HGT Bloodstock Ltd | 6 | 6 | $ 72,500 | $ 110,000 | 752 |
| Highline Thoroughbreds | 8 | 5 | $ 71,500 | $ 130,000 | 622 |
Karaka 2026: Book 2 Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold)
| Sire | Offered | Sold | Average | Top Price | Top Lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shocking | 3 | 3 | $ 121,667 | $ 160,000 | 762 |
| Embellish | 3 | 3 | $ 105,833 | $ 200,000 | 601 |
| Per Incanto | 7 | 5 | $ 104,000 | $ 145,000 | 801 |
| Sword of State | 25 | 24 | $ 94,896 | $ 170,000 | 838 |
| Tarzino | 7 | 3 | $ 70,000 | $ 75,000 | 804 |
| Derryn | 3 | 3 | $ 68,333 | $ 120,000 | 800 |
| Satono Aladdin | 13 | 8 | $ 63,875 | $ 110,000 | 616 |
| Ardrossan | 22 | 19 | $ 62,211 | $ 150,000 | 756 |
| Noverre | 21 | 18 | $ 59,583 | $ 130,000 | 786 |
| Ocean Park | 5 | 4 | $ 56,250 | $ 100,000 | 754 |
| Shocking | 3 | 3 | $ 121,667 | $ 160,000 | 762 |
