The proven pathway from NZB sales to the Group One winners’ circle provided plenty more success during the 2025-26 season, headed by eight Group One victories in Australia and another five in New Zealand.
Those 13 elite-level successes were recorded by 10 different NZB graduates and came over distances ranging all the way from 1200 to 2500 metres.
The average price for the 10 Group One-winning Karaka graduates this season was only $98,400. The highest-priced Group One winning graduate was Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) at $180,000, while Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) cost $22,000 each and Wigmore (NZ) (Sweynesse) was bought for $25,000.
This Saturday, July 25, the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association are set to celebrate over 20 Group One New Zealand-bred's at the Don Rowlands Centre, Lake Karapiro, and the event is now sold out.
AELIANA (NZ)
In each of the last two seasons, the Sydney Autumn Carnival has been Aeliana’s time to shine.
The Chris Waller-trained filly blew her male rivals off the track in a five-length runaway in the Group One Australian Derby (2400m) as a three-year-old last season, then returned in 2026 and delivered back-to-back triumphs in the Group One Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Group One Tancred Stakes (2400m).
The Tancred was one of the most exciting finishes of the season in Australia’s top echelon of weight-for-age racing, with jockey James McDonald bringing Aeliana home with an irresistible late run to reel in the globe-trotting star Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai) in the final few bounds.
Aeliana’s four-year-old season also produced second placings in the Group One Winx Stakes (1400m), Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) along with the Group Two Apollo Stakes (1400m).
Aeliana earned over $2.1m during the 2025-26 season, lifting her overall earnings to A$4.44m from an 18-start, six-win career. She has earned almost 30 times her $180,000 purchase price at Karaka 2023.
| Vendor | Rich Hill Stud |
| Purchaser | Star Thoroughbreds (New South Wales) |
| Breeding | Castelvecchio – Temolie |
| Sale | Lot 582, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $180,000 |
| Breeder | Nearco Stud Ltd & Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd |
| Owner | Star Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Boeara Holdings, Mrs A M Howlett, Mrs K A Pailthorpe, Felgate Holdings, Paramount Racing, Mr R B T Aurisch, Mrs D M Handley, Mr W A Smith, Mr B K Hudson, Forbson Group |
CEOLWULF (NZ)
After initially emerging as a staying prospect with Group One Australian Derby (2400m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m) placings in his three-year-old season, the last two years have cemented Ceolwulf’s status as one of Australia’s very best milers.
He burst on the scene as a spring four-year-old in 2024 with victories in the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) and A$5m Group One King Charles III Stakes (1600m), and the spring of 2025 brought more of the same.
Ceolwulf defended his King Charles crown with a brilliant triumph over fellow New Zealand-breds Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Pier (NZ) (Proisir), then travelled to Melbourne for the Champions Mile (1600m) on the final day of Flemington’s Melbourne Cup Carnival. Despite being far from suited to the deteriorating Heavy9 ground, his star quality and sheer will to win shone through and he prevailed in a tight finish.
From 27 starts, the Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf has recorded seven wins, four seconds and three thirds. He has earned A$10.95m, which is more than 77 times his purchase price at the 2022 Ready to Run Sale.
| Vendor | Riversley Park Ltd |
| Purchaser | Mr JW Pride/Mr LJ Howl (New South Wales) |
| Breeding | Tavistock – Las Brisas |
| Sale | Lot 146, 2022 Ready to Run Sale, $170,000 |
| Breeder | B J Lindsay MNZM & Mrs J E A Lindsay |
| Owner | Ungar Family, Mr W M Shelton, Mrs S E Shelton, Mr P A Young, Mr A J Rix, Mr B D Playford, Mr D Perkins, Mr L J Howl, Team T S A No. 2 |
Click here for the full list of NZB G1 stars.
The next opportunity to purchase a Group One winner will be the 2026 NZB Ready to Run Sale, taking place lat the Karaka Sales Centre on Wednesday 18 & Thursday 19 November, while Karaka 2027 will take place from 24 - 28 January at the Karaka Sales Centre, the iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 101st National Yearling Sale in New Zealand.
