Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The catalogue for the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale was released on November 25, 2024. Since then, a host of yearlings that will go through the ring at Karaka have had their pedigrees enhanced, which is important information for vendors and buyers alike.
Lot 90 - Ardrossan x Luroel (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), colt - on account of Eldson Park
A winner as a juvenile and Listed-placed after an April excursion to Flemington, this lot’s full brother Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan) stepped up his game as a 3-year-old. Returning to the races in December, the Andrew Forsman-trained gelding burst through at Group level in the G2 Auckland Guineas, downing Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) by 0.1l.
Yaldi bookended his maiden stakes win with strong placings, meaning that he has so far come home in the top three in five of his six starts, with his only unplaced effort coming in the G3 McNeil S. behind Growing Empire (Zoustar). He became the fifth stakeswinner for his Waikato Stud-based sire, four of which have been colts or geldings. Listed Wellesley S. winner Codigo (NZ) (Ardrossan) is bred on the same cross, being out of a Per Incanto (USA) mare, Sophia Magnia (NZ).
Little Avondale Stud offered Yaldi on behalf of breeder Brown Thoroughbreds at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale two years ago, where Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) paid $50,000 for the colt. Dam Luroel (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was served by Ardrossan again after this colt’s birth.
Lot 90 - Ardrossan x Luroel (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Lot 329 - Noverre (NZ) x Starry (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), filly - on account of The Oaks Stud
First season sire Noverre (NZ) was well received at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this month, with Michael Freedman Racing and Michael Wallace paying the top price of $500,000 for a filly out of G2 Angus Armanasco S. winner Shopaholic (NZ) (Pins). He has 17 lots catalogued for the upcoming Karaka Book 1 sale, excluding withdrawals, and this three-quarter-sister to Brad Widdup’s seven-time winner Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel) is likely to be a star.
Already a city winner several times over, including demolishing a quality field in the $160,000 July Sprint H. at Rosehill Gardens, Jedibeel elevated his three-quarter-sister’s pedigree even further in December with his first strike at stakes level. The 5-year-old gelding showed his superior turn of foot in taking out the Listed Razor Sharp H. at his second attempt at achieving black type. He has since been tipped out for a well earned spell.
Bred by Waikato Stud, Jedibeel was offered at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale through the Cannon Hayes Stud draft, where Widdup paid $190,000 for the son of multiple Champion Sire Savabeel. Dam Starry (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), an unraced half-sister to Listed Widden S. winner Delta Girl (NZ) (General Nediym), foaled a full sister to this filly in October.
Lot 329 - Noverre (NZ) x Starry (NZ) (filly) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Lot 459 - Russian Revolution x Assertive Nature (Per Incanto {USA}), filly - on account of Little Avondale Stud
A real treat awaits buyers in Little Avondale Stud’s draft, where they can purchase the first foal from city-winning Assertive Nature (Per Incanto {USA}), a half-sister to G2 Mitchelton Wines Vase winner Savvy Nature (Savabeel) and G3 Ming Dynasty H.-winning stallion Addictive Nature. Another half-sister is La Fluorescent (NZ) (General Nediym), who provides a nice pedigree boost via three of her offspring.
One daughter, Moldova (Snitzel), was a dual winner as a juvenile, but her impact has been greater with her daughter, Te Akau Racing’s star filly Captured By Love (Written Tycoon). Already a Group winner as a 2-year-old and placed at the top level, Captured By Love claimed victory the G1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas to further increase her value. Milburn Creek Stud offered the Makybe Racing & Breeding filly at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale two years ago, where David Ellis CNZM paid $525,000 to take her back to New Zealand. The 3-year-old will attempt to add a last minute pedigree update on Saturday, where she has accepted to run in the G1 Railway H..
A year later, her half-sister Maldini (Too Darn Hot {GB}) headed through the same sales ring, selling to Rosemont Stud, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA), Moody Racing, and Spicer Thoroughbreds for $500,000. Moldova’s yearling filly by Toronado (Ire) is catalogued as Lot 72 in the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Another daughter, La Girl (Not A Single Doubt) has had instant success with her first foal, La Bella Boom (Spirit Of Boom), who hit the ground running with a third on debut, followed by two wins after the catalogue went to print. She was initially a $200,000 buy for Alice Berry from the Strawberry Hill dispersal sale in 2023, before selling out of Sledmere Stud’s Gold Coast draft to Gollan Racing, John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA), and Blacksoil Bloodstock for $300,000 last year. Mamba Strategic paid $220,000 for her half-brother by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) at the Gold Coast earlier this month, when he was offered by Yulong.
And lastly, La Fluorescent’s son Oughton (More Than Ready {USA}), who was a dual winner in Hong Kong under the name A Pal, brought home his first bit of blacktype in the Listed Recognition S. in late November. He was another Gold Coast graduate, bought by Spendthrift Australia for $900,000 when offered by Lime Country Thoroughbreds five years ago. La Fluorescent’s yearling colt by Spirit Of Boom passed in at the Gold Coast earlier this month, where he was offered by Eureka Stud.
Lot 459 - Russian Revolution x Assertive Nature (filly) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
