For a thoroughbred auction house to have longevity, it must have success with its graduates on the racetrack. As we reflect on one hundred years of the National Yearling Sales Series in New Zealand, this book pays homage to the talent that emerged from each sale, highlighting the alumnus with the most glittering racing career.

The sheer caliber of the New Zealand thoroughbred that has consistently been brought to market at the National Yearling Sales Series across the span of a century is quite spectacular. Check out the best performed graduates from the 1957 - 1966 sales below.

The full printed copy of this catalogue of best performers will be availble to purchase online soon at shop.nzb.co.nz and at the Pop Up Store during Karaka 2026.

1957: SIR BLINK (Lot 84)

**Sir Blink**

Brown Colt by Blue Coral – Inky
Breeder: I. R. Cole
Vendor: I. R. Cole, Urenui, Taranaki
Purchaser: Mrs W. Kellett, Melbourne
Purchase Price: 475gns

Sold to Mrs W. M. Kellett of Melbourne on her first visit to the Sales, Sir Blink was a strongly built November foal. Nick-named “Little Blinky” he never grew beyond 15hh yet proved a high class stayer.

He won four times at two, his first win taking place on Oaks day of the 1957 Melbourne Cup carnival in the VRC Kempton Stakes. The following March he landed the VRC Gibson-Carmichael Stakes (L) and in the next two months added a further two wins, both at a mile at Caulfield and Flemington.

His three-year-old season began with winning the VATC Heartherlie Hcp (L) then third in the STC Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1). Early in October he finished fast for second to the top-class Skyline in the AJC Derby (Gr.1). Back in Melbourne he won the 1958 VATC Caulfield Cup (Gr.1) comfortably by two lengths. There was an avalanche in the betting from 14/1 to 6/1. It was reported that trainer Jack Godby’s team of punters won the equivalent of $5 million in 2017. The stake for the 1958 race was £12,000. At his next start, against his own age, he was too strong by three-quarters of a length in the VRC Victoria Derby (Gr.1). In the autumn he racked up placings in the VRC Blamey Stakes (Gr.2), VATC St George Stakes (Gr.2) and the VRC St Leger (Gr.2).

At four in Melbourne he won at Caulfield then ran second to the prolific winner Lord in the VATC Caulfield Stakes (Gr.1) then second, conceding the winner 30lbs, in an attempt to defend his 1958 VATC Caulfield Cup (Gr.1) crown. Another second, this time to Noholme in the VRC CB Fisher Plate (Gr.3), preceded a win in the PARC Port Adelaide Cup (Gr.3). In the autumn he placed second to champion Tulloch in the AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr.1) at Randwick.

His last win was at aged six, at Flemington over one and half miles

Race Record: 62:10-10-6

1958: CADIZ (Lot 255)

**Cadiz**

Chestnut colt by Targui – Infinity
Breeder: A. Newman
Vendor: A. Newman, Nelson
Purchaser: J. C. Tomkinson, Riccarton (AA)
Purchase Price: 600gns

Purchased by J. C. Tomkinson for A. N. Smith President of the Dunedin Jockey Club Cadiz won three out of his four starts as a two year old which included the Champagne Stakes (L) at Riccarton..

His 3YO season began with two easy wins, the Ashburton CRC John Grigg Stakes (L) and the DJC Dunedin Guineas (L) and a second to Lord Sasanof in the WRC Wellington Guineas (Gr.2). He then won Riccarton’s CJC Stewards Hcp (Gr.3) by four lengths. A w-f-a win at Paeroa in the Ohinemuri JC Shaw Stakes (L) followed. Beaten by the flying filly Karina in both the 1959 ARC Newmarket Hcp (L) and 1960 ARC Railway Hcp (Gr.1) he then defeated her in the WRC Wellington Stakes (Gr.3). In February, he had a three-length win in the w-f-a Wanganui JC Jackson Stakes then back at Trentham for the WRC North Island Challenge Stakes (Gr.2), he again lost to Karina by a short head.

In Victoria at four he had five starts for two wins including the 1960 VRC Linlithgow Stakes (Gr.2). Returning to New Zealand he placed in the ARC Newmarket Hcp (L) and ARC King’s Plate (Gr.2) and then won the WRC Railway Hcp at Trentham. He ended the season with placings under big weights in the CJC Great Easter Hcp (Gr.3) and CJC Challenge Stakes (L).

Shortly afterwards Cadiz was sold to American interests for US$24,000 arriving in the USA after a gruelling journey that should have been fourteen days turning into a month long ordeal when the freighter’s engine broke down and the ship tossed helplessly in high seas for over a fortnight. Amazingly Cadiz scored first up at Santa Anita a few weeks after his arrival. He added three more wins including The Californian (Gr.1) at Hollywood Park and the Christopher J Fitzgerald Hcp (L) at Santa Anita. The following year he won the Hollywood Gold Cup (Gr.1) in 1:59.3 for 1¼m then ran third in the Sunset Hcp (Gr.1).

As an older horse he continued on, winning twice including at Santa Anita, realising a career total of 22 wins and 24 placings before his retirement at ten years of age.

Race Record (NZ): 29:13-7-4;
NZ Earnings: 12,810 pounds

1959: EVEN STEVENS (Lot 198)

**Even Stevens**

Chestnut Colt by Fair’s Fair – Amaroo
Breeder: D. P. Clark
Vendor: D. P. Clark, Featherston
Purchaser: A. McGregor, Te Rapa
Purchase Price: 400gns

Te Rapa trainer Archie McGregor’s wife Valerie found the colt, who was to be cleverly named Even Stevens, influencing her husband to purchase the showy chestnut with the silver mane and tail. Breeder Douglas Clark was a South Wairarapa farmer and a steward of the Wairarapa Racing Club. Unfortunately, he died prior to the triumphs of Even Stevens in the Melbourne Cup.

On debut at two he was first past the post at Waipa but relegated due to interference, however on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie he made no mistake in winning by two lengths. The win prompted several offers for the colt, but McGregor chose to sell to food magnate Jim (later Sir James) Wattie which necessitated a change of trainer.

At three, and only recording a sole placing, a second in the HBJC Hawkes Bay Guineas (L), McGregor, perturbed at the horse’s poor performances, took over the training again, suggesting to Wattie that if he could not gain a win within four starts he would return the purchase price. The horse promptly won at Te Rapa at his next start. He also won the ARC Queen’s Plate where he defeated the Derby winner Stipulate. At four he had just five starts in which he won the AvJC Avondale Gold Cup (Gr.3) defeating Beauzami.

In a highly productive 5YO season he took the Australian spring carnival by storm. Arriving on the history-making first airlift of thoroughbreds across the Tasman, he won five of his six starts in major events in Melbourne. Securing a start after scratchings, he ploughed through the mud to win the VATC Caulfield Cup (Gr.1) by four lengths. A win in the Werribee RC Werribee Gold Cup (L) followed. Penalized 10lbs to carry 8st 5lbs he won the 1962 VRC Melbourne Cup (Gr.1) again by four lengths to secure the coveted Caulfield – Melbourne Cups double and in the process his owner pulled off one of the biggest betting coups in Australian racing history winning an estimated 3 million pounds. On the final day he won the weight-for-age VRC CB Fisher Plate (L) by five lengths. Back home six weeks later, he scored at Waipa over a mile, the last of his 11 wins.

Gifted to the Queen Mother by his owner, which was graciously accepted, he unfortunately shattered a sesamoid in training before departure to the UK. Saved for stud he sired the dual Derby winner Master John.

Race Record: 28:11-2-5

1960: SOMETIME (Lot 21)

**Sometime**

Bay Colt by Summertime – Nereid
Breeder: Trelawney Stud
Vendor: Trelawney Stud, Cambridge
Purchaser: J. B. Cummings, Adelaide
Purchase Price: 2200gns

Sometime was raced by Messrs R. A. And J. D. Lee from Adelaide and trained by J. B. (Bart) Cummings in Adelaide. This 1960 National was the first National Yearling Sale attended by Bart Cummings.

From five starts at two Sometime won three in succession, all in Adelaide.

Beginning his three-year-old season he notched up a further three consecutive wins including the Port Adelaide Guineas (Gr.3). Following was a third in the STC Hill Stakes (Gr.2), second in the VATC Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1), fourth in the VATC Caulfield Cup (Gr.1) and a third in the VRC Victoria Derby (Gr.1). In the autumn he racked up another four wins in Adelaide including career win ten in the SAJC St Leger (Gr.3). He ended the season with a second in the SAJC Adelaide Cup (Gr.1).

At four he added a further six wins including three stakes wins, namely the MVRC Alister Clark Stakes (Gr.2), the SAJC Fisher Hcp (Gr.3) and the Ipswich TC Ipswich Cup (L) ending his 4YO season with a fourth in the Brisbane Cup.

An outstanding 5YO season resulted in six stakes wins and seven stakes placings. His stakes wins included the MVRC John F. Feehan Stakes (Gr.2), VRC Turbull Stakes (Gr.2), VATC Caulfield Stakes (Gr.1) and his greatest triumph the 1963 VATC Caulfield Cup (Gr.1) winning by four lengths. He also recorded placings in the MVRC WS Cox Plate (Gr.1) and VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes (Gr.1).

The following autumn he repeated his MVRC Alister Clark Stakes (Gr.2) win, and also won the VATC St George Stakes (Gr.2) which would turn out to be the last of his 22 victories. The season ended with three high quality Group 2 seconds in the VRC Queen’s Plate, the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the AJC Autumn Plate.

He went to stud in Japan in 1965 unfortunately only covering one season from which he left a Listed winner and several Listed placegetters.

Race Record: 76:22-10-9

1961: TARA’S PRIDE (Lot 121)

**Tara’s Pride**

Brown Colt by Pride of Kildare – Fox Amber
Breeder: Mr H. S. Duncan
Vendor: Mr H. S. Duncan, Cambridge
Purchaser: C. W. Ansford, Stratford
Purchase Price: 1250gns

Tara’s Pride was bred in Cambridge and purchased for 1250gns by C. W. (Bill) Ansford, Stratford, one of New Zealand’s most successful racehorse owners.

Mr Ansford was involved in the motor industry being the founder and owner of Ansford Motors Ltd in Stratford.

Tara's Pride, trained by Mr Ansford’s private trainers won every season from two years to ten years. From eight starts at two he scored five wins including the Wellesley Stakes (Listed) by four lengths.

As a three year old he won the Wanganui Guineas (L) and was twice Listed placed. At four he recorded four open handicap wins and placed third in the WRC Wainui Hcp (L). His five year old season was a case of near misses including a third, beaten a long neck and a nose by Empyreus and Rochdale in the WRC George Adams (Tatt's) Hcp (Gr.1). Late in the season he scored in open class at Foxton.

The Manawatu Summer Cup was his only win at six however, he ran seconds in the WRC George Adams (Tatt's) Hcp (Gr.1), the WRC Thompson Hcp (Gr.3) and the ARC HO Nolan Hcp (Gr.3).

As a 7YO he got the season off to great start with a win in Riccarton's CJC Jockey Club Hcp (L), ran second in the ARC Summer Cup (L) at Ellerslie and third in the WRC Metropolitan Hcp (L). After a third and second in the WRC George Adams (Tatt's) Hcp the previous two years he was finally rewarded with his first Group 1 victory, defeating Loofah, and setting a New Zealand record of 1:34.25 for the mile.

At eight he recorded three Group and Listed placings and recorded his second Group 1 win in the ARC Easter Hcp (Gr.1), defeating Rainfall. At nine and ten he recorded three further wins including the Feilding Cup.

He retired at eleven with 19 wins which included two Group 1s, four Listed races and no fewer than 15 Group and Listed placings.

Race Record: 134:19-17; Earning: $55,560
NB: Complete race record unavailable

1962: FUTURE (Lot 28)

Purchaser Mr. W. R. Kemball, the proprieter of Masterton Stud and a prominent National Yearling Sale buyer had been the owner of Kemball Theatres, a successful New Zealand Theatre Company during the 1920’s, he also ran a sausage skin factory in Masterton and had interests in poultry farming on a large scale. In 1934 he relocated his racing stock to Australia.

In seven starts at two Future placed in his first four starts and finished the season with three successive Melbourne wins.

At three he won at Caulfield then recorded thirds in the VATC Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1) and the VRC Victoria Derby (Gr.1). His maiden stakes success came in the VATC Futurity Stakes (Gr.1) followed by a tough third in the 1964 VRC Australian Cup (Gr.1).

When winning the VATC Memsie Stakes (Gr.2) at four he beat MVRC WS Cox Plate (Gr.1) winner Sir Dane. These two clashed again in the VATC CF Orr Stakes (Gr.2) with Future winning, however, Sir Dane got one back in the MVRC Alister Clark Stakes (Gr.2).

Future’s 5YO season resulted in four wins which included the 1965 VATC Underwood Stakes (Gr.1), VRC Queen’s Plate (Gr.2) and the VATC Easter Cup (Gr.3). Notable placings were a second in the VATC Caulfield Stakes (Gr.1) and a third in the VATC St George Stakes (Gr.2) to Light Fingers and Tobin Bronze.

Winless during the 1966/67 season at aged six, he, however, ran up six placings to the champions Tobin Bronze and Galilee.

In 1967 as a 7YO he again won the VATC Underwood Stakes (Gr.1) then added the VATC Sandown Cup (Gr.2) and VRC Blamey Stakes (Gr.2). He finished the season with a third in the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr.2).

At eight he defeated Melbourne Cup winner Rain Lover in the VATC Caulfield Stakes (Gr.1) and finished second in the VATC Caulfield Cup (Gr.1). He secured two further Group 2 seconds before getting the last of his 16 wins when landing his second VATC Easter Cup (Gr.3). He returned at nine for a Group 2 second and four thirds including to Rain Lover in the 1969 VATC Underwood Stakes.

Apart from his 16 victories, four of which were Group 1s, he also accumulated 37 placings which included seven at the elite level.

1963: EMPYREUS (Lot 115)

**Empyreus**

Chestnut Colt by Gigantic– High Grace
Breeder: Blandford Lodge Stud
Vendor: Blandford Lodge Stud, Matamata
Purchaser: K. H. Quinlivan, Hastings
Purchase Price: 725gns

Purchased by Hastings trainer K. H. Quinlivan and originally owned by H.N. Phelan of Whakatane he was sold in 1965 to Messrs D.M. and M.R. Renton of Hawke’s Bay for whom he raced in the stable of B. Courtney in Victoria before returning to New Zealand trainer K. H. Quinlivan.

Unplaced at two Empyreus didn’t break his maiden until his ninth start at three on his home track at Hastings. He later scored back-to-back wins at Levin and Woodville then a double at Awapuni. Win five was in Trentham’s WRC Anniversary Hcp (before it gained stakes status) but at his next start he claimed the glamour mile, the WRC George Adams (Tatt’s) Hcp (Gr.1). Trainer Quinlivan then headed to Gisborne and scored the Poverty Bay TC Gold Cup. Back at Trentham he landed the WRC New Zealand St Leger (Gr.2). Unplaced in the Hawkes Bay Cup (L) he bounced back to score the HBJC Ormond Memorial Gold Cup (Gr.3) finishing the season winning the ARC Great Northern St Leger (Gr.2), his 11th win for the season. He was ranked the top stake winning horse and champion three-year-old in the Dominion in the 1963-64 season.

His four-year-old season started with an open handicap win at Foxton but 12 starts in Melbourne resulted in only one win. He was again tried in Australia at five without success. Back in New Zealand and again under trainer Quinlivan, he recorded placings in the WRC Presidents Hcp (Gr.3), the MRC Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr.2) and the HBJC Ormond Gold Cup.

In the spring of his 6YO career he was third in the WRC Harcourt Stakes (Gr.2) before taking out the CJC Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr.3). The following autumn he ran third in the Manawatu RC Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr.2) before winning his second Poverty Bay TC Gold Cup. His final victory was in the Wairarapa Racing Clubs Easter Hcp.

Race Record: 86:16-5-7

1964: GALILEE (Lot 31)

**Galilee**

Brown Colt by Alcimedes – Ringless
Breeder: Trelawney Stud
Vendor: Trelawney Stud, Cambridge
Purchaser: J. B. Cummings, Adelaide
Purchase Price: 3750gns

Purchaser Bart Cummings had previously purchased and trained this colt’s close relative Sometime to win 20 races including the 1963 Caulfield Cup (Gr.1). The colt to be named Galilee was raced by M. L & Mrs Bailey.

Finishing second on debut at Gawler as a two-year-old Galilee then had 11 starts at three solely in Adelaide breaking his maiden at start four. He then proceeded to win a further six, ending the season with a win in the Adelaide RC Birthday Cup (Gr.3).

Running second in the AJC Epsom Hcp (Gr.1) behind the New Zealand mare Chantal at start five as a 4YO he then won the VATC Toorak Hcp (Gr.1) and a week later the 1966 Caulfield Cup (Gr.1). In the VRC Mackinnon Stakes (Gr.1) he ran third to the champion weight-for-age performer Tobin Bronze, his rider John Miller questioned about his cold riding tactics but later cleared. Penalised 7lbs for his Caulfield Cup win Galilee started favourite for the 1966 Melbourne Cup (Gr.1) in which he cruised to an easy two length victory. On the last day of the Flemington meeting he turned the tables on Tobin Bronze winning the VRC CB Fisher Plate (L).

Twice second in the autumn of 1967 in the VATC CF Orr Stakes (Gr.2) and VRC Blamey Stakes (Gr.2) he then reeled off successive wins in the VRC Queen’s Plate (Gr.2), the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr.2), the AJC Autumn Stakes (Gr.2) and the AJC Sydney Cup (Gr.1) which he won by six lengths carrying 9st 7lbs. In winning the Sydney Cup Galilee became the first horse to win the Caulfield, Melbourne and Sydney Cups in the same season.

Reappearing in the Spring of 1968 he won the VATC Memsie Stakes (Gr.2), ran third in the VRC Craiglee Stakes (Gr.2), won the VRC Turnbull Stakes (Gr.2) then ran third in the LKS Mackinnon Stakes.

Retired after finishing fourth in the 1969 VATC Memsie Stakes (Gr.2) Galilee won 18 times, for an at the time record of being the third highest on the list of stake winnings of Australian racehorses of all time.

Race Record: 36:18-6-4; earning A$282,880
Australian Racing Hall of Fame 2005

1965: FARMER’S DAUGHTER (Lot 375)

**Farmer’s Daughter**

Brown Filly by Agricola – Geneve 11
Breeder: A. C. Williams & D. V. Zillman Partnership
Vendor: A. C. Williams & D. V. Zillman
Purchaser: J. B. Cummings, Adelaide
Purchase Price: 1800gns

Although purchased for 1800 guineas by J B Cummings, he was not operating for himself but for South Australian bookmaker Mr J. O’Connor, who asked him to buy a well bred filly on his behalf. Trained by Ab McDonald in Adelaide, Farmer’s daughter was given six starts at two winning on debut at Port Adelaide. She then made it two for two at Victoria Park. Her third win was in the SA Tatt’s Juvenile Hcp . At her final start she completed a good first season of four wins and two placings with a win in the 1966 SAJC South Australian Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr.2).

At three, her spring form included a third in the VATC Caulfield One Thousand Guineas (Gr.1) and winning the 1966 VRC Oaks by six lengths. Winning twice back in Adelaide, she was then sent to Sydney, her mission being the AJC Oaks (Gr.1). A third in the AJC Chipping Norton Stakes (Gr.2) preceded a second in the AJC Princess Hcp (L). In the 1966 AJC Oaks she was challenged strongly over the last 50 yards but held on to win by a long neck.

Fresh up two months later and after a win at Port Adelaide she placed second in the QTC Stradbroke Hcp (Gr.1).

At four she raced twice before being sold to Mr Nelson Bunker Hunt of Dallas, Texas. She managed two wins racing in the USA.

At stud she had just two foals. One was the USA-bred but Irish-performed dual listed winner Justimus by Indian Chief. The other, the unraced mare Marjoram by Vaguely Noble, was imported to New Zealand by Hunt in 1976 but had an unsuccessful stud career.

1966: BEN LOMOND (Lot 126)

**Ben Lomond**

Brown Colt by Test Case – Jennifer Joy
Breeder: J. H. Lindsay
Vendor: Balcarres Stud, Matamata
Purchaser: E. Montgomery, Rotorua
Purchase Price: 2900gns

Owner of Ben Lomond, Mr Ernie Montgomery from Rotorua, had previously enjoyed success with Chung Chong out of the 1943 National Yearling Sale. The colt was trained by Mr Jack Winder from Cambridge.

Ben Lomond raced nine times at two for wins at Ellerslie, Te Rapa and Paeroa.

At his second start at three he was successful at Ellerslie then the following week won the 1967 Avondale Guineas (Gr.3). Two weeks later he recorded a win in the Waikato Guineas (Gr.3) at Te Rapa. He then recorded his fourth successive win when taking out the ARC Great Northern Derby (Gr.1) on Boxing Day by six lengths. The streak ended with a close second in the ARC King’s Plate (Gr.3) behind Unpainted. At Trentham he toyed with his opponents with another six length win in the 1968 WRC Wellington Derby (Gr.2). Then on Trentham’s last day he took out the WRC Trentham Stakes (Gr.2). Seconds in the BOP Stars Travel Stakes (Gr.2) and the ARC Great Northern St Leger (Gr.2) followed.

At four he won his first four of five starts, opening with an open handicap at Tauranga then narrowly defeating champion mare Star Belle in the WaikRC Foxbridge Plate (Gr.3). In the Te Aroha JC Thames Valley Stakes (Gr.3) he beat another champion in Mayo Gold while at Ellerslie, for the ARC Clifford Plate (Gr.2), he beat Tatua.

A Spring Melbourne campaign was almost thwarted when the reserve bank would not initially grant the owner sufficient overseas funds to cross the Tasman. His Melbourne campaign, however, realized a third in the VATC Caulfield Stakes (Gr.1) followed by a start in the MVRC WS Cox Plate (Gr.1) where he finished second behind Daryl’s Joy. A game third in the VRC Mackinnon Stakes (Gr.1) followed. His last race was the 1969 VRC Melbourne Cup where he finished third behind Rain Lover.

At stud in New Zealand he sired 82 named foals for 37 winners.

Race Record: 28:13-5-3; earning A$41,748

100 Years of racetrack legends: 1957 - 1966