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 1967 - 1976 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.

1967: BROKER’S TIP (Lot 115)

**Broker’s Tip**

Summertime — Fatehpur Sikri, Colt
Breeder — Kinross Stud
Vendor — Kinross Stud, Te Kauwhata
Purchaser — H.F. Steinberg, USA
Purchase Price — 5520gns
Top Price — 12000gns

From 1929, breeder John Malcolm operated in partnership with his brother James at Te Rapa Stud. John went on to establish Kinross Stud in the mid 1950’s where he stood the Champion stallion Summertime. Broker’s Tip was sold to American publisher Harry Steinberg of Boston, Massachusetts, who resided in Auckland. The colt was sent to Australia to be trained by former New Zealander Harold Riley who also selected the colt at the Sale. The colt was called Broker’s Tip because a stockbroker friend of Harry’s from Florida had just given him a good tip on the stock market.

Broker’s Tip was second on debut as a two-year-old in the AJC Canonbury Stakes (L). Returning in the autumn he won a further two from four, both at Randwick.

At his third start at three he stepped up to stakes class and landed the STC Canterbury Guineas (Gr.2). A fifth in the STC Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1) and sixth in the AJC Derby (Gr.1) was followed by two further wins back at shorter distances.

His 4YO season began with a fresh up win at Randwick then a Listed second before gamely taking out the spring’s top mile, the AJC Epsom Hcp (Gr.1). After a fresh up second in the autumn he added his second Group 1, the STC Rawson Stakes. Three weeks later he landed the prestigious AJC Doncaster Hcp (Gr.1) by a neck and three days later he added the AJC All Aged Stakes (Gr.1).

Broker’s Tip was sold for $135,000 to American interests but he remained in Australia for the spring and from five starts won the STC Canterbury Stakes (Gr.2), followed by fourths in the ATC Theo Marks Quality Hcp (L) and the AJC Epsom Hcp (Gr.1). He ended his Australian career with seconds in the AJC Craven Plate (L) and AJC George Main Stakes (Gr.1).

In the USA he faced the starter eight times winning two Group 3 handicaps on the turf at Gulfstream Park in Florida and placing second three times.

In 1973 he went to stud in Chile, where he sired Bethia, a Chilean Group 1 winner of the Clasico Mil Guineas and four further black-type winners.

1968: DARYL’S JOY (Lot 555)

**Daryl’s Joy**

Stunning — Rutha, Colt
Breeder — W.S. Bellerby
Vendor — W.S. Bellerby, Martinborough
Purchaser — D. M. Floyd, WBL, (as agent)
Purchase Price — $1,100
Top Price — $37,000

This bargain colt was one of several yearlings purchased for Malaysian clients by Michael Floyd, General Manager of Wrightson Bloodstock Ltd, being eventually raced by Mr Robert Goh of Singapore and named after Goh’s only son. Breeder Walter Bellerby of Martinborough, in his first venture into thoroughbred breeding, purchased the mare Rutha to put to his local stallion Stunning, standing at Trevor Thomson’s Highway Lodge Stud in Greytown.

Trained by Syd Brown, Daryl’s Joy was named Champion 2YO on the New Zealand Free Hcp with 9st 12lb (62 ½ kg) following wins in the ARC Eclipse Stakes (Gr.3), the WRC Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr.2), the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (Gr.2), the ARC Great Northern Champagne Stakes (Gr.3) and the ARC Ellerslie Championship Stakes (Gr.1), the last three in successive weeks.

Relocating to Sydney with trainer Syd Brown, Daryl’s Joy’s 3YO campaign began in Melbourne with a third in the VRC Ascot Vale Stakes (Gr.2), facing off against Vain who took his record to eight from nine. Daryl’s Joy then upset Vain in the MVRC Moonee Valley Stakes (Gr.2). Two weeks later, however, Vain bounced back to beat him in the VATC Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1). A potential sale fell through so the 1969 MVRC WS Cox Plate (Gr.1) was next and Daryl’s Joy easily defeated the other top class New Zealand galloper Ben Lomond, then seven days later ran away with the VRC Victoria Derby (Gr.1) by three lengths.

USA beckoned and Daryl’s Joy, now a 4YO by Northern Hemisphere time, defeated the Chilean champion Cougar II in the Del Mar Invitational Hcp (Gr.2). At Santa Anita he won the Oak Tree Invitational Stakes (Gr.1). In 1971 he raced just three times, winning the Arcadia Hcp (Gr.3) and the San Luis Obispo Hcp (Gr.2), both at Santa Anita.

At stud in Florida, he sired two stakes winners.

1969: ZAMBARI (Lot 364)

**Zambari**

Pakistan II — Cyfort, Colt
Breeder — Mrs J. Hunter
Vendor — Evergreen Lodge, Matamata
Purchaser — V. Doral, Sydney
Purchase Price — $2,800
Top Price — $26,000

The vendor of this Lot, Evergreen Lodge, was established in 1965 by Frank and Maureen Wilson and was situated on the property now occupied by Rich Hill Stud.

Raced from the Tommy Smith stable for prominent Sydney restauranteur and nightclub owner Denis Wong, Zambari won on debut at Rosehill by five lengths. Opening at odds of 50-1 he was, however, backed for a fortune, going to the post at 9-4. He then added two more Randwick wins before winning his fourth start by ten lengths to end his first season undefeated.

His three-year-old season began by running second to the champion Baguette in the AJC Hobartville Stakes (Gr.2), followed by a further four wins.

At four he won at Randwick and Rosehill before winning the VRC Lightning Stakes (Gr.2) at Flemington. Back to Sydney he beat Baguette in the AJC Liverpool City Cup (Gr.3), ran second in the AJC Galaxy Stakes (Gr.2) and finished his season winning Rosehill’s STC Civic Hcp (L).

His five-year-old season yielded two stakes wins, the NSW Tatt’s RC Carrington Stakes (L) and his first Group 1 - the VATC Oakleigh Plate (Gr.1) - in which he beat Century. Century beat him into third in the VRC Newmarket Hcp (Gr.1) at their next meeting.

At six he recorded three more stakes wins, the STC Premier Stakes (Gr.3) in Sydney, then in Melbourne, the VATC JJ Liston Stakes (Gr.2), defeating Gay Icarus and the VATC Memsie Stakes (Gr.2) defeating his old foe Century. His placings included third in the VATC Underwood Stakes (Gr.1) and third to Taj Rossi in the MVRC WS Cox Plate (Gr.1).

At seven he recorded another three wins which included the VRC Blamey Stakes (Gr.2) and the rich VATC Sandown Ten Thousand. Then, as an eight-year-old, he won in a dead-heat, his second Group 1, the VATC Caulfield Stakes (Gr.1).

1970: CLASSIC MISSION (Lot 264)

**Classic Mission**

Persian Garden II — Angelet, Colt
Breeder — J.A. Higgs
Vendor — J.A. Higgs, Wellington
Purchaser — S.A. Brown, Sydney (as agent)
Purchase Price — $2,400
Top Price — $60,000

Owner/breeder J. A. Higgs, a Wellington businessman and President of the NZ Federation of Laundrymen, Dyers and Drycleaners bred Classic Mission from his mare Angelet, who would become the 1972 Broodmare of the Year. The outstanding mare Min Flicka, bred and raced by J. A. Higgs, was also out of Angelet.

Doubling down on his luck at the 1970 National Yearling Sale, Singaporean Robert Goh, who bought the champion Daryl’s Joy two years prior, along with his co-owner Mr L. K. Wong, outlaid $2,400 through the bidding of their trainer S. A. Brown for Classic Mission.

Racing 12 times at two, Classic Mission won five which included three successive wins.

Headed to Sydney on his “classic mission,” he first had to overcome an age discrepancy when a vet’s report declared that Classic Mission was found to have the dental structure of a 4YO, and would therefore be ineligible to race against 3YOs. Representatives of the Australian Stud book flew to New Zealand in an attempt to verify the colt's true age, visiting Fencourt Stud in Cambridge where the colt was foaled. They were presented with evidence that Classic Mission was indeed born in August 1968, and the colt was allowed to continue his Australian campaign, which began in the STC Hill Stakes (Gr.2) where he finished strongly for second. The following week, he won the AJC Derby (Gr.1), with jockey George Moore driving the colt along the inner rail within the shadows of the post.

Unplaced in the WS Cox Plate (Gr.1), he lined up just seven days later, against his own age group, in the VRC Derby (Gr.1) in which he scored convincingly by a length. Flemington’s fourth day saw Classic Mission add the VRC CB Fisher Plate (L), the last of his 9 wins in 19 starts.

At stud, he sired 57 winners including the Perth listed winner Alician.

1971: ANALIE (Lot 440)

**Analie**

Sovereign Edition — Nalei, Filly
Breeder — Miss J. Wilding
Vendor — Te Mania Bloodstock, Parnassus
Purchaser — G. Murphy, Melbourne
Purchase Price — $7,000
Top Price — $40,000

Jo Wilding established Te Mania Bloodstock in partnership with her sister-in-law Julie Wilding and Auctioneer David Clarkson, the vendors of Analie. Owned by R. R. Wilson and originally trained by her purchaser, Melbourne trainer Geoff Murphy, the filly was then leased to retired publican A. Keating and joined the stable of T. J. Smith.

In ten starts at two Analie won twice, both at Pakenham, and placed at Caulfield. Her 3YO season of nine wins was outstanding, beginning with a treble at Moonee Valley, Sandown and Caulfield. Early in October she was second in the SAJC South Australian Oaks (Gr.1).

Resuming in March with Tommy Smith, she added wins at Randwick and Warwick Farm before scoring an upset win in the AJC Doncaster Hcp (Gr.1) in beating hot favourite Century by a short half-head, the shortest official decision given at Randwick. Two days later she cruised home by four lengths in the AJC Oaks (Gr.1). In Brisbane she toyed with the 3YO fillies and won the QTC Queensland Oaks (Gr.1) by six lengths. Then a week on, it was the QTC Queensland Derby (Gr.1) and yet another win, her fifth win in succession, four of them Group 1s.

Her spring 4YO campaign began with a win in the QTC JHS Barnes Stakes (L) at Eagle Farm followed by the STC Canterbury Cup (Gr.3) and Rosehill’s STC Sydney Turf Club Cup (Gr.3). Back at Randwick for the rich AJC Metropolitan Hcp (Gr.1) she put in a brilliant finishing burst to score her fourth successive win and her eleventh win in 13 starts from the Tulloch Lodge stable. Five days later she added the AJC Craven Plate (L) making it five on the trot. In winning the 1973 Craven Plate, Analie became the highest stakes-winning mare in Australian history.

Retired to stud, Analie produced four winners including the 1980 VATC Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr.1) winner Aare (Bold Flip).

1972: THINK BIG (Lot 386)

**Think Big**

Sobig — Sarcelle, Colt
Breeder — Est L. A. Alexander
Vendor — Wynthorpe Stud, Waitara
Purchaser — J. B. Cummings, Adelaide
Purchase Price — $10,000
Top Price — $40,000

Originally a dairy and pig farmer L. A. (Allen) Alexander developed Wynthorpe Stud in 1950 and was responsible for importing the sire Copenhagen II who sired the champion mare La Mer. A local councillor, racing and trotting steward and executive member of the NZTBA, Alexander, on his death bequeathed Wynthorpe Stud and his bloodstock, which included the mare La Mer, to New Plymouth High School in the hope of establishing an agriculture college. The LA Alexander Agricultural College Trust now focuses on agricultural education.

Purchased by Bart Cummings on behalf of Malaysian businessman Dato Tan Chin Nam,

Think Big was originally co-owned with Cummings and Queensland property developer Rick O’Sullivan. Later ownership included Malaysia’s Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Cummings tried Think Big eight times at two winning at start six. Winning at his third start at three he then made it three in a row when taking out the VRC Carbine Club Stakes (L) at Flemington. A winter Brisbane campaign resulted in a third in the QTC Grand Prix (Gr.2), a win in the QTC Winston Churchill Stakes (L) and another third in the QTC Brisbane Cup (Gr.1).

His first starts at four were ordinary, offering little hope about his Melbourne Cup chances, but that changed when he came home from near last to land the VRC Hotham Hcp (Gr.2) by a length. That saw his odds tighten to 12 to 1 for the 1974 VRC Melbourne Cup (Gr.1). In the Cup he ran down stablemate and favourite Leilani in the last fifty metres to win by a length. His last four starts at four included a fourth in the WATC CB Cox Plate (Gr.2) and a third in the WATC Perth Cup (Gr.1).

At five he ran third in the VATC Caulfield Stakes (Gr.1) then, having not won since his Melbourne Cup victory the previous year, he added his second Melbourne Cup (Gr.1) going clear to win the 1975 Cup by half a length. At six he recorded two Group placings.

He was retired at the age of eight and was looked after by his retired jockey Harry White.

1973: TARA’S BULBA (Lot 108)

**Tara’s Bulba**

Oncidium — Entrancing Belle, Colt
Breeder — Balcarres Stud
Vendor — Balcarres Stud, Matamata
Purchaser — Gilio (Jim) Marconi, Melbourne
Purchase Price — $13,500
Top Price — $70,000

Pioneer of thoroughbred breeding in the Matamata district, Jack Lindsay bred Taras Bulba at Balcarres Stud. The purchaser, Italian immigrant Gilio (Jim) Marconi, was introduced to racing by his bricklaying workmates in Adelaide. After selling his successful Melbourne bricklaying and marble-floor tiling business he engaged top Melbourne trainer George Hanlon to purchase a colt for him at the 1973 National Yearling Sale.

Taras Bulba was not exported to Australia until he turned two, and his four starts in 1974 resulted in wins at Sandown and Caulfield and a fourth in the VRC Sire’s Produce Stakes (Gr.1).

As a three-year-old he caused a minor upset in winning the STC Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1) then started favourite in the AJC Derby (Gr.1) which he won by half a length. Bypassing the Caulfield Cup (Gr.1) he then ran second to Battle Heights in the MVRC WS Cox Plate (Gr.1). A raid on Perth brought seconds in the WATC Australian Derby (Gr.1) and the WATC Perth Cup (Gr.1). A handicap win at Caulfield was followed by a third in the STC Tulloch Stakes (L). He then easily landed the delayed AJC Australasian Championship Stakes (Gr.1) and wrapped up the season with the VRC St Leger (Gr.2).

As a spring 4YO Taras Bulba only managed a VATC Underwood Stakes (Gr.1) win causing his owner to transfer the horse to Tommy Smith. The results were stunning with wins in the VRC Queen’s Plate (Gr.2) and VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr.2). In the April he added the AJC Chipping Norton Stakes (Gr.2), ran a gallant second to Oopik in the AJC Sydney Cup (Gr.1) then beat the New Zealand Champion Balmerino in the AJC Queen Elizabeth Randwick Stakes (Gr.1).

At five, banned from racing in Australia after bleeding for a second time, he was sent to California where he recorded an Allowance Hcp win at Hollywood Park before retiring with a career of 13 wins including five Group 1s.

1974: HOW NOW (Lot 26)

**How Now**

In The Purple — Fair Diana, Filly
Breeder — J. G. Bullen
Vendor — Paramount Stud, Hastings
Purchaser — Coles Bros (as agent), Melbourne
Purchase Price — $15,000
Top Price — $100,000

Joe Bullen, a sheep and beef farmer from Tinui in Masterton, bred How Now from the mare

Fair Diana who was gifted to him by the owner who knew she “would have a good home”. The filly, the first representative of In the Purple to be offered, was knocked down for $15,000 to Coles Bros on behalf of Geoffrey Bellmaine, the inaugural Chairman of the Victorian Thoroughbred Racehorse Owner’s Association after whom Caulfield’s Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes is named.

In her first season of racing from the Colin Hayes stable she placed twice at Group 2. As a 3YO, she came into her own winning at Caulfield and Moonee Valley. Then at Flemington she took out the VRC Wakeful Stakes (Gr.2) on Derby Day and ran fourth in the VRC Oaks (Gr.1). A third in the VRC Australian Cup (Gr.1) was followed by victories in the VRC AV Kewney Stakes (Gr.2) and the AJC Oaks (Gr.1) at Randwick.

At four, How Now scored the VRC Craiglee Stakes (Gr.2) then won three Group 1’s: the VATC Underwood Stakes , the VATC Caulfield Stakes and the VATC Caulfield Cup, the best win of her career. A fourth in the MVRC WS Cox Plate (Gr.1) was followed by placings in the VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes (Gr.1) behind Sir Silver Lad, the VATC CF Orr Stakes (Gr.2) behind champion filly Surround, the VATC St George Stakes (Gr.2), the VATC TS Carlyon Cup (Gr.2) and the STC Tancred Stakes (Gr.1).

Returning at five, after placing in the VATC Underwood Stakes, she was retired. At stud she produced three winners including Brave Salute (Without Fear), winner of 7 races including the VATC Sandown Guineas (Gr.2) and two listed events. How Now’s granddaughter, God’s Girl (Godswalk), is the dam of VATC CF Orr Stakes Gr.1 winner and STC Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1 third placegetter, Racer’s Edge (Rory’s Jester), whose eight wins were all at stakes level.

1975: HYPERNO (Lot 75)

**Hyperno**

Rangong — Mikarla, Colt
Breeder — Fairdale Stud
Vendor — Fairdale Stud, Longburn
Purchaser — G. Murphy, Melbourne
Purchase Price — $6,500
Top Price — $80,000

This colt’s registered breeder was Fairdale Stud which was established by Arthur Fell in 1949 and rose to prominence in the 1960’s-70’s through the champion sire Pakistan II. Fairdale proprietors, brothers Rex and Gerald Fell, who in 2016 received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing, bred Hyperno by chance. With the death of their stallion Pakistan II just prior to the breeding season they leased the stallion Rangong which they put to the mare Mikarla who they had purchased through the encouragement of Rex. The purchase by Australian trainer Geoff Murphy was another example of his eye for success.

Starting only twice at two, Hyperno then showed promise at three, winning five times and recording two Group placings which including a third in the 1977 VRC St Leger (Gr.2).

His maiden stakes success was in the 1977 Newcastle Gold Cup (L) followed by two listed race seconds preceding a third in the 1977 VRC Melbourne Cup (Gr.1). Scoring over 1400m in the VATC CF Orr Stakes (Gr.2) he then added the VATC Carlyon Cup (Gr.2) and seven days later, his first Group 1, Rosehill’s STC HE Tancred Stakes. He recorded his second Group 1 in the SAJC Adelaide Cup.

A dispute regarding training methods resulted in Hyperno’s owners transferring him to Bart Cummings’ stable where he ran fourth in the VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes (Gr.1) before narrowly winning the 1979 VRC Melbourne Cup (Gr.1). Five days later he landed the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr.2). The following February he ran second in the 1980 VATC CF Orr Stakes (Gr.2) to Manikato a week prior to victory in the VRC Blamey Stakes (Gr.2).

At seven he won three Group 1s, the VATC Caulfield Stakes (Gr.1) defeating the great Kingston Town, the VRC Australian Cup (Gr.1) and the STC Rawson Stakes (Gr.1); he also claimed his second VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes and VRC Blamey Stakes. At eight and nine he ran high class placings including two Group 1 thirds.

1976: LEFROY (Lot 203)

**Lefroy**

Decies — Beaute de L'Or, Colt
Breeder — N. B. Hunt
Vendor — Waikato Stud, Matamata
Purchaser — G. Murphy, Melbourne
Purchase Price — $7,000
Top Price — $75,000

Billionaire Texan oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt, who established Waikato Stud on 188 hectares of dairy farm in Matamata in 1967, pioneered the shuttling of northern hemisphere stallions to New Zealand. Lefroy represented the first crop of yearlings to be presented at a National Yearling Sale by 1970 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Gr.1) winner and Waikato Stud stallion Decies whom Hunt purchased in England for 120,000 guineas as a late two-year-old. Owned by a syndicate of four friends, Lefroy took his name from a mining town in Tasmania, the birthplace of the syndicate’s principal owner Ian Kitto. Lefroy was another bargain buy by trainer Geoff Murphy.

Well tried at two, Lefroy ended his first season with three wins and a Listed placing at Doomben.

At three he began the season with a Caulfield win over 1800m and two weeks later finished strongly to win a competitive STC Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1). Unplaced in both the AJC Derby (Gr.1) and the MVRC WS Cox Plate (Gr.1) he then ran third in the VRC Victoria Derby (Gr.1), and was rewarded on Oaks Day, scoring the VRC Batman Stakes (L). A second in the VRC Blamey Stakes (Gr.2) in Melbourne was followed by a win at Rosehill in the STC Tulloch Stakes (L) where he easily defeated the flying Luskin Star. He next won the AJC Australasian Champion Stakes (Gr.1) where he accounted for the two top class performers So Called and Belmura Lad. Another Caulfield win was followed by a second in the VRC St Leger (Gr.2). In May he headed north to score the QTC Grand Prix Stakes (Gr.2), and cruised away by two and half lengths to win the Queensland Derby (Gr.1).

As a four-year-old he recorded seconds in the VRC Craiglee Stakes (Gr.2) to Family of Man and the MVRC John F. Feehan Stakes (Gr.2) to So Called. In October he won the VRC Turnbull Stakes (Gr.2) but a week later had to settle for another second, in the VATC Caulfield Stakes (Gr.1). In the autumn of 1979 he ran third behind the brilliant Manikato in the VATC CF Orr Stakes (Gr.2) then landed his final win, in the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr.2).

Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand. Celebrate with us at NZB’s Karaka Sales Centre from 25 – 29 January 2026.

A century of thoroughbred excellence has shaped the National Yearling Sales Series, from guineas to dollars, Trentham to Karaka and Wrightsons to NZB.

The full publication of top performers from the National Yearling Sale can be purchased from NZB’s online store, or at the Merchandise Store during Karaka 2026.

100 Years of racetrack legends: 1967 - 1976