100 Years of racetrack legends: 2007 - 2016
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 Sale 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 Sale across the span of a century is quite spectacular. Check out the best performed graduates from the 2007 - 2016 sales below. The full printed copy of this catalogue of best performers is available to purchase online soon at shop.nzb.co.nz and at the Merchandise Store during Karaka 2026.
2007: TAVISTOCK (LOT 1045)
TAVISTOCK
Montjeu — Upstage, Colt
Breeder — Bloomsbury Stud
Vendor — Bloomsbury Stud, Matamata
Purchaser — A.R. Campbell, Masterton
Purchase Price — $85,000
Top Price — $2,000,000
Purchased over budget by trainer Andrew Campbell for a syndicate headed by Real Estate Agent Tommy Heptinstall, this colt was bred by Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford at her Bloomsbury Stud, and in a nod to his breeder he was named Tavistock, a subsidiary title of the Bedford lineage.
Trained by Andrew Campbell, Tavistock won at Trentham on debut and had two further starts as a 2YO.
Sent to Australia with a new name, Lord Tavistock, plus a new trainer Mick Price, the colt had four Melbourne starts at three, finishing second in the Listed MRC Vain Stakes, and winning a set-weights race for 3YOs at Flemington.
Unsettled in Australia, he returned to New Zealand at four, and back under the guidance of Andrew Campbell where he won the Gr.1 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes at Hastings, beating Mufhasa in a solid time of 1:22.09. Returning fresh in the New Year he won an open handicap at Hastings, and finished strongly for second to Wall Street in the Gr.1 WRC Thorndon Mile. A win in the Gr.1 Waikato Draught Sprint by a neck in 1:21.3, preceded being taken to Melbourne. Unfortunately, a rain affected Caulfield saw him finish fifth in Gr.1 Futurity Stakes. However, he won the Gr.2 VRC Blamey Stakes, scoring by three quarters of a length. After one further start, he was retired to stand at Cambridge Stud.
At stud, Tavistock sired 54 stakes-winners including 12 at Group 1 level. He died following a paddock accident in December 2019 at Cambridge Stud.
Race Record — 18:6-3-1
Earnings — A$555,362
NZ Champion Sprinter 2009-10
2008: SO YOU THINK (LOT 424)
SO YOU THINK
High Chaparral — Triassic, Colt
Breeder — M.J. Moran & Piper Farm Ltd
Vendor — Windsor Park Stud, Cambridge
Purchaser — Duncan Ramage, NSW
Purchase Price — $110,000
Top Price — $1,450,000
Bred by Michael Moran, Windsor Park Stud's Marketing Manager, in partnership with Piper Farm principals Cecile and Alex Smith, So You Think was purchased by Duncan Ramage on behalf of Malaysian billionaire Dato Tan Chin Nam and Tunku Ahmad Yahaya.
Trained by Bart Cummings, So You Think won on debut at two. He next raced at three, finishing second in the Listed AJC Ming Dynasty Hcp, followed by his maiden stakes win in the Gr.3 STC Gloaming Stakes. After a fifth in the Gr.1 MRC Caulfield Guineas, he won the Gr.1 WS Cox Plate by three lengths. He ended his season with a second in the Gr.1 VRC Emirates Stakes.
As a 4YO, So You Think won, in succession, the Gr.2 MRC Memsie Stakes, Gr.1 MRC Underwood Stakes, Gr.1 MRC Yalumba Stakes, a second Gr.1 WS Cox Plate and the Gr.1 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes. He also placed third in the 2010 Gr.1 VRC Melbourne Cup.
Sold to Coolmore Stud, So You Think was exported to Ireland where he won the Gr.3 Curragh Mooresbridge Stakes by 12 lengths, then added the Gr.1 Curragh Tattersall’s Gold Cup. Narrowly beaten in the Gr.1 Royal Ascot Prince of Wales Stakes, he then defeated the Derby and Arc winner Workforce in the Gr.1 Sandown Eclipse Stakes. A win over Snow Fairy in the Gr.1 Leopardstown Irish Champion Stakes preceded a gallant fourth in the Gr.1 Longchamp Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He finished second in the Gr.1 Ascot Champion Stakes to Cirrus des Aigles and, in his only attempt on dirt in the Gr.1 Santa Anita Breeders’ Cup Classic, he finished sixth.
His final season saw him run fourth in the Gr.1 Meydan Dubai World Cup, add his second Gr.1 Curragh Tattersall’s Gold Cup and record a Royal Ascot win in the Gr.1 Prince of Wale’s Stakes. When retired, his fabulous race record included ten Group 1 wins.
His stud career has also been outstanding with 65 stakes winners to date. Among his progeny are Group 1 winners Think About It and Think It Over. His dam Triassic won consecutive Broodmare of the Year titles in 2011 and 2012.
Race Record — 23:14-4-1
Earnings — A$8,893,882
Australian Champion 3YO Colt 2009-10 & Champion Miler 2010-11, Ireland Champion Older Horse 2011 & 2012, Australian Racing Hall of Fame 2019, NZ Racing Hall of Fame 2016
2009: SHAMROCKER (LOT 1021)
SHAMROCKER
O'Reilly — Bohemian Blues, Filly
Breeder — Mrs M.R. & V. Trillo
Vendor — Valachi Downs, Matamata
Purchaser — Danny O’Brien, Victoria
Purchase Price — $65,000
Top Price — $800,000
Equine dentist Vern Trillo and his wife Margaret bred Shamrocker, who was presented by Kevin Hickman’s Valachi Downs for the Trillos, their only outside client. Purchased and trained by Danny O’Brien, Shamrocker was raced by a syndicate which included Raffles Farm, managed by Bruce Sherwin.
At two, Shamrocker placed fourth at Mornington on debut in January 2010 and at her next start broke her maiden at Sandown, which was followed by a win in the Gr.2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
At three, she finished third in the Gr.2 VRC Edward Manifold Stakes and ran second to Brazilian Pulse in the Gr.1 VRC Oaks. A fourth in the Gr.3 VRC Vanity Stakes preceded her win in the Gr.1 VRC Australian Guineas.
In Sydney, Shamrocker was third to Jimmy Choux in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas. Then at Randwick, in beating Retrieve and Anacheeva, she became the first filly in 22 years to win the Gr.1 ATC Australian Derby, and the first ever filly to land the Australian Guineas and Australian Derby double.
The following week, back at Randwick for the Gr.1 ATC Australian Oaks in heavy going, she ran second behind Absolutely with Pinker Pinker third. The latter was successful in the 2011 Gr.1 WS Cox Plate.
Shamrocker was retired to stud in Japan where she produced three-time winner Julia Barows.
Race Record — 18:4-2-2
Earnings — A$1,975,880
Australian Champion 3YO Filly 2010-11
2010: OCEAN PARK (LOT 675)
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Bred at the historic Trelawney Stud, purchased by the Taylor Family in the early 1990s,
Ocean Park was from a mare who the B.M. Taylor Family Trust purchased from Cambridge Stud at the 2002 Premier Yearling Sale. The colt was raced in partnership by the purchaser Gary Hennessy with Andrew Wong and Stephen Yan of Hong Kong.
Ocean Park dead-heated to win on debut followed by a set-weights 3YO win at Ellerslie. Returning to Ellerslie, he was beaten a head in the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas.
At Trentham he won the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes by four and a half lengths, then at Te Rapa finished second in the Gr.3 Waikato Guineas to Silent Achiever. In Sydney, in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas he ran Laser Hawk to a half neck in finishing second, with Silent Achiever third.
His first win as a 4YO was in the Gr.1 HBJC Makfi Challenge Stakes. In Melbourne, in succession he won the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes, the Gr.1 Caulfield Stakes (beating Alcopop) and the Gr.1 WS Cox Plate, defeating All Too Hard and Pierro. He wrapped up his Melbourne campaign with a third in the Gr.1 LKS Mackinnon Stakes.
Back in New Zealand, he won the Gr.1 ARC New Zealand Stakes, beating Veyron by three and a half lengths. After a disappointing finish in the Gr.1 Meydan Dubai Duty Free in Dubai, a campaign targeting Royal Ascot was abandoned and Ocean Park was retired to stand at Waikato Stud.
In 2013, Trelawney Stud's Faith, Brent and Cherry Taylor, due to the achievements of Ocean Park, were awarded Breeders of the Year, and his dam, Sayyida, was named Broodmare of the Year. Ocean Park has established himself as a leading sire and to date he has left 23 stakes winners and four Group 1 winners which include Tofane, Kolding and Kovalica.
Race Record — 15:8-3-1
Earnings — NZ$343,925 / A$2,529,000
NZ Horse of the Year 2012-13, Australia & NZ Champion Middle Distance Horse 2012-13
2011: SACRED FALLS (LOT 361)
SACRED FALLS
O'Reilly — Iguazu's Girl, Colt
Breeder — Waikato Stud 2001 Ltd
Vendor — Waikato Stud, Matamata
Purchaser — Mulcaster Bloodstock, Auckland
Purchase Price — $160,000
Top Price — $875,000
Bred and sold by Waikato Stud, Sacred Falls was purchased by bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster for the Raffles Thoroughbred Racing Syndicate and was raced by them in partnership with Dato K.S. Yap and trained by Tony Pike.
After two starts for two wins at two, Sacred Falls then won fresh up at three in the Listed Whangarei RC Challenge Stakes. A sensational win in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas followed, in which he lost six lengths at the start, yet still managed to win in 1:22.13. He was again too good when winning the Gr.3 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes at Te Rapa. At Riccarton for the Gr.1 CJC New Zealand 2000 Guineas he won impressively to remain unbeaten in six starts.
Taken to Sydney, he had a new co-owner; Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick had purchased a share in the colt, and Chris Waller became the new trainer. A second to Dundeel in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas preceded a win in the Gr.1 Doncaster Hcp, in which he beat champion Pierro by three-quarters of a length.
As a spring 4YO he had five starts, placing third in the Gr.2 MVRC Crystal Mile. In the autumn he returned to Randwick to win back-to-back Gr.1 Doncaster Hcps. Backing up seven days later, he finished second to Dundeel in the Gr.1 ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
After two fourth placings at five, he won his fourth Group 1, the ATC George Main Stakes. After an unsuccessful Melbourne campaign, he returned to his birthplace, Waikato Stud, to stand at stud. Sacred Falls died after a short battle with a rare illness. To date, he has sired two Group 1 winners in Aegon and Icebath.
Race Record — 27:9-2-1
Earnings — A$4,701,215
Joint Top Older Male of 2013-14 Australasian Classification (Mile), Top of 2012-13 NZ 3YO Free H (1200m-1600m)
2012: LUCIA VALENTINA (LOT 461)
LUCIA VALENTINA
Savabeel — Staryn Glenn, Filly
Breeder — Mrs H.G. & W.G. Bax
Vendor — Blandford Lodge, Matamata
Purchaser — Bruce Perry Bloodstock, Masterton (as agent)
Purchase Price — $60,000
Top Price — $1,750,000
Breeders Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax re-established Blandford Lodge as a boutique breeding and agistment property with their daughter Kylie in the late 1990’s. Blandford Lodge was established in the 1940's but had reverted back to a dairy farm after the 1987 stock market crash.
Bruce Perry was acting as agent for Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock when he secured this filly at Sale, later to be named Lucia Valentina after owners Lib and Katrina Petagna’s daughter.
Not racing until three, Lucia Valentina won on debut at Tauranga for trainer Stephen Marsh. Two starts later, she claimed her maiden stakes win in the Gr.3 Levin RC Wellington Stakes. At Ellerslie, she finished second in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes to Rising Romance.
Transferred to Kris Lee’s stable in Sydney, she was third in the Gr.2 ATC Surround Stakes, won the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes by a length, and finished third in the Gr.1 ATC Australian Oaks to Rising Romance.
At four, she won the Gr.2 ATC Tramway Stakes and then in Melbourne won the Gr.1 VRC Turnbull Stakes. She ran third in the in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup to Admire Rakti and Rising Romance, but was unplaced in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup. Five Sydney autumn starts brought a third in the Gr.1 ATC Ranvet Stakes.
At five, she won the Gr.2 VRC Matriarch Stakes in the November, then was invited to Hong Kong, running fifth in the rich Gr.1 HKJC Hong Kong Cup. A fourth in the Gr.1 ATC Coolmore Classic in March was followed by victory in the Gr.1 ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
She raced three times at six for a third in the Gr.1 MRC Underwood Stakes before retiring. At stud, she has produced Group 1 placegetter Luella Cristina.
Race Record — 30:7-1-5
Earnings — A$4,376,590
Top Filly of 2013-14 Australasian 3YO Classification (Int), Joint Top Filly on 2013-14 NZ 3YO Free H (1600m+)
2013: MONGOLIAN KHAN (LOT 516)
MONGOLIAN KHAN
Holy Roman Emperor — Centafit, Colt
Breeder — Grenville Stud, Tasmania
Vendor — Ainsley Downs Stud, Te Kauwhata
Purchaser — Waikato Bloodstock, Cambridge
Purchase Price — $140,000
Top Price — $1,975,000
Courtney and Mandy Howells of Ainsley Downs Stud offered Mongolian Khan at the 2013 National Yearling Sale in partnership with Graeme and Bart McCulloch who bred him at their Grenville Stud in Northern Tasmania.
Mongolian Khan was purchased by Bryce Tankard of Waikato Bloodstock, as agent for Edmond Lee. He was then re-sold at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale for $220,000 by Shane Crawford and Kara Water’s Regal Farm to China Horse Club.
Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman at Cambridge, Mongolian Khan did not race until he turned three, breaking his maiden at his second start. He recorded his first black-type victory in the Listed ARC Champion Stakes Prelude, which was followed by wins in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas, Gr.2 Avondale Guineas and the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby with Volkstok’n’barrell running second.
Taken to Sydney, he finished fifth to Volkstok’n’barrell in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas, then won the Gr.1 Australian Derby at Randwick, defeating Hauraki and Volkstok’n’barrell. In doing so, he became the first horse to complete the Derby double in 29 years.
At four in Melbourne, after two unplaced runs, he ran third in the Gr.1 MRC Caulfield Stakes behind Criterion, before winning the 2015 Gr.1 Caulfield Cup. After four Sydney starts the following autumn, he was retired to stud.
He was awarded New Zealand Horse of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
Race Record — 17:8-0-1
Earnings — A$3,959,512
NZ Horse of the Year 2014-15 & 2015-16, NZ Champion Stayer 2014-15 & 2015-16, NZ Champion 3YO 2014-15, Top Male on 2014-15 NZ 3YO Free H (1600m+)
2014: BEAUTY GENERATION (LOT 835)
BEAUTY GENERATION
Road to Rock — Stylish Bel, Colt
Breeder — Nearco Stud Ltd
Vendor — Highden Park, Palmerston North
Purchaser — A. Cummings/Hermes Syndications, Waikato
Purchase Price — $60,000
Top Price — $800,000
Bred by Christchurch businessman Greg Tomlinson’s Nearco Stud whose mare Stylish Bel would win the 2019 Broodmare of the Year title, this colt was reared and presented by Libby and Sam Bleakley’s boutique thoroughbred nursery Highden Park at the 2014 National Yearling Sale. Anthony Cummings bought and syndicated the colt with the help of Hermes Syndications. Named Montaigne he entered training with Cummings who also headed the ownership syndicate.
Not raced at two, he ran second on debut as a 3YO and recorded wins at Warwick Farm and Randwick. He placed third in the Gr.2 ATC Hobartville Stakes and second to Tarzino in the
Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas.
Sold to Hong Kong, under his new name Beauty Generation, it was in his new home where he made his mark, eventually earning a Lifetime Achievement Award.
At four, he won second up, ran third in the Listed Hong Kong Classic Mile and third in the rich Hong Kong Derby, followed by another win. During each of the next three seasons, Beauty Generation would contest the same eight races held by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
As a 5YO, he won five of the eight, the Gr.3 Celebration Cup, Gr.2 Sha Tin Trophy, Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile, Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and the Gr.1 Champions Mile. He also ran third in the Gr.2 Jockey Club Mile.
At six in 2018, he broke all Hong Kong records by going undefeated in those same eight races, the Gr.3 Celebration Cup, Gr.2 Sha Tin Trophy, Gr.2 Jockey Club Mile by three lengths, the Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile, Gr.1 Stewards Cup, Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and Gr.2 Chairman’s Trophy, before rounding out a blistering season with an easy defence of the Gr.1 Champions Mile.
At seven, he won three more times, and placed in the other five. He won his third Gr.3 Celebration Cup and after four placings won his third successive Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and second successive Gr.2 Chairman’s Trophy, the last of his wins. At eight he started three times for a second placing in the Gr.2 Celebration Cup. Beauty Generation was retired to Australia where he resides at Living Legends.
Race Record — 41:20-6-7
Earnings — A$19,221,216
HK Horse of the Year 2017-18 & 2018-19, Head of 2019 WTR (Mile), Joint Head of 2018 WTR (Mile), HK Champion Miler 2017-18, 2018-19 & 2019-20
2015: BONNEVAL (LOT 432)
BONNEVAL
Makfi — Imposingly, Filly
Breeder — City Bloodstock Ltd
Vendor — Westbury Stud, Karaka
Purchaser — Baker Racing, Cambridge
Purchase Price — $150,000
Top Price — $800,000
A trio of Sydney friends, Peter Newsom, Mac Whitehouse and Tony Wales, bred Bonneval under their City Bloodstock banner and she was offered at the 2015 National Yearling Sale by Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud. They had also bred the 2000 National Yearling Sale top performer Sedecrem. Bonneval was twice named New Zealand Horse of the Year while her dam, Imposingly, was the 2017 Broodmare of the Year.
Raced by Terry Jarvis, Alastair Lawrence and John Rattray, and trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Bonneval had one start at two, winning on debut at Hastings.
At three, Bonneval recorded a third in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes and achieved her maiden stakes win in the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Te Rapa, which was followed by a second Group 2 win in the Lowland Stakes at Hastings.
Bonneval’s next success was winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks by half a length over Devise, cementing her win in the NZB Filly of the Year Series. Taken to Sydney, she easily won the Gr.1 ATC Australian Oaks by three lengths.
Bonneval’s 4YO season (2017-18) began in Melbourne, holding on to win the Gr.2 MVRC Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes. She then won the Gr.1 MRC Underwood Stakes, defeating Hartnell, to record six wins in a row.
Retired the following spring, Bonneval was purchased by Waikato Stud.
Race Record — 14:7-0-1
Earnings — A$1,602,470
NZ Horse of the Year in 2016-17 & 2017-18, NZ Champion 3YO & Stayer 2016-17; NZ Champion Middle Distance Horse 2017-18; NZ Top Filly on The 2016-17 3YO Free H (1600m+); NZB Filly of the Year 2016-17
2016: MELODY BELLE (LOT 395)
MELODY BELLE
Commands — Meleka Belle, Filly
Breeder — Mrs N.M. Leicester
Vendor — Haunui Farm, Karaka
Purchaser — D.C. Ellis, Te Akau
Purchase Price — $57,500
Top Price — $1,300,000
Purchased by David Ellis and raced by the Fortuna Syndicate, Melody Belle was bred by Marie Leicester from the famous “Belle” family that was brought to the fore by her parents, James and Annie Sarten. She would not only become the family’s best filly but she eclipsed all others with a staggering 14 Group 1 wins, a current New Zealand record. Her dam, Meleka Belle, was later named 2020 Broodmare of the Year.
Trained by Jamie Richards, Melody Belle was a winner on debut at two, then took out in succession the $1m Karaka Millions 2YO, Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and at Eagle Farm, the Gr.2 Queensland Sires’ Produce Stakes. At three, she won the Gr.3 ARC Mongolian Khan Trophy.
Her 4YO campaign saw her win the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate, followed by winning the first two legs of the Hastings Triple Crown, the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy and Gr.2 Windsor Park Plate. Then came the Gr.1 Waikato Sprint at Te Rapa, Gr.1 Otaki Maori RC WFA Stakes and the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie.
A stellar 5YO campaign saw her claim all three Group 1s of the Hastings Triple Crown culminating with the Gr.1 Livamol Classic, becoming the first horse to achieve this feat. Next was Flemington, where in two starts she landed the prestigious Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes on Derby Day, and the following Saturday she was second in the Gr.1 LKS Mackinnon Stakes behind Magic Wand.
At six, defeating talented stablemate Avantage on both occasions, she bagged the second and third legs of the Hastings Triple Crown, then ran third behind Arcadia Queen in the Gr.1 LKS Mackinnon Stakes. Back home in January, she won the Gr.1 WRC Thorndon Mile. Two starts later, she waltzed past Avantage for her second Gr.1 ARC New Zealand Stakes, the last of her 14 Group 1s.
Race Record — 41:19-1-6
Earnings — A$4,042,557
NZ Horse of the Year in 2018-19 & 2019-20, NZ Champion 2YO 2016-17, NZ Champion Sprinter/Miler 2018-19 & 2019-20, Champion Middle Distance Horse in 2019-20 & 2020-21, NZ Racing Hall of Fame 2023
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 printed copy of this catalogue of best performers is available to purchase online here at shop.nzb.co.nz and at the Merchandise Store during Karaka 2026.