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 1997 - 2006 sales below.

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

1997: HAPPYANUNOIT (LOT 143)

**HAPPYANUNOIT**

Yachtie — Easter Queen, Filly
Breeder — J.D. Corcoran
Vendor — Grangewilliam Stud, Waitotara
Purchaser — Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Matamata
Purchase Price — $20,000
Top Price — $650,000

This best performed graduate was from the first National Yearling Sale conducted under the new ownership of Peter & Philip Vela’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd. Breeder John Corcoran, originally from Gore, relocated to Wanganui in 1975 where he operated Maranui Farm. In 1989 Corcoran purchased Grangewillliam Stud from the estate of the late Capt. Tim Rogers, where he bred this filly. Purchased on type by Paul Moroney shortly after she was passed in, she was raced by Paul and Anne-Marie Moroney and named Happyanunoit after daughter Melissa’s favourite song.

Trained by Mike Moroney, she made her debut at Awapuni bolting in by four and a half lengths. In late February she stormed home to win the Gr.3 WRC Wakefield Challenge Stakes and four weeks later cruised to victory in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes. Sent to Sydney, she was beaten a head by Dracula in the Gr.1 AJC Champagne Stakes.

Sold to American interests, she became a 4YO when she started her northern hemisphere career in April 1999 out of the Bobby Frankel stable. She won an allowance race at Hollywood Park at her second start, and three starts later added the Gr.3 Del Mar Palomar Hcp. Still at Del Mar, she was second in the Gr.1 Ramona Hcp, then travelled to Keenland to score at Listed level. In her last start at four in the Gr.1 Hollywood Park Matriarch Stakes, she won by a neck.

At five, she began her season with a Group 2 second at Santa Anita then second in Hollywood Park’s Gr.1 Gamely Hcp. At the same venue in July, she won the Gr.1 Beverly Hills Hcp. Sent east for two starts, she was a game second by a length at Arlington Park in the Gr.1 Beverly D Stakes. Two more starts on the west coast included a third in the Gr.2 Santa Anita Las Palmas Hcp, and a third in the Gr.1 Hollywood Park Matriarch Stakes.

In 2001, at six, she raced just twice. In May, she won the Gr.1 Hollywood Park Gamely Hcp, running down Tranquility Lake by a head, and followed that with a second in the Gr.1 Beverly Hills Hcp to four-time Group 1 winner Astra, after which she was retired.

Race Record — 21:9-6-2
Earnings — A$2,539,963

1998: FAIRWAY (LOT 237)

**FAIRWAY**

Danzero — Our Caddy, Colt
Breeder — R. & J. Cvitkovic, Victoria
Vendor — Curraghmore, Te Awamutu
Purchaser — Harry Lawton Pty Ltd, NSW
Purchase Price — $40,000
Top Price — $1,600,000

Although foaled in Australia, Lot 237 was from the New Zealand-bred and performed mare Our Caddy, winner of the Gr.3 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup. The colt, who represented the first crop of Gr.1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Danzero, was bred by Robert Cvitkovic in Victoria who owned a small portfolio of mares. Cvitkovic sent three yearlings to Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud to be prepared for the Sale.

Syndicator Harry Lawton showed two photographs to his clients, one of a Sir Tristram colt, the other a Danzero colt. His clients, one of whom was John Camilleri, chose the latter. This was Mr Camilleri’s first venture into thoroughbreds. Under his Fairway Thoroughbreds banner, Camilleri would become one of Australia’s most successful breeders and the breeder of the champion Winx.

Fairway broke his maiden in July of his 2YO season, then won again at Randwick. Within the same preparation, now a 3YO, Fairway stepped up to stakes class to score the Listed Gosford Classic and the Gr.2 Peter Pan Stakes. He then made it five on end with victory in the Gr.2 STC Gloaming Stakes, and six in succession when defeating Shogun Lodge in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes.

A win in the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes was followed by a win in the Gr.1 Canterbury Guineas and then his third Group 1 victory, the AJC Australian Derby.

Three winter runs in Brisbane yielded three placings. On his first visit to Melbourne he upset the champion mare Sunline in the Gr.2 Turnbull Stakes with Diatribe a distant third. Two weeks later, he finished a length and half behind Diatribe when third in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup. Following an unplaced run in the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes, he was retired.

Race Record — 23:10-2-2
Earnings — A$2,615,290

1999: HOEBERG (LOT 144)

**HOEBERG**

Maroof — Petrava, Filly
Breeder — Messrs P.J. & P.M. Vela
Vendor — Pencarrow Stud, Cambridge
Purchaser — Dominion Bloodstock, South Africa
Purchase Price — $350,000
Top Price — $850,000

The filly Hoeberg was bred by Sir Peter Vela (appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Thoroughbred industry in the 2014 New Year Honours) and Philip Vela who established Pencarrow Stud in the early 1980’s. In December 1996 the brothers also purchased Wrightson Bloodstock and turned it into the world-renowned bloodstock company, New Zealand Bloodstock. The dam of Hoeberg, Petrava, was sold at the 1983 National Yearling Sale to South Africa where she became champion 3YO and whose ten wins included five at Group 1 level before being exported to the USA. Petrava returned to New Zealand in 1995.

Purchased, unsurprisingly, by South Africa's Dominion Bloodstock, Hoeberg raced four times at two winning in April on debut, then immediately jumped to stakes class winning the Gr.3 Clairwood TC Strelitzia Stakes. She also added the Gr.3 Clairwood TC Debutante Stakes and rounded out her season with a second at Greyville in the Gr.2 Thekwini Stakes.

In August at the beginning of her 3YO career, she won the Gr.2 Greyville Golden Slipper. In early December she added the prestigious Gr.1 Kenilworth Cape Fillies Guineas, then in succession won the Gr.1 Kenilworth Paddock Stakes, Gr.3 Scottsville Guineas Trial, Gr.1 Greyville South African Fillies Guineas and the Gr.2 Greyville Woolavington Stakes.

At four, she found herself in Singapore winning the Listed Chairman’s Trophy. Then to Dubai in March 2002 she ran third to Terre a Terre in the Gr.1 Nad al Sheba Dubai Duty Free Stakes. Returning to Singapore, she was unplaced in the Gr.1 International Cup and was then exported to Australia.

Now five, she finished third in the Listed STC Triscay Stakes and second to Lonhro in the Gr.2 AJC Apollo Stakes, ending her race career when unplaced in the Gr.2 Queen of the Turf Stakes.

In November 2005, she was offered at auction in USA and sold for US$600,000. At stud she sadly died after producing one foal.

Race Record — 23:10-3-2
Earnings — A$799,616

2000: SEDECREM (LOT 325)

**SEDECREM**

Faltaat — Real Trier, Colt
Breeder — P.B. Newsom
Vendor — Westbury Farm, Cambridge
Purchaser — John Foote (as agent), QLD
Purchase Price — $22,000
Top Price — $3,600,000

Officially bred by Peter Newsom, Newsom was, however, the representative of a trio of Sydney friends who bred and raced together – the other two being Mac Whitehouse and Tony Wales. Purchased by John Foote, as agent, for a syndicate which consisted of Colin Giltrap, Winston McDonald, Peter Walker and CEO of Mercedes Ernie Ward. This colt was cleverly named Sedecrem (Mercedes reversed).

Trained by Colin Jillings and Richard Yuill, at two Sedecrem won both of his starts. At three he added the rich BOP New Zealand Bloodstock 3YO Classique at Tauranga followed by a third in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders Stakes.

At four, he won twice before breaking through for his first maiden stakes success, in the Gr.2 ARC Highview Stud Trophy. After a win at Te Aroha, he recorded his fifth win in succession when taking out the Gr.1 ARC Easter Hcp, crediting his noted co-trainer Colin Jillings, his first success in the race.

At five, he won the Listed ARC Newmarket Hcp, was a fast finishing third to King’s Chapel in the Gr.1 WRC Telegraph Hcp and second in the Gr.1 WRC Thorndon Mile. A win in the Gr.1 Waikato Draught Sprint by a length and a quarter followed. Taken to Brisbane for the winter carnival after a third in the Gr.1 Otaki Maori RC WFA Stakes, he recorded a Listed placing.

As a 6YO, he was third in the Gr.1 ARC Railway Hcp, then second in the Gr.1 WRC Telegraph Hcp. Two starts later at Te Rapa, he repeated his Gr.1 Waikato Draught Sprint victory in a slashing 1:22.17 for his third Group 1.

At seven he recorded his 13th and final win in the Gr.3 ARC Great Northern Challenge Stakes.

Race Record — 49:13-4-8
Earnings — NZ$613,576

2001: ST REIMS (LOT 387)

**ST REIMS**

Zabeel — L'Quiz, Colt
Breeder — Mrs J.A. & P. Hogan
Vendor — Cambridge Stud, Cambridge
Purchaser — R.R. McAnulty, Auckland
Purchase Price — $1,000,000
Top Price — $1,450,000

St Reims was owned by the February Syndicate, which included breeder Sir Patrick Hogan and was managed by purchaser Rob McAnulty.

While he wasn’t tried at two, St Reims had his first two races at the age of three in NSW. Sent back to New Zealand, he broke his maiden at start five at New Plymouth in November.

A win in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas by more than two lengths was followed by victory in the Gr.1 ARC New Zealand Derby. Ridden by Greg Childs, he won by only a neck, although the time was 2:28.57. He then extended his winning sequence to five in Ellerslie’s Golf Today 3YO Hcp. Sent to Sydney, his three April Group 1 starts were disappointing.

As a 4YO on Melbourne Cup Day in 2003 at Ellerslie, he ran second in the Gr.3 Lindauer Grandeur Stakes and followed that with another second in the Listed Great Northern Challenge Stakes.

At five, he won back-to-back at Hastings and was sent to Melbourne where he was unplaced. Back in New Zealand, he won the Gr.3 Lindauer Grandeur Stakes as well as the Gr.2 Counties Cup, leading all the way in both, and finished second in the Gr.3 Waikato Gold Cup. He gained his second Group 1 when winning the ARC Zabeel Classic on the last day of the Christmas Carnival, and recorded a Group 1 placing when running second to Xcellent in the ARC New Zealand Stakes. He recorded his last win at six at Hastings.

Retired to stud, he sired more than 50 winners including the Listed winner La Nouvelle Vague and talented steeplechaser Tallyho Twinkletoe.

Race Record — 36:11-6-0
Earnings — NZ$673,250

2002: STARCRAFT (LOT 151)

**STARCRAFT**

Soviet Star — Flying Floozie, Colt
Breeder — G.J. Chittick
Vendor — Waikato Stud, Matamata
Purchaser — Robert Dawe (as agent), Auckland
Purchase Price — $80,000
Top Price — $1,050,000

Starcraft was bred by Garry Chittick from a mare he acquired as a weanling as part of the purchase of Waikato Stud in 1994. Named Flying Floozie she would ultimately be awarded a hatrick of Broodmare of the Year titles. Starcraft was purchased by bloodstock agent Robert Dawe on behalf of Australian Paul Makin and was raced by The Australian Syndicate.

Trained by Garry Newham, Starcraft’s 2YO season brought two placings from three starts. At three he secured three wins, including the Gr.3 VRC Debonair Stakes at Flemington, before finishing second to the unbeaten Reset in the Gr.1 VRC Australian Guineas. In Sydney, three starts resulted in three wins, namely the Gr.1 AJC Chipping Norton Stakes, the Gr.2 STC Tulloch Stakes, and the Gr.1 AJC Australian Derby, his seventh win for the season.

Starcraft campaigned in New Zealand as a spring 4YO, with an attempt at the 2004 Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown. He was successful in the first leg, the Gr.1 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes, as well as the second leg, the Gr.2 Stoney Bridge Stakes, beating star mare Miss Potential both times. In the third leg, the Gr.1 Kelt Capital Stakes, he finished second to surprise winner Balmuse. His last two starts in Melbourne saw him run third in the Gr.1 MRC Yalumba Stakes and third behind Savabeel in the Gr.1 WS Cox Plate.

Exported to England and trained by Luca Cumani, in his first start he ran third in the Gr.1 York Queen Anne Stakes. Unplaced in the Gr.1 Sandown Eclipse Stakes, he then caused a surprise by leading all the way to win the Gr.1 Longchamp Prix du Moulin by two and a half lengths, becoming the first New Zealand-bred horse to win at Group 1 level in Europe. Next at Newmarket he won the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, defeating champion Dubawi. His connections paid a late fee of $800,000 for a start in the Gr.1 Belmont Breeders’ Cup Classic, however, in his first start on dirt he finished seventh and was retired having won five Group 1 races in four countries.

At stud he enjoyed success as the sire of Gr.1 VRC Coolmore Stakes and Gr.1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Star Witness.

Race Record — 22:11-3-4
Earnings — A$3,081,215
Australian Champion 3YO 2003-04, NZ Champion Older Sprinter 2004-05,
Great Britain Champion Older Male Miler 2005, NZ Racing Hall of Fame 2021

2003: XCELLENT (LOT 73)

**XCELLENT**

Pentire — Excelo, Colt
Breeder — G.F. Gimblett Family Trust
Vendor — Wellfield Thoroughbreds, Palmerston North
Purchaser — Paul Moroney, Matamata
Purchase Price — $45,000
Top Price — $660,000

Harness trainer and fourth generation cattle farmer Graham Giblett from Dannevirke, had already enjoyed considerable success with standardbreds when he purchased a yearling at the 1995 National Yearling Sale which he named Excelo. With his first thoroughbred breeding venture, mating Excelo with Pentire, he tasted Group 1 success. Purchased by syndicator Paul Moroney, Xcellent was raced by a syndicate of 13 and trained by Mike Moroney.

Not raced at two, Xcellent won impressively on debut at Te Rapa in November as a 3YO and won again later that month at Ellerslie. He then made it three wins from three starts when easily winning the Gr.1 ARC New Zealand Derby. Returning to Ellerslie in March he again had an easy win in the Gr.1 Darley Stakes.

As a 4YO, he won the first leg of the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown, the Gr.1 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes, then returned to Hastings for the third leg to win the Gr.1 Kelt Capital Stakes. In Australia, he was unplaced in the Gr.1 WS Cox Plate, but at Flemington he finished strongly for third in the 2005 Gr.1 Melbourne Cup, won by Makybe Diva.

Returning from injury in December 2007, and now a 6YO, he stormed home to win the Gr.3 ARC Sir James Fletcher Stakes and in his only defeat on New Zealand soil, he ran second in the 2007 Gr.1 ARC Zabeel Classic to Sir Slick.

He ended his career with a typical last to first victory in the 2008 Gr.3 Trentham Stakes. He retired with four Group 1s and two Group 3s.

Race Record — 13:8-1-1
Earnings — A$1,499,997
NZ Horse of the Year 2004-05 & 2005-06, NZ Champion 3YO 2004-05,
NZ Champion WFA Horse & Stayer 2005-06

2004: DARCI BRAHMA (LOT 509)

**DARCI BRAHMA**

Danehill — Grand Echezeaux, Colt
Breeder — P.J. & P.M. Vela Ltd
Vendor — Pencarrow Stud, Cambridge
Purchaser — D. Ellis, Te Akau
Purchase Price — $1,100,000
Top Price — $1,100,000

NZB owners Sir Peter and Philip Vela bred the sale-topper and best performed from the 2004 National Yearling Sale with their first foal from Group 1-winning mare Grand Echezeaux.

Purchased by prolific buyer David Ellis for a syndicate of ten investors for the sum of $1.1 million, Darci Brahma made his debut at Avondale exactly one year after purchase, scoring over 1200m in a smart 1:09.85. Jumped to stakes class, he easily added the Listed Matamata Slipper Stakes and then ran second in the Gr.1 ARC Ellerslie Sires’ Produce Stakes. After a short spell, he won at Te Rapa, then headed to Brisbane where he ran fourth in the Gr.1 Sires Produce Stakes and won the Gr.1 TJ Smith Classic, carrying top-weight.

At three, he won the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas in a slashing 1:19.97, the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas and the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, where he bolted away by four lengths. In February, he finished second to Kristov in the Gr.1 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa, then won the Gr.1 Otaki Maori RC WFA Stakes, beating Kristov. In Melbourne, he finished second in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas to Apache Cat.

Back at four in the spring, he was a length second to Seachange in the Gr.1 Hawke's Bay Mudgway Partsworld Stakes and second behind her again in the Gr.1 Hawke's Bay Stoney Bridge Stakes. Then at Caulfield for the Gr.1 Toorak Hcp, he ran fifth.

He had just two more races for a sensational win in the Gr.1 WRC Telegraph Hcp, beating Seachange in a cracking 1:07 for 1200m. The curtain came down on a great race career with victory in the Gr.1 Waikato Draught Sprint, his fifth Group 1.

Retired to The Oaks Stud, Darci Brahma enjoyed a top class stud career. His progeny comprise 59 stakes winners, including 12 winners at Group 1 level and a winners to runners ratio of 70.6%.

Race Record — 19:10-5-0
Earnings — A$1,120,493
NZ Champion 2YO & 3YO 2004-05 & 2005-06,
NZ Champion Sprinter 2006-07

2005: EFFICIENT (LOT 108)

**EFFICIENT**

Zabeel — Refused the Dance, Colt
Breeder — Bloodstock Resouces & Cambridge Hunt Ltd
Vendor — Curraghmore Stud, Te Awamutu
Purchaser — Graeme Rogerson, Hamilton
Purchase Price — $220,000
Top Price — $1,300,000

Graeme Hunt of Cambridge Hunt Ltd owned the broodmare Refused the Dance but was unable to get a booking to Zabeel for the mare. He utilised the nomination of Linscott Williams of Bloodstock Resources who became the co-breeder of Efficient. The colt was purchased by trainer Graeme Rogerson and was raced by a syndicate which included Australian property developer Lloyd Williams, Mike and Tony Sellers and breeders Graeme Hunt and Linscott Williams. The colt was sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud.

Unraced at two, he won his maiden at Ballarat at his second start as a 3YO. He then reeled off wins in the MRC Lord Dudley Hcp, the MRC Pura Light Start Plate and the Gr.2 AAMI Vase. His following start was the Gr.1 Victoria Derby, in which he ran clear to win easily by two and a half lengths and record five straight wins.

He was entered for the 2006 Melbourne Cup but was withdrawn and didn’t return until the autumn for two starts including a fifth in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas.

At four, his best effort in four starts leading up to the 2007 Melbourne Cup was a fourth in the Gr.2 MVRC Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes. Then, starting at odds of 22 to 1, he won the 2007 Gr.1 Melbourne Cup by half a length from Purple Moon, becoming the first horse since Phar Lap to win the Melbourne Cup the year after winning the Victoria Derby. Following his Melbourne Cup win, Efficient was transferred to the stable of John Sadler.

At age six, he added a third Group 1 in the 2009 VRC Turnbull Stakes with a sustained finish to get up right on the post. In eight starts as an 8YO, he was second in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup, then retired after one more race with three Group 1s to his credit.

Race Record — 29:7-1-0
Earnings — A$4,788,525
Australian Champion Stayer 2007-08

2006: MUFHASA (LOT 565)

**MUFHASA**

Pentire — Sheila Cheval, Colt
Breeder — C.C.E & J.W. Thompson
Vendor — Rich Hill Stud, Matamata
Purchaser — David Archer, Auckland
Purchase Price — $50,000
Top Price — $2,200,000

Bred by Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson and his father Colin, Mufhasa was purchased by David Archer and was raced by him in partnership with his partner Di Wright and children Simon and Natalie Archer.

Trained by Stephen McKee, Mufhasa won on debut at two and in 11 starts at three he won four more, including three in succession.

At four, he won his ninth race from 18 starts with an easy victory in Riccarton’s Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile. Two starts later, he secured the first of his 10 career Group 1 wins in the WRC Telegraph Hcp, and his second when winning the Waikato Draught Sprint at his next start. In Sydney as King Mufhasa, he ran third in the Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes.

At five, he was second in the Gr.1 HBJC Mudgway Partsworld Stakes to Tavistock, and in defending his Waikato Draught Sprint crown, he finished third again to Tavistock. After winning the Gr.1 Otaki Maori RC WFA Classic, he collected two placings in Australia.

As a 6YO, he completed the same Group 1 Telegraph-Waikato Draught Sprint double as he had at age four. Fresh up at seven, he beat Jimmy Choux in the Gr.1 HBJC Makfi Challenge Stakes and was second to him in the Gr.1 HBJC Windsor Park Plate. In Melbourne he won the Gr.1 Toorak Hcp. Back in New Zealand, he won the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes, was second in the Gr.1 Waikato Draught Sprint, then returning to Caulfield, won the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes.

At eight, he won his tenth Group 1, the HBJC Windsor Park Plate, was second in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes, and won the Gr.3 Manawatu Challenge Stakes for his 20th and final win. That autumn, he recorded a third in the Futurity Stakes, a second to champion Pierro in the Gr.1 ATC George Ryder Stakes and was unplaced in the Gr.1 HKJC Champions Mile. At his only start as a 9YO he finished second in the Gr.1 HBJC Windsor Park Plate. Retired to his purchaser David Archer's property, Mufhasa became a frequent vistor to the races as a living legend and equine amabassador for racing.

Race Record — 62:20-9-6
Earnings — A$2,902,553
NZ Horse of the Year 2008-09 & 2011-12, NZ Champion Sprinter 2008-09, 2010-11 & 2011-12, NZ Champion Miler 2008-09, NZ Racing Hall of Fame

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.