Karaka 2026 Wrap

KARAKA 2026 COMPLETE - TE AKAU’S NEXT CHAPTER BEGINS!

That’s a wrap on the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales Series at Karaka for Te Akau Racing - and once again, the sale has delivered exactly what it has for decades: opportunity, quality, and the foundations of future success!

Across Book 1 and Book 2, Team Te Akau secured a strong, well-balanced group of yearlings, finishing Karaka 2026 as leading buyer once again - extending our remarkable record! In a year that also marked the 100th anniversary of New Zealand Bloodstock, it was another fitting reminder of the enduring role Karaka plays in shaping the Te Akau story.

We invite you to catch up with Assistant Trainer Reece Trumper and Bloodstock Manager Marcus Corban as they recap the past few days for Te Akau, during which we acquired 21 yearlings for the team.

SETTING THE TONE EARLY

Te Akau’s Karaka campaign began decisively with Lot 33, a cracking bay colt by four-time Champion Sire Spirit Of Boom, secured for $280,000 from the draft of Cambridge Stud. Athletic, correct, and built to run, he set the tone for the week - a purchase that reflected exactly what the team came to Karaka to find. From there, the buying unfolded with intent and confidence as Te Akau continued to add quality, depth, and balance throughout the Book.

FLAGSHIP PURCHASES & FAMILIAR FAMILIES

One of the standout purchases of the sale was Lot 147, a bay or brown colt by Champion Three-Year-Old and emerging sire Home Affairs out of Special Memories (Fastnet Rock), secured for $475,000 from Landsdowne Park.

This was a family Te Akau knew well. David Ellis CNZM purchased Special Memories herself for $400,000 at Karaka, and she went on to win as a two-year-old, later placing at Group 1 level in both the Armadillo Stakes and the New Zealand 1000 Guineas. The colt represents a powerful blend of speed, pedigree depth and familiarity - a profile Te Akau has consistently turned into elite performers.

Another major feature of the draft was Lot 348, a striking grey filly by ten-time Champion Sire Savabeel out of Chiaretta (Makfi), purchased for $260,000 from Elsdon Park.

No buyer or stable has enjoyed greater success with Savabeel than David Ellis and Te Akau Racing, having selected and trained more Group One and Group-winning progeny by the sire than anyone else. That record includes Group 1 winners such as Probabeel - dual New Zealand Horse of the Year; Amarelinha (NZB Filly of the Year); Noverre, Embellish and Cool Aza Beel (all standing at stud); Pris De Fer; Sword of Osman; Hall of Fame, and a host of elite stakes' performers.

The filly also carries strong recent Karaka relevance, with Ellis having purchased Damask Rose (Savabeel) as a yearling at this sale - a filly who has since won the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and the inaugural $3.5m NZB Kiwi. Out of a stakes-producing mare and from a deep, influential female line, she is a filly purchased with both performance and residual value firmly in mind.

STRENGTH THROUGH SPEED, SCOPE & VALUE

Te Akau also secured Lot 435, a bay filly by Home Affairs out of Group 3-winning mare Francesca (Iffraaj), for $200,000 from Windsor Park Stud.

By one of the most exciting young sires in Australasia and from a family Te Akau knows intimately through champions such as Melody Belle, Gingernuts, and Turn Me Loose, the filly offers a compelling mix of speed, pedigree strength, and long-term upside. As David Ellis noted, families like this carry inherent residual value, particularly when paired with a stallion of Home Affairs’ calibre. Remember too, Te Akau delivered Home Affairs with his first ever Group winner in January!

Other great value purchases include Lot 256, a brown filly by international sire Per Incanto out of Alam Mo Na (High Chaparral), who was secured for $210,000 from Little Avondale Stud.

Per Incanto continues to make his presence felt as a world-class sire, recently topping global earnings tables and producing elite performers such as Jimmysstar, Gringotts and Belclare. With High Chaparral and Danehill as the first two dam sires, the filly is bred to develop into a quality three-year-old and valuable broodmare prospect.

CLASSIC INFLUENCE & EMERGING SIRES

Middle-distance and staying strength was added with Lot 337, a chestnut colt by Champion European miler Circus Maximus out of Catch Your Idol (Zabeel), purchased for $160,000 from Curraghmore Stud.

Te Akau has been a strong advocate for Circus Maximus through the deeds of Towering Vision, and this colt carries a pedigree that suggests he too will develop into a classic type - combining Galileo, Zabeel, and Sir Tristram influences that have shaped New Zealand racing for generations.

Further depth was added through Lot 354, a bay filly by sensational young sire Super Seth out of Cincoro (Savabeel), secured for $150,000 from Elsdon Park.

The Super Seth-Savabeel cross is already proven at the highest level, with Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada bred on the same pattern. From a family Te Akau knows intimately through Sword of Osman, the filly represents outstanding value and upside, combining strength, scope, and elite bloodlines.

Middle-distance and staying strength was added with Lot 337, a chestnut colt by Champion European miler Circus Maximus out of Catch Your Idol (Zabeel), purchased for $160,000 from Curraghmore Stud.

Te Akau has been a strong advocate for Circus Maximus through the deeds of Towering Vision, and this colt carries a pedigree that suggests he too will develop into a classic type - combining Galileo, Zabeel, and Sir Tristram influences that have shaped New Zealand racing for generations.

Further depth was added through Lot 354, a bay filly by sensational young sire Super Seth out of Cincoro (Savabeel), secured for $150,000 from Elsdon Park.

The Super Seth-Savabeel cross is already proven at the highest level, with Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada bred on the same pattern. From a family Te Akau knows intimately through Sword of Osman, the filly represents outstanding value and upside, combining strength, scope, and elite bloodlines.

FROM KARAKA TO THE STUD - AND BEYOND

Importantly, our Karaka 2026 yearlings selection offers opportunities across all budgets - we have sharp value purchases such as Lot 822 our Circus Maximus filly, out of a Falkirik mare, shaping as a staying type snapped up for just $40,000. Through to high-end bloodstock thus ensuring both first-time owners and long-standing clients can find a horse that suits their goals.

This balanced approach reflects Te Akau’s long-standing philosophy: breeders put their best horses in the sales - if we want our owners to race them, and we want to train them, then we need to buy them - purchasing horses to race, to win, and to stand the test of time.

With Karaka 2026 now complete, the focus shifts from the sale ring to the stable. Over the coming months, these yearlings will begin their early education, starting the journey from the sale to the saddle - where patience, preparation, and process take centre stage.

In addition to our Karaka purchases, Te Akau also secured 15 quality yearlings at the Magic Millions earlier this month, bringing the total to 36 yearlings purchased in January alone.

Together, this group represents a significant investment in the future of the stable and an exciting foundation for the seasons ahead - and a unique opportunity for our owners. No other stable offers the rich choice of yearlings we do.

We invite you to learn more about our 36 yearlings, view videos on each lot, and secure your share online as these young horses begin what promises to be a rewarding journey over the years to come here: https://teakauracing.com/yearlings-shares

Shares do sell quickly, so if you have any questions or would like to discuss an opportunity, please don’t hesitate to contact [email protected] or chat with us via our online chat.

If you’re looking to be part of a stable built on consistency, depth, and results, year in, year out, we welcome you to join Te Akau Racing - a record at Karaka, as well as Magic Millions and on the track, that continues to speak for itself!