Entries have officially opened for Karaka 2027, with New Zealand Bloodstock preparing to welcome buyers, breeders and consignors back to the Karaka Sales Centre for another week of yearling trade beginning on Sunday, January 24.
The announcement comes after a historic edition of the National Yearling Sale in 2026, which celebrated its 100th anniversary and delivered record-setting returns across multiple key indicators. Strong international demand and broad domestic participation helped drive turnover beyond $96 million, reinforcing confidence in New Zealand’s thoroughbred breeding industry.
Karaka 2027 Yearling Sale.
The centenary sale proved a significant milestone for the industry, returning almost $10 million more than the previous year and producing improvements in average, median and clearance rates across every session. For breeders and vendors, it was a powerful endorsement of both the revised sale structure and the enduring appeal of New Zealand-bred thoroughbreds.
Karaka 2027 will continue with the format introduced this year. Book 1 will again be conducted across two full days, followed immediately by Book 2, while the Karaka Summer Sale will return on the Thursday after receiving strong support during its inaugural running.
New Zealand Bloodstock Managing Director Andrew Seabrook said the success of the 2026 sale provided a strong platform for the future.
“It was an incredible week all around celebrating the 100th National Yearling Sale, and a fitting end to the campaign seeing such strong results across the board,” Seabrook said.
“With the first century of selling now behind us, we are entering the next chapter with renewed confidence in our sale format, our horses and the unmatched Karaka experience that so many enjoy each year.
“The buying bench in 2026 was the strongest it has ever been, with Australian spend up 12 per cent, Hong Kong and China active, and New Zealand trainers from every region participating.
“Book 2 and the new Karaka Summer Sale were particularly well-supported, and we look forward to building on those results and collating another world-class catalogue with the best of the New Zealand yearling crop.”
The Karaka 2027 Yearling Sale arrives with momentum firmly behind it. The auction’s reputation continues to be strengthened by the achievements of New Zealand-breds on the racetrack, with horses bred in the country accounting for 18 per cent of Australian Group One victories despite representing only a small proportion of the overall racing population.
Alongside the quality of the catalogue, organisers are again highlighting the combination of modern sales technology, renowned Kiwi hospitality and the accommodation facilities surrounding the sales complex, all of which have become key features of the annual gathering.
The Karaka 2027 Yearling Sale is expected to attract buyers from Australasia and Asia once again as New Zealand Bloodstock seeks to build on one of the most successful editions in the event’s history.
Entries for Karaka 2027 close at 5pm on July 13, 2026.
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