The influence of New Zealand-bred racehorses was again evident at the highest level during the 2025–26 racing season, with graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka sales producing another impressive collection of Group One victories on both sides of the Tasman.
Karaka Group One winners 2025-26.
A total of 13 Group One wins were recorded by 10 different Karaka graduates, underlining the consistency of the auction as a source of elite performers. Eight of those victories came in Australia, while five were achieved in New Zealand, with winners succeeding across distances from 1200 metres to 2500 metres.
The season also reinforced the value available through the Karaka sales. The average purchase price of the 10 Group One-winning graduates was NZ$98,400, highlighting that top-level success has not been limited to expensive yearlings.
Leading the group was Aeliana (NZ), a daughter of Castelvecchio who was purchased for NZ$180,000, making her the highest-priced Group One-winning Karaka graduate of the season. At the opposite end of the scale, Mr Brightside (NZ) by Bullbars and Globe (NZ) by Charm Spirit were each bought for just NZ$22,000, while Wigmore (NZ), a son of Sweynesse, changed hands for NZ$25,000 before going on to elite-level success.
The breadth of Group One winners from the sale demonstrated the strength of New Zealand’s breeding industry, with multiple sires represented and horses excelling in sprint, middle-distance and staying contests throughout the campaign.
The achievements of these Karaka graduates will be recognised on Saturday, July 25, when the New Zealand Breeders Association celebrates more than 20 Group One-winning New Zealand-breds at the Don Rowlands Centre in Lake Karapiro. The event has attracted strong interest and is already sold out.
The latest Group One results add another chapter to Karaka’s long-standing reputation for producing quality racehorses capable of competing at the highest level in Australasia, regardless of their purchase price.
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