Karaka Offerings

White Robe Lodge has four yearlings accepted for the New Zealand Bloodstock top tier sale beginning at Karaka on January 28, 2018.

The quartet are colts by Ghibellines - Inferno and Ghibellines - Ears Carol and fillies by Savabeel - Include and Ghibellines - Notable.

The yearlings will be the first crop of WRL sire Ghibellines offered at public auction. Ghibellines, who won the gr two Todman Stakes at Rosehill from eight starts is a son of the prepotent Shamardal.

The top tier sale is now "Karaka Book 1", replacing the premier sale. There are Book 11 and Book 111 sales replacing the select and festival sales.

The first session of the sale will now take place on the evening of Sunday, January 28 with about 100 yearlings to be offered. Book 1 will contain some 700 yearlings and selling will continue until Wednesday afternoon. The Karaka Million race for yearlings sold by NZB is now scheduled for Ellerslie on Saturday, January 27.

NZB has revamped the sale in response to feedback from vendors and buyers.

"They want to see more horses sold in the first book and they want their second session horses, particularly those being sold on the Friday to be on the property at Karaka in a more timely fashion,'' said Andrew Seabrook, managing director of NZB.

Wayne Stewart, stud manager for WRL commented: "I think it is a good concept. It will get the buyers there early."

A Ghibellines - Turn The Page colt from WRL has been accepted for the Book 11 sale.

Ears Carol is the dam of Who Shot Thebarman, winner of the group one Auckland Cup, the gr two Zipping Classic and Bart Cummings and third in the Melbourne Cup.

Notable is the dam of Parthesia, winner of the listed Tasmanian Oaks in February from the Ballarat stable of Darren Weir.

The Savabeel filly is the first foal of Include, winner of the listed Dunedin and Southland Guineas and listed South Island Breeders' Stakes for WRL managers Wayne and Karen Stewart.

Inferno is dual winner of the group three Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton.